SF 10 - bcscience.com - Unit 4 Links

Text Pages 137-139

Static Electricity - loads of shocking information!

What is Electricity? - clear explanation of electricity basics. Part of the Energy Story site.
Static Electricity - a good explanation of static electricity, with suggestions for experiments too.
The Science of Static Electricity - excellent diagrams illustrating the behaviour of charges, static attraction and repulsion.
What is Static Electricity? - a clear explanation; it includes some projects too.
Static Electricity - if you would like a challenge, here is a much more detailed description of how static electricity works.
How Electricity Works - goes much further than just static, great site!
How Shocking - a wonderful PBS site that allows you to experience Ben Franklin's experiments.

Text Pages 137-139

Static Activities - interesting projects;

Remote Control Roller - Can you explain the static electricity secret behind how it works? When you've mastered the roller, move on to the Super Sparker!
Hands-On Activities - Jefferson's Labs presents a bunch of great static experiments you can do with your Van de Graff generator.

Text Pages 137-160

Electricity Virtual Labs - there are a lot of simulations out there to try!

Text Pages 138-139

Van de Graaff Generators - how they work and what you can do with them:

Van de Graaff generators in the classroom - a good discussion of theory, and excellent safety advice.
How Van de Graaff Generators Work - all the details here!
History of the Van de Graaff Generator - very cool old pictures.
Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator Page - covers everything you could want to know about VDGs, including how to make your own.
Van de Graaff Generator - an encyclopedia of information!

Text Page 141

An Ampere is Equivalent to One Coloumb per Second - a single ampere is equivalent to MANY electrons passing a point per second in a circuit. Visit these links for a complete explanation of the ampere:

6.28 Billion Billion electrons per second? - yes, that's right!
What is a Coulomb? - a definition, and how it relates to the ampere.
Voltage and Current - adjust the voltage in this circuit and watch the simulated change in current.

Text Pages 141-142

Current Electricity - electricity that flows continuously:

Direct Current (DC) Electricity - discusses the difference between static and current, and also animates current electricity.
The Current - a clear explanation.

Text Pages 142-143

Circuits, Voltage and Current - depending on the circuit and load devices, voltage and current will vary.

Circuits - very good circuit basics. Part of the Energy Story site.
Voltage and Current Explained - a water analogy.

Text Page 146

Dry Cell - you can see innards of an alkaline cell clearly in this graphic.

Text Pages 146-147

Cells and Batteries - when you need portable electricity, here is your solution:

Stored Energy and Batteries - a clear explanation of battery basics. Part of the Energy Story site.
Battery Power - a page that describes several battery types in detail.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation - a great deal of rechargeable recycling info and teaching resources.
How Batteries Work - the basics, the chemistry, the reactions - it's all here!
Scientific American: How Do Rechargeable Batteries Work? - a clear explanation for you here.
Wet Cell - diagram and more!

Text Page 150

Conductors, Semiconductors, Superconductors and Resistors - current movement depends on the material:

Conduction - a very good explanation of why substances conduct - part of the interesting "Transistorized!" site at PBS.
How Semiconductors Work - clear explanations of different forms of semiconductors.
What is superconductivity?
Superconductivity Basics
A Teacher's Guide to Superconductivity
Superconductors.org
How Light Emitting Diodes Work - good explanation! You may also want to visit the semiconductor explanation, and the page devoted to diodes at the excellent "Transistorized!" site at PBS.
Resistor Colour Code - what do all those bands mean? Find out using this interactive simulation.
Resistance at the Molecular Level - wouldn't it be neat if we could see the electrons and atoms interacting to produce the heat energy that is the result of resistance? This page gives us the next best thing! Adjust the current and watch what happens.

Text Pages 152-154

Current Flow and Ohm's Law - resistors are a good way to control current:

Current Flow and Ohm's Law - a slick java applet will help you understand.
Ohm's Law example problems - NASA
Ohms Law Calculators - does the work for you!

Text Pages 152-154

Ohm's Law - several online activites to experiment with:

Ohm's Law - try this wonderful Java applet that allows you to adjust resistance and voltage on a realistic looking circuit board. Can you predict what the milliamp reading will be?
Virtual Laboratory: Voltage - need some help understanding Ohm's Law? Try this circuit simulator that allows you to manipulate batteries and resistors. When you are done with the first one, there is another circuit to try. Then you can try the worksheet!
Ohm's Law - this is a colourful simulation that lets you manipulate resistance and voltage in a simple circuit.

Text Pages 152-161

Ohm Zone - incredible simulator that lets you build circuitry to your heart's content, then you can measure current and resistance in the circuit with the provided meters. To really drive the concept home, click the "visualize" button to see the current move in your circuit! Three worksheets can be used with this simulation:

Voltage in Circuits

Basic Series

Basic Parallel

Text Pages 152-161

Crocodile Physics: Electrical Simulation Software - use this fantastic software to build your own virtual circuitry.

Text Pages 157-160

Series, Parallel and Combination Circuits - good descriptions with diagrams, part of the Fundamentals of Electricity site.

Text Page 160

Permanent Magents and the Earth - Earth is a big magnet!

How Compasses Work - in-depth discussion of Earth's magnetism, as well as magnets.
Magnet and Magnetism FAQ - part of a commercial site, but has some good magnet explanations.
A Soda Bottle Magnetometer - you can detect those solar storms.
Attraction and Repulsion By Magnet Poles - this java applet clearly demostrates permanent magnet poles.

Text Pages 164-167

Electromagnetism - electricity and magnetism are intricately linked:

Q and A - whoa! Slow down, that's several questions!
Electromagnetism - from electromagnets to solenoid strength.
How Electromagnets Work - the full story is here, excellent site.
Magnetic Fields: History - with instructions on how to repeat Oersted's experiment.
ScienceMaster: Magnetism - puts the Earth and Oersted together.

Text Page 167

Conventional Current - it cannot get more clear than this!

Text Page 169

Earth's Magnetic Field - it can bend particles from space, affecting Earth's atmosphere, and more.

The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere - this NASA-sponsored site is a massive magnetic resource. Many days worth of fascinating reading.
The Interplanetary Magnetic Field - influence of the sun.
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) - all about the northern lights from what they are, to history and mythology associated with them and research done on them.
Aurora Boreals: The Northern Lights - courtesy of Finland, with links to other sites and awesome photos.
Aurora Borealis - a slightly more scientific site discussing earth's magnetic field, climate and quantum considerations. Well set up with separate topics.
Northern Lights Images - some beautiful photos can be seen here: Site 1, Site 2, Site 3.

Text Page 169

Particles in a Magnetic Field - can be very useful in certain technologies:

Steering Coils - part of the How Television Works feature.
How does the electron gun inside a TV work, and why is it called an electron gun? - an explanation.
How Atom Smashers Work - advancing the knowledge of physics.

Text Pages 171-172

Electric Motors and More - electromagnetic interactions make motors possible:

How Electric Motors Work - a fantastic set of pages including animations that clearly explain motor function.
How Does an Electric Motor Work? - a simple graphic that explains motor function.
Faraday's Magnetic Field Induction Experiment - drag that magnet and see what happens!

Text Pages 171-172

Electric Motor - the St. Louis Motor, and a close up of the commutator.

Text Page 173

Transformers - more than meets the eye!

Physlink.com - How Does a Transformer Work?
How Does a Transformer Work - part of the Energy Story site.
How a Transformer Works - play with these coils to find out how transformers work. If you want an extra challenge, there is a worksheet for this activity as well.

Text Page 174

Generators - Faraday changed the world:

Faraday's Electromagnetic Induction Experiment - discover electromagnetic induction along with Faraday.
How the Generator Works - discusses power plants, and at the bottom of the page, generator function is diagrammed. Part of the Energy Story site.
AC Generator Action - play with an AC generator and learn how it functions.
DC Generator Action - play with a DC generator and learn how it functions.

Text Page 175

Build Your Own Motor - it's not that hard!

Motor Building - build your own electric motor!
Stripped Down Motor - they are right, it doesn't get any simpler!

Text Page 177

Power Grids - getting the electricity to where it is needed:

Home Delivery of Electrons - a brief explanation of how electrical energy gets to you. You may also want to check out the whole page on how space weather can affect power distribution grids.
How Power Distribution Grids Work - get all the details on how the electricity gets from where it is produced to your home.

Text Pages 178-181

Power and Energy - how many watts is your computer rated at?

What is Energy? - a clear explanation of energy types. Part of the Energy Story site.
Watt's a Joule? - an entertaining introduction to the concept of energy, but discusses power as well.
What's a Watt? - a very slick calculator to help you better relate to an amount of electric energy.
Energy - learn about many aspects of energy with this interactive Shockwave module.

Text Page 182

Read that Meter - how do I do it?

How to Read Your Meter - B.C. Hydro tells you how.
Reading Your Electric Meter - several good examples.

Text Pages 184-185

Electrical Safety - all sorts of tips to keep you safe:

Electrocution - vivid examples of electrocutions; you must be very safe at the work site.
Electrical Safety Forum - has a little bit of everything; electrical safety tips and stories of electrical dangers.
Electrical Safety Publications - a large list of pages and downloadable documents that detail electrical dangers and tips.

Text Page 186

Lightning - get the incredibly shocking story!

Global Hydrology and Climate Center: Lightning and Atmoshperic Electricity Research - the leading authority on electricity in the atmosphere.
National Lightning Safety Institute - the leading authority on lightning safety.
Lightning Kills, Play It Safe - make sure you read the survivor stories - absolutely fascinating!
Lightning: An Example of a Natural Capacitor - how charges build up and interact in a storm.

Text Pages 188-190

Reducing Energy Waste - there are many ways to reduce electricity consumption:

Office of Energy Efficiency - tons of efficiency information. By clicking on the "Appliances" link, you can get all sorts of purchasing and usage tips.
Natural Resources Canada Energy Publications - reduce that waste!
EnerGuide Program - a good description of all the benefits of EnerGuide.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - a huge portal.

Text Page 191

Energy Conservation - the best way to save energy is to not use it in the first place!

PowerSmart: Easy Tips to Save Money and the Planet - the title says it all.

Energy and Money-Saving Tips - start on these right now!

Home Energy Saving Tips - great ideas.

Unit 4: Physical Science - Electricity and Magnetism

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