2 OBJECTS CAN AFFECT OTHER OBJECTS AT A DISTANCE

Task 4

WORKSHEET Workshop

Materials and tools for a working group:

glass, wool, foil, paper, wood, rubber, plastic bottle, PVC (floor plastic)

The fourth problem solves the origin of static electricity in the sense of the theory of triboelectric effect. In the task there is one of several versions of the triboelectric series. On the basis of the examination of this advice and the discussion of it, the predictions that the pupils will then have to make should emerge. First, the teacher explains that the picture shows various known materials and they are sorted by how they can be electrified. In order to be better prepared for this task, the teacher can ask pupils to find out information about the triboelectricity, the triboelectric effect, or the triboelectric series on the internet. Their task will also be to bring some of the table‘s materials to explore them together.

This task is interesting because pupils are encouraged to think about the information provided and then to create the question and the prediction that they derive from their understanding of the arrangement of materials in the triboelectric series. For example, it may be interesting for pupils to explore how materials that are at the opposite end of the series behave if we rub them against each other and then approach the paper confetti. It is also interesting to investigate (even in comparison with the previous suggestion) how electrification will emerge if we rub objects made of materials that are in a row close to each other.

In addition to making predictions, pupils are also asked to develop a process through which they can verify their predictions. The teacher‘s task is to assure that pupils work correctly with variables in the proposed procedures.

Than they realise their proposals and record the results. As this worksheet focuses pupils‘ attention primarily on making predictions and proposing their verification process, the results are formulated verbally. It is important to lead pupils to distinguish the results out of the conclusion. The results represent the data obtained. In the conclusion, these data are already used by pupils to make a judgment, for example, the materials that were in the (triboelectric) row far apart from each other were the most electrified in friction.