Grade 9 Academic – Physics
Unit 3 Outline: Characteristics of Electricity
2012-2013
Block
Overall expectations:
 assess some of the costs and benefits associated with the production of electrical energy from renewable and
non‑renewable sources, and analyse how electrical efficiencies and savings can be achieved, through both the design of
technological devices and practices in the home;
 investigate, through inquiry, various aspects of electricity, including the properties of static and current electricity, and
the quantitative relationships between potential difference, current, and resistance in electrical circuits;
 demonstrate an understanding of the principles of static and current electricity.
Key Topics & Key Terms (Chapters 11-13)
Homework
- Textbook
- additional worksheets
CHAPTER 11 – Static Electricity
1
Introductory Activities

Diagnostic Quiz – Electricity Basics/Math Info.

What do you already know?
2
11.1 & 11.4 Static Electricity (PPT #1)

Lab activity – static electricity exploration stations

Video: Bill Nye – static electricity

Electric charge (+, –, Ø)

The law of electric charges (attraction & repulsion)

LAB: Testing for Conductors and Insulators (Inv 11.5 pg. 484-485)

Introduction to using an electroscope
3
Key terms: electric charge, neutral, positive charge, negative charge, static
electricity, electric force, induced charge separation, electroscope, conductor,
insulator
11.2 Charging by contact (PPT#1&2)

The electrostatic series (Table 1 p 473)

Charging by conduction using the electroscope

Grounding

LAB ACTIVITY: Predicting Charges (”Charge Detective”)
Title page, glossary
Math Worksheets
Pg 459 Q1-6
Bill Nye worksheet
Make a list in a 3-column
table with the headings:
“good conductors, fair
conductors and good
insulators”
11.1 Pg. 471 #4-7
11.4 Pg. 482 #1,3,4,6,7
11.2 Pg. 477 #1,3, 5, 6, 8
Key terms: friction, electrostatic series, conduction, grounding, electric discharge
4
5
6
11.6 Charging by induction (PPT#1&2)

Charging objects temporarily & permanently by induction

LAB ACTIVITY: charging objects by induction (pg. 490-491)
11.6 Pg. 489 #2, 5, 6
Key terms: induction
Practical Quiz #1: charging an electroscope (TI; wt-3)

positively by conduction

negatively by conduction

positively by induction

negatively by induction
Applications of Static Electricity (PPT#1)

Electric discharge & Lightning

Electrostatic paint sprayers, electrostatic dusters, electrostatic precipitators,
fabric softener sheets, laser printers, electrostatic lifting apparatus, electrostatic
speakers, lightning rods, grounding cars
Chapter 11 Review p 498, Self Quiz p 500
(ref. Ch.11, old 9 text
Pg 462)
11.8 p 495 Q1,5
Check:
Block
Key Topics & Key Terms
Homework
- Textbook
- additional worksheets
CHAPTER 12/13 – Current Electricity
7
8
9
10
Electrical Energy Sources & Generating Electricity (Smartboard)

Video: Bill Nye – Current Electricity (12.1)

12.3 & 12.4: Electric Cells, Current electricity (AC & DC)

12.5: Social, economic, and environmental implications of the production of
electrical energy in Canada (wind, solar, hydro, coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear)
Key terms: current electricity, electrical energy, electric cells, AC, DC
12.7 Power (PPT#3)

P = E/t (symbols & SI units), P= IxV

% Efficiency = (useful E output/total E input) x 100

Cost of electricity
Chapter 12 review p 542, self quiz p 544
Key terms: power, kilowatt hour, efficiency
UNIT TASK: Personal Energy Audit (TI, CM, AP; wt-3, PPT #3, Smartboard)

Part 1: conducting an individual electrical energy audit

Part 2: analyzing data

Part 3: solutions
Bill Nye worksheet
12.1 Pg. 508 Q3,5,6
12.3 Pg. 514 #3,4,6
12.4 Pg. 517 #2, 4
12.5 p528 Q3,5
Worksheet (generating E)
Worksheets (power,
electrical efficiency)
12.7 Pg. 535 #2-7
See handouts
Electrical Circuits (PPT#4, Smartboard)

12.2: electric circuits, series vs. parallel circuits

13.1: Circuit diagram symbols
12.2 Pg. 510 #2, 4-6
13.1 Pg. 554 #1-6
(worksheets)
Key terms: electric circuit, load, switch, ammeter, voltmeter, fuse, connecting
wires, series, parallel, current, potential difference
QUIZ #2: circuit
diagrams (KU,CM; wt-1)
11
13.3 Current (PPT#5)

current & electric shocks

I = Q/t (symbols & SI units)

Review: metric conversion & GRASP method of calculations

LAB ACTIVITY: building circuits & measuring current with an ammeter
Worksheet (current &
charge)
13.3 Pg. 557 #1-4
12
13.5 Potential Difference (“Voltage”) PPT #5

V = E/Q (symbols & SI units)

LAB ACTIVITY: building circuits & measuring voltage with a voltmeter

LAB ACTIVITY: measuring voltage & current in series & parallel circuits
(13.6 pg.562-563)
Worksheet (Energized &
de-energized charges)
13.5 Pg. 561 #2-4
13
13.7 & 13.9 Resistance & Ohm’s Law (PPT#6)

R = V/I (symbols & SI units), graphing skills

Factors that affect resistance: wire length, wire material, and cross-sectional
area of a wire
Key terms: resistance
QUIZ #3: P, I, V
calculations (TI; wt-3)
Worksheet (resistance)
13.7 Pg. 566 #2, 3, 5-7
13.9 Pg. 570 #2-9
QUIZ #4: Ohm’s Law
(TI; wt-3)
LAB: Ohm’s Law (see rubric: TI, CM, ; wt-3)
14
15
16
13.10 Comparing Series & Parallel Circuits

GIZMO: Circuit builder (opt)
Chapter 13 review p 580, self quiz p 582
Unit Review (see website review handout posted)
FINAL EVALUTION: Unit 3 Test (KU/TI/CM/AP; wt-5)
13.10 Pg. 575 #3-7
GIZMO questions
Check: