Currents
Middle school lesson plans for currents
How can you make a merry-go-round turn without pushing it?
What are different types of circuits that can light up a bulb? What happens when you break each type?
How does the amount of graphite affect how much current flows through it?
What colors are beads in different colors of light?
Introduction
The aim of PhysicsQuest is to introduce students to the basic concepts of physics, through fun experiments that will sustain their interest in math and science.
PhysicsQuest experiment kits demonstrate the fun and relevance of science to middle school students as they learn more about the physical world.
On this year’s quest, students will learn about circuits and conductivity, electric current and its relationship to magnetism, and the way our eyes see color.
- The merry-go-round nature of magnets: The north side of the magnet is on the nail head and the nail is hanging from the positive side. Or , the south side of the magnet is on the nail head and the nail is hanging from the negative side.
- LED circuits: When LED 1 is removed from the circuit, the current still has a path from positive to negative through LED 2 and LED 3.
- Lights get dim: As the distance from the battery increases, the LED gets dimmer. The LED is brighter overall with a thicker line.
- Color diffraction: In blue light, blue beads look white and red beads look black. In Red light, red beads look white and blue beads look black.
Related
Introduce students to current physics topics through hands-on activities.
What colors are beyond the violet end of the rainbow?
How does adding sucralose (sugar) to water change how the light moves through it?
How does a quantum computer work?