Unit I: Energy and Electricity

Technicians’ lists of equipment Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk

Catalyst 3, Unit I: Energy and electricity

Lesson I1: Make it work

Starter activities

Problem solving  one calculator per group

Capture interest  wind-up alarm clock  food (could be a large breakfast cereal box)  Bunsen burner (lit)  magnesium ribbon and tongs

Main activities

I1a Energy transfers Four sets of:  a kettle of water, recently boiled  a whistle and disinfectant  a circuit to light a lamp  a ball  a clockwork toy

Plenary activities

Looking ahead  battery (e.g. two 1.5 V batteries in a holder) or power supply  two lamps in holders  connecting leads  switch  a voltmeter (same as pupils will be using next lesson)

Lesson I2: Energy in and out

Starter activities

Problem solving  a tray for each group of two  cells in holders  switch  ammeter  two lamps and  six connecting wires

This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements. 1 Technicians’ lists of equipment Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk

Capture interest (1) Tray 1:  a 13 A mains plug  light switch  socket  fuses and connecting cables (three-core cable)  maybe an item with a warning about getting a qualified electrician

Tray 2:  batteries in holders  lamps  connecting leads  different types of connector and crocodile clips  switches, etc.

Main activities

I2a Investigating voltage: Batteries For each pair or group:  five batteries  lamp (12 V)  voltmeter  eight leads

I2b Investigating voltage: Components  a battery  two lamps  a voltmeter  six leads

Plenary activities

Looking ahead  Examples of batteries: e.g. alkaline, lithium; rechargeable batteries: e.g. car battery (lead acid), nickel cadmium (NiCD) and metal hydride

Battery demonstration:  a piece of zinc and a piece of copper in a glass beaker of dilute hydrochloric acid, each piece connected to one terminal of a voltmeter

Lesson I2 Investigate: How to increase the voltage in a fruit cell

Starter activities

Setting the context  lead acid car battery  universal indicator paper  voltmeter  potato or fruit cell clock  voltmeter

Introduce the apparatus  one set of the equipment for Activity I2d (see Technician sheet for I2d)

Main activities

I2d Investigate: How to increase the voltage in a fruit cell For each group  lemons, potatoes, apples, oranges or other similar fruits or vegetables (lemon juice or vinegar could be used instead)  pieces of metal of the same size and shape: magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, lead, copper  voltmeter  connecting leads with crocodile clips  ruler  scalpel or craft knife with guard

Lesson I3: Using electricity

Main activities

I3a Using electricity For each group (if available)  joulemeter  stopwatch  electrical appliances

Plenary activities

Sharing responses  calculators

Lesson I4: Power stations

Main activities

I4a Inside a power station For the teacher demonstration: Turning a turbine  Bunsen burner, tripod, mat and gauze  conical flask with bung and glass nozzle as shown  small fan Lighting a lamp  dynamo as shown in diagram

I4b Comparing power stations  books or leaflets on all types of power generation  access to the Internet

Plenary activities

Review learning For a Teacher demonstration:  model steam engine which runs on tablet fuel (e.g. Mamod)  tablet fuel  tap water will do but distilled water is better if available

This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements. 4