Grade 9 Academic – Physics
Unit 3 Outline: Characteristics of Electricity
2011-2012
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
Homework
- Textbook
- additional worksheets
CHAPTER 11 – Static Electricity
1
2
Introductory Activities

Diagnostic Quiz – Electricity Basics

Lab activity – static electricity exploration stations

Video: Bill Bye – static electricity
Title page
11.1 & 11.4 Static Electricity

Electric charge (+, –, Ø)

The law of electric charges (attraction & repulsion)

Introduction to using an electroscope

LAB ACTIVITY: Testing for Conductors and Insulators (pg. 484-485)
Pg. 471 #4-7
Pg. 482 #1, 4
Key terms: electric charge, neutral, positive charge, negative charge, static
electricity, electric force, induced charge separation, electroscope, conductor,
insulator
3
11.2 Charging by contact

The electrostatic series

Charging by conduction using the electroscope

Grounding

LAB ACTIVITY: Predicting Charges
Bill Nye worksheet
Make a list in a 3-column
table with the headings:
“good conductors, fair
conductors and good
insulators”
Pg. 477 #1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Key terms: friction, electrostatic series, conduction, grounding, electric discharge
(sparks)
4
11.6 Charging by induction

Charging objects temporarily & permanently by induction

LAB ACTIVITY: charging objects by induction (pg. 490-491)
Pg. 489 #2, 6
Key terms: induction
5
Practical Quiz #1: charging an electroscope (TI; wt-1)

positively by conduction

negatively by conduction

positively by induction

negatively by induction
6
Applications of Static Electricity

Electric discharge & Lightning

Electrostatic paint sprayers, electrostatic dusters, electrostatic precipitators,
fabric softener sheets, laser printers, electrostatic lifting apparatus, electrostatic
speakers, lightning rods, grounding cars
(ref. Ch.11)
Check:
Block
Key Topics & Key Terms
Homework
- Textbook
- additional worksheets
CHAPTER 12/13 – Current Electricity
7
Electrical Energy Sources & Generating Electricity

Video: Bill Nye – Current Electricity

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)
Bill Nye worksheet
Pg. 514 #3, 4
Pg. 517 #3, 4
Worksheet
Key terms: current electricity, electrical energy, electric cells, AC, DC
8
Electrical Circuits

12.2: electric circuits, series vs. parallel circuits

13.1: Circuit diagram symbols
Key terms: electric circuit, load, switch, ammeter, voltmeter, fuse, connecting
wires, series, parallel, current, potential difference
Pg. 510 #2, 4-6
Pg. 554 #2-6
QUIZ #2: circuit
diagrams (KU, CM; wt-1)
9
13.3 Current

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
Pg. 557 #3, 4
10
13.5 Potential Difference

V = E/Q (symbols & SI units)

LAB ACTIVITY: building circuits & measuring voltage with a voltmeter

LAB ACTIVITY: measuring voltage & current in series & parallel circuits
(pg.562-563)
Worksheet
Pg. 561 #4
11
12.7 Power

P = E/t (symbols & SI units)

% Efficiency = (useful E output/total E input) x 100

Cost of electricity
Worksheet
Pg. 535 #2-7
QUIZ #3: P, I, V
calculations (TI; wt-1)
Key terms: power, kilowatt hour, efficiency
12
UNIT TASK: Personal Energy Audit (TI, KU, CM, AP; wt-3)

Part 1: conducting an individual electrical energy audit

Part 2: analyzing data

Part 3: solutions
13
13.7 & 13.9 Resistance & Ohm’s Law

R = V/I (symbols & SI units)

Factors that affect resistance: wire length, wire material, and cross-sectional
area of a wire
Key terms: resistance
Worksheet
Pg. 566 #2, 3, 5-7
Pg. 570 #2-9
QUIZ #4: Ohm’s Law
(TI; wt-1)
LAB: Ohm’s Law (see rubric: TI, CM, AP; wt-3)
14
13.10 Comparing Series & Parallel Circuits

GIZMO: Circuit builder
15
16
Review
FINAL EVALUTION: Unit 2 Test (KU/TI/CM/AP; wt-5)
Pg. 575 #3-7
GIZMO questions
Check: