Allow a maximum of 6 weeks for this topic
BOS or NESA Outcomes
PW3 Scientific understanding of current electricity has resulted in technological developments designed to improve the efficiency in generation and use of electricity.
Students:
a. describe voltage, current and resistance in terms of energy applied, carried and dissipated.
b. describe qualitatively the relationship between voltage, resistance and current
c. compare the characteristics and applications of series and parallel electrical circuits
d. outline recent examples where scientific or technological developments have involved specialist teams from different branches of science, engineering and technology, eg low-emissions electricity generation and reduction in atmospheric pollution
Learning Activities - Remember to email a copy of each completed activity below to your teacher: richard.stankey@det.nsw.edu.au
1) Create a title page which showcases the ways in which electricity is generated. Transmitted on the national grid. And used in house holds and in industry.
2) Define and explain what energy is.
3) Investigate how the photoelectric effect can be used to create electricity using sunlight.
4) Extension: What did Albert Einstein win the Nobel prize in Physics for? Found out what the Nobel is and some people who have won it.
5) Explain how electricity is generated from wind, hydro and gas/coal powered generators.
6) What is the difference between and alternator and a generator?
7) Research Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla and describe the nature of their discoveries. What did they have in common and what was the main difference between them.
8) Explain why Alternating Current is used to transport electricity over long distances. Extension: Why do trucks and buses use 24 Volt systems while cars only use 12 Volts.
9) What is a transformer and how does it work?
10) How does V=IR relate to the transmission of electricity, at low voltages over short distances and at high voltages over long distances?
11) How does a battery work? Experiment: Make a battery in the lab. Extension: Use a piece fruit and some electrodes to make your own battery.
12) Choose two appliances one running on Direct Current (DC) (Battery powered) and one running on Alternating Current (AC), Draw up a table and compare the features, applications and safety issues of each.
13) Find out what the symbols are for each of the common components used in electrical circuits.
14) Use the symbols to design two circuits, one in parrallel and one in series, each containing 3 lights.
15) Experiment: Build the circuits you have designed, run a DC through each, remove one of the bulbs and describe how this affects the others. In your conclusion discuss advantages and dissadvantages of each type circuit.
16) Case Study: consider a light in a hallway, with a light switch at either end of the hall. Draw a circuit diagram which allows the light to be operated from either switch, just like it does at home.
17) Ask your teacher for the assessment task for this topic.