5-8

H4: Describe the characteristics of static and current electricity.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	How do current and static electricity differ? How are they the same?
Elaboration	Static electricity results from the build up or loss of negative charge and current electricity results from a flow of electric charge.
Specific Ideas	There are two kinds of charges--positive and negative.Benchmarks 4G3 (9-12). Like charges repel one another, opposite charges attract.Benchmarks 4G3 (9-12).
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Hands-on experiments with electricity are an excellent means for developing skills with the experimental method. Current electricity is a good way to reinforce basic ideas about systems. Study of the nature of electric and magnetic forces should be joined to the study of the atom.The more sophisticated versions of these ideas should wait until high school. See pages 117-125 in Driver et al for a detailed description of the common misconceptions that children hold about electricity.
Examples

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