Useful information
Learning goals
If you go through this unit, you wil
- discover the common dynamics of static electricity
- use your learnings for your own purposes
Discover Electricity
Do an experiment and discover electricity with John TraVOLTAGE and other shocking stuff!
Did it ever happen to you that you got a “shock” while touching something or someone touching you?
How does it happen and why? Discuss with your buddy!
And now go to the simulation and move John Travoltage’s arm!
Click here
It is all about static electricity: it is produced by a transfer of electrons from the body of one object to another.
Not all materials allow this transfer, therefore, if you ever experience that someone is taking an electric shock, you can help the person! You can push the person away not with plain hands, but using something out of an insulating material, for example a wooden chair or rubber shoe soles.
Step 1
Has something similar ever happened to you? Exchange your memories with your buddy and make assumptions on what makes the hair fly?
Step 2
When you have an answer, check if your assumptions are correct: click here
Want to do an experiment together? Create electricity using a lemon!
What do you need?
- four lemons
- four coins or other bronze objects
- four nails or other galvanised objects
- five electric cables with alligator clips
- a small LED (small bulb or light)
- Start by rolling the lemons on a flat surface, applying light pressure with your hand. This will allow a small amount of juice to permeate all over the peel.
- Now make two notches in each lemon peel with a knife, about two or three centimetres deep.
- Insert the small coins and the nails into the notches and connect the lemons with the wires.
- Now you only need to connect the wires to the two poles of the light bulb to see it turn on!
If it is not turning on, you need more lemons and cables to produce enough energy…
Tip: You don't have alligator clips? Just remove the insulation from one end of the cable and turn the stripped wire into a thick circle which you insert directly in the lemon, instead of the coin. On the side of the nail, twist the copper wire around it.
Do you lack a small LED? If you have 1 lemon and headphones you can anyway hear the sound of electricity!
How? Insert their plug in the tight circle you make for them with one of the cables. With the other cable, touch the plug!
Make a postcard of this or other experiments you have done together and share it in the work.it area!
Have you ever thought about how we could produce and use electricity in a sustainable way?
Share your reflections and ideas with your buddy and make a postcard about it!
Download the free KIDS4ALLL app and your wish comes true!
