Activity #8

1.

Balloons & Static Electricity

Go to Google and search “PhET Simulations”.  On the left side of the page, click on “Electricity, Magnets & Circuits.”  On the right side of the page, scroll down to find the “Balloons & Static Electricity” simulation.

Lab Questions:

Answer questions #1-3 using COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!

1.      Play with the simulation and observe what happens when the balloon is rubbed on the sweater.  Explain why this happens.  _The balloon picks up the negative charges and is then attracted to the sweater with the positive charges._____

2.      The process you completed in #1 is a called charging an object by friction.  Bring your charged balloon near the wall and describe what happens to the wall.  Explain why this happens.  __The negative charge moves away from the balloon with the negative charge.__

3.      The effect you observed in the wall in #2 is called polarization.  Now, take your charged balloon and place it somewhere between the wall and the sweater.  Observe what happens, and describe it here.  Explain why this happens!  _It moves towards the sweater because opposites attract to each other and positives want to be with negatives._

Post-Lab Questions: 

Write the letter of the correct answer on the blank provided.

__b.___  1.    When charging an object by friction,

a.   only the positive charges move from one object to the other.

b.   only the negative charges move from one object to the other.

c.   both the positive and negative charges move from one object to the other.

d.   neither the positive nor the negative charges move from one object to the other.

__d.___  2.    When an object becomes polarized,

a.   only the positive charges move within the object.

b.   only the negative charges move within the object.

c.   both the positive and negative charges move within the object.

d.   neither the positive nor the negative charges move within the object.

__b.___  3.    Based upon what you saw in this lab, then, it can be said that

a.   positive charges are stationary within objects.

b.   negative charges are stationary within objects.

c.   positive charges are mobile within objects.

d.   negative charges are mobile within objects.

e.   both a and b

f.    both a and d

g.   both b and c

h.   both c and d

John Travoltage

Go to Google and search “PhET Simulations”.  On the left side of the page, click on “Electricity, Magnets & Circuits.”  On the right side of the page, scroll down to find the “John Travoltage” simulation.

Lab Questions:

Answer questions #1-3 using COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!

1.      Rub John Travoltage’s foot on the carpet and observe what happens.  What is this called?  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ It is called fricition____  Where have you seen this before? I saw this in the balloon activity. _______________________________________________________________________ Explain why this happens.  (Use a COMPLETE SENTENCE!)  _ When his foot is rubbed on the carpet the positive charges are being transferred from his body to the carpet.

2.      Watch after you stopped rubbing John Travoltage’s foot on the carpet, what happened to the charges in his body?  ___They stopped moving and spread out._____ _  Were the charges in his body positive or negative? __negative___________________________  Explain why the charges do what they did.  (Use a COMPLETE SENTENCE!) ___When the leg is moving the charges are gaining power or energy and when the leg stops the power supply stops and they stand still.__________________________

3.      Now, touch John Travoltage’s hand to the door knob.  Observe what happens.  Explain why this happens. (Use a COMPLETE SENTENCE!)  It gave him a shock! _The negative charges are releasing from his body and give him a shock because they are connecting to a positively charged object.

Post-Lab Questions: 

Write the letter of the correct answer on the blank provided.

__c.___  1.     Over time, all the negative charges in an object,

a.   remain clustered together where they were placed.

b.   spread out over a small area on the object.

c.   spread out over a large area on the object.

___b.__  2.    When a charged object touches a conductor,

a.   the positive charges move to the conductor and exit the object.

b.   the negative charges move to the conductor and exit the object.

c.   both the positive and negative charges move to the conductor and exit the object.

d.   neither the positive nor the negative charges move to the conductor and exit the object.

__b.__  3. Based upon what you saw in this lab, then, it can be said that

a.   a person cannot be shocked if they have an excess charge on them.

b.   a person cannot be shocked if they have neutral charge.

c.   a person can be shocked at any time because it doesn’t depend on the charge the person has.

2.  Simulation name: Balancing Chemical Equations 

a. 

D.4.5 Construct simple models of what is happening to materials and substances undergoing change, using simple instruments or tools to aid observations and collect data

C.4.4 Use simple science equipment safely and effectively, including rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, hand lenses, thermometers, and computers, to collect data relevant to questions and investigations

C.4.5 Use data they have collected to develop explanations and answer questions generated by investigations

4th Grade Balancing Chemical Equations worksheet with PhET simulation

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balancing-chemical-equations

1.  Balance the equation for Ammonia.

a.  __ N2+ __ H2= _____ NH3

b. Draw the molecule version of balancing the equation.

c. Click on the Bar charts and the balance scales at the bottom to see the difference.

2.Now lets separate water.

a. Balance the equation

b. What do you notice is different from the last equation? Written in the same form?

c. Draw the Balance Scale

3.  Go to the Balancing Game at the top of the simulation.  Go through a game and get the hang of balancing equations. 

4. Go back to balancing equations and click on combust methane

a. Balance the equation.

b.  __ CH4 + ___ 02 =  ___ C02 + ___H20

c. Is it easier to do the equation forwards or backwards? ____________________________

5. Go through and create chemical equations of your own with a partner.  Can you work them out? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the significance of balancing the chemical equations? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________