ENERGY TRANSFER AND
TRANSFORMATION
GRADE 5, UNIT 3
HOW DO WE USE ELECTRICITY?
ELECTRICITY POWERS NEARLY EVERY MODERN GADGET, FROM
REFRIGERATORS TO SMARTPHONES. BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW
ELECTRICITY WORKS? YOU'LL FIND OUT HOW ELECTRICITY KEEPS OUR
DAILY LIVES FLOWING.
WHAT IS ELECTRICAL ENERGY?
• A FORM OF ENERGY THAT IS PRODUCED WHEN ELECTRONS MOVE FROM
ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
• ELECTRONS ARE PARTICLES THAT ARE IN THE SPACE AROUND THE
NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM.
• THE FORCES OF ATTRACTION AND REPULSION MAKE ELECTRONS MOVE.
WHERE DOES THE WORD 'ELECTRICITY' COME FROM?
• ELECTRONS, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONIC AND OTHER WORDS THAT BEGIN WITH "ELECTR..." ALL
ORIGINATE FROM THE GREEK WORD "ELEKTOR," MEANING "BEAMING SUN." IN GREEK, "ELEKTRON"
IS THE WORD FOR AMBER.
• AMBER IS A VERY PRETTY GOLDISH BROWN "STONE" THAT SPARKLES ORANGE AND YELLOW IN
SUNLIGHT. AMBER IS ACTUALLY FOSSILIZED TREE SAP! IT'S THE STUFF USED IN THE MOVIE "JURASSIC
PARK."
• ANCIENT GREEKS DISCOVERED THAT AMBER BEHAVED ODDLY - LIKE ATTRACTING FEATHERS WHEN RUBBED BY FUR OR OTHER OBJECTS. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT CAUSED THIS
PHENOMENON.
• BUT THE GREEKS HAD DISCOVERED ONE OF THE FIRST EXAMPLES OF STATIC ELECTRICITY. THE
LATIN WORD, ELECTRICUS, MEANS TO "PRODUCE FROM AMBER BY FRICTION."
• SO, WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD ELECTRICITY FROM GREEK
AND LATIN WORDS THAT WERE ABOUT AMBER.
HOW DOES AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT WORK?
• LET’S LOOK AT SOME PARTS OF A CIRCUIT.
• WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT
BULB
WIRE
THE
…
BATTERY
• WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE A CIRCUIT
TO LIGHT THE BULB?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE A
CIRCUIT TO LIGHT THE BULB?
• TRY IT.
• NOW TRY IT WITH
=
TWO WIRE.
Let’s explore Electric Current
THINK ABOUT ELECTRICITY
WRITE YOUR RESPONSES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK.
1. IS ELECTRICITY FLOWING THROUGH THE SYSTEMS YOU
BUILT? HOW DO YOU KNOW?
2. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE NECESSARY ELEMENTS OF
ALL COMPLETE CIRCUITS?
3. HOW CAN WE CONTROL THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY IN A
CIRCUIT?
4. WHAT KIND OF ENERGY MAKES A BATTERY WORK?
5. NAME THE TRANSFERS OF ENERGY IN THE CIRCUIT YOU
BUILT.
6. WHAT ARE YOU WONDERING NOW?
HOW DO YOU THINK A BATTERY
WORKS?
• A BATTERY CONTAINS 2 DIFFERENT METALS.
• METALS LIKE ALL MATTER ARE MADE UP OF ATOMS.
• ATOMS ARE MADE OF PROTONS, NEUTRONS, AND ELECTRONS.
• ONE OF THE METALS IN THE BATTERY WANTS TO GIVE UP ITS
ELECTRONS AND THE OTHER METAL WANTS TO ACCEPT THEM.
• CONNECTING THE WIRES, AND THE BULBS TO A BATTERY, GIVES THE
ELECTRONS A PATH TO TRAVEL FROM ONE METAL TO ANOTHER.
• THOSE TRAVELING ELECTRONS ARE ELECTRICITY.
MORE ON BATTERY POWER
HOW IS EITHER OF THE CIRCUIT MODELS YOU BUILT
SIMILAR TO A FLASHLIGHT’S CIRCUIT?
HOW DOES A FLASHLIGHT WORK?
ON POSITION, IT MAKES
CONTACT BETWEEN TWO CONTACT STRIPS, WHICH BEGIN A FLOW OF ELECTRICITY,
POWERED FROM THE BATTERY.
•WHEN
THE SWITCH OF A FLASHLIGHT IS PUSHED INTO THE
•THE BATTERIES REST ATOP A SMALL SPRING THAT IS CONNECTED
•THE CONTACT STRIP RUNS DOWN
TO A CONTACT STRIP.
THE LENGTH OF THE BATTERY CASE AND MAKES
CONTACT WITH ONE SIDE OF THE SWITCH. THERE IS ANOTHER FLAT CONTACT STRIP ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE SWITCH, WHICH RUNS TO THE LAMP (LIGHT BULB), PROVIDING AN
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.
•THERE IS ANOTHER PART CONNECTED
TO THE LAMP THAT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE
POSITIVE ELECTRODE OF THE TOP BATTERY, THUS COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT TO THE LAMP
AND COMPLETING THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY.
Lab # 7: Get Connected
Activity #2
1.
HOW SHOULD YOU CONNECT THE MATERIALS YOU HAVE TO MAKE A PATH TO
TEST THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY?
2.
MAKE A PLAN WITH
3.
CONNECT THE PARTS TO TEST YOUR PLAN. DOES THE BULB
KEEP TRYING.
4.
DRAW A PICTURE
YOUR GROUP.
OF YOUR WORKING CIRCUIT.
LIGHT UP?
IF NOT
SHOW HOW THE PARTS WORK.
WHICH COMMON MATERIALS ARE GOOD
CONDUCTORS FOR THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY?
ACTIVITY #2
Object
penny
Pencil
(wood part)
Pencil
(metal part)
Eraser
Paper clip
nail
Plastic spoon
______________
Prediction
Conductor or
Insulator
LOOKING BACK
1.
WERE
YOUR PREDICTIONS CORRECT?
2.
HOW ARE THE MATERIALS THAT CONDUCTED
ALIKE?
3.
WHICH MATERIAL CREATED THE BRIGHTEST BULB?
4.
WHAT ARE YOU WONDERING
NOW?
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
ELECTRICITY ALLOWING THE BULB TO LIGHT
ELECTRICAL RESOURCES
TO EXPLORE
SIMPLE CIRCUITS
ELECTRICITY IN OUR LIVES
BUILDING CIRCUITS
PARTS OF THE CIRCUIT AND THEIR JOBS
QUIZ
A.
BATTERY
1.
SOURCE OF CURRENT
B.
BULB
2.
CARRIES CURRENT
C.
SWITCH
3.
TURNS CIRCUIT ON AND OFF
D.
WIRE
4.
CHANGES ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO
LIGHT
5. What does making a complete circuit mean?
6. Why are many wires coated with plastic?
PARTS OF THE CIRCUIT AND THEIR JOBS
QUIZ
A.
BATTERY
1.
SOURCE OF CURRENT
B.
BULB
2.
CARRIES CURRENT
C.
SWITCH
3.
TURNS CIRCUIT ON AND OFF
D.
WIRE
4.
CHANGES ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO
LIGHT
5. What does making a complete circuit mean?
6. Why are many wires coated with plastic?
WHAT IS THE TRANSFER OF ENERGY?
ENERGY CAN MOVE FROM ONE OBJECT TO ANOTHER.
<
LIGHT
<
ELECTRICAL
CHEMICAL
EXPLORE LEARNING GIZMOS: ENERGY CONVERSIONS
HOW IS ELECTRICAL ENERGY USED
IN THE REAL WORLD?
Electric Girl
TRANSFORMATION OF ENERGY
ELECTRIC CURRENT
A.
B.
A.
B.
B.
C.
WRITING PROMPTS
MAKE A DRAWING
WITH LABELS
CREATE A DRAWING TO INCLUDE
EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED TO MAKE A
LIGHT-BULB LIGHT OR
A RADIO WORK.
LABEL YOUR DRAWING AND USE ARROWS
TO SHOW THE DIRECTION OF THE CURRENT.
DESCRIBE HOW THE CIRCUIT WORKS.
Adapted from Discovery Education
WRITE TO EXPLAIN
A CLASSMATE IS STUDYING A CORD THAT
CONNECTS A LAMP TO A WALL OUTLET. THE
CLASSMATE SEES THAT THE INSIDE OF THE
CORD IS MADE OF METAL WIRE, AND THAT
THE OUTSIDE OF THE CORD IS MADE OF
PLASTIC. EXPLAIN WHY EACH OF THESE
MATERIALS IS USED IN THE CORD.
CONCEPT REVIEW: ELECTRIC CURRENT
1. WHY DO WE NEED ELECTRIC CIRCUITS?
ANSWER: WE NEED ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS TO POWER
THE
ELECTRICAL THINGS WE USE EVERY DAY, LIKE LIGHT
BULBS.
2. WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC CURRENT?
ANSWER: AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IS A STEADY FLOW OF
CHARGED PARTICLES, ALSO KNOWN AS ELECTRONS.
Adapted from Discovery
CONCEPT REVIEW: ELECTRIC CURRENT
3. WHY DO ELECTRIC CIRCUITS NEED TO BE CLOSED?
ANSWER: ELECTRIC CIRCUITS MUST BE CLOSED OR THE
ELECTRONS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FLOW.
A SWITCH
IS SOMETHING THAT OPENS A CIRCUIT. THE LIGHT
BULB ONLY WORKS WHEN THE CIRCUIT IS CLOSED.
4. WHY DO CIRCUITS USUALLY INCLUDE WIRES LIKE COPPER
OR IRON?
ANSWER: CIRCUITS USE METAL WIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE
GOOD CONDUCTORS. THIS MEANS THEY ALLOW THE
CHARGED PARTICLES TO MOVE THROUGH THE WIRES.
Adapted from Discovery Education
CONCEPT REVIEW: ELECTRIC CURRENT
5. WHAT ARE INSULATORS?
ANSWER: INSULATORS
ARE THINGS THAT DON’T ALLOW
THE CHARGED PARTICLES TO MOVE THROUGH THEM.
EXAMPLES ARE WOOD, CLAY, AND RUBBER
6.
HOW CAN ELECTRICAL ENERGY
CHANGE IN ELECTRICAL
CURRENTS?
ANSWER: ELECTRICAL ENERGY CAN TURN
KINDS OF ENERGY.
ELECTRICITY CAN TURN
INTO HEAT IN A TOASTER.
Adapted from Discovery Education
INTO OTHER
Brief Constructed Response: Electric
Circuits
A. MAKE A CIRCUIT DRAWING THAT
INCLUDES EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED TO
MAKE A LIGHT BULB LIGHT. LABEL ALL THE
COMPONENTS IN YOUR DRAWING AND USE
ARROWS TO SHOW THE DIRECTION OF THE
CURRENT, AND THEN DESCRIBE HOW THE
CIRCUIT WORKS USING THE VOCABULARY
AND INFORMATION YOU HAVE LEARNED
FROM THE LESSON.
Adapted from Discovery Education
B. A SCIENTIST IS STUDYING A CORD THAT
CONNECTS A LAMP TO A WALL OUTLET. THE
SCIENTIST SEES THAT THE INSIDE OF THE CORD
IS MADE OF METAL WIRE. THE OUTSIDE OF THE
CORD IS MADE OF PLASTIC. EXPLAIN WHY
EACH OF THESE MATERIALS IS USED IN THE
CORD.
ELECTRICITY PROJECT IDEAS
• GIVE A PRESENTATION
• ACT IT OUT
• WRITE A STORY ABOUT…
•
WASTING ENERGY DAILY.
•
LOOSING ELECTRICITY FOR ONE WEEK.
•
REALIZING THAT CONSERVING ENERGY HELPS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
• CREATE A MODEL
• WRITE A REPORT OR AN ESSAY
• COMPOSE A SONG
• MAKE A POSTER
PROJECT IDEA:
• WATCH THE VIDEO SEGMENT ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE, VOLTS, TRANSFORMERS,
AMPERES. THEN CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS
MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO AND CREATE A POSTER TO EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT.
YOUR POSTER SHOULD CONTAIN BOTH ILLUSTRATIONS AND WRITTEN FACTS. BE
READY TO PRESENT YOUR POSTER TO THE CLASS, AND THEN DISPLAY IT IN THE
CLASSROOM.
Adapted from Discovery Education
PROJECT IDEA:
WHERE DOES SOUTH FLORIDA GET ITS
ENERGY?
• CONDUCT RESEARCH ON WHERE ENERGY IN SOUTH
FLORIDA COMES FROM. LOCATE THE NEAREST
POWER PLANT, AND THROUGH SIMPLE INTERNET
RESEARCH, IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF FUEL IT USES TO
GENERATE ELECTRICITY (FOSSIL FUELS, HYDRO
POWER, WIND, ETC). CREATE A POSTER THAT
ILLUSTRATES HOW THE ELECTRICITY FROM THE POWER
PLANT ENDS UP IN OUR HOMES. ALSO INCLUDE IDEAS
IN THEIR POSTERS ABOUT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONSERVE ENERGY.
Adapted from Discovery Education