Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Electricity: Capacitance

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for establishing a solid foundation of theoretical understanding and applied skills in capacitance. The outlined objectives aim to ensure that students not only recognize the term 'capacitance', but also can apply this knowledge in practical scenarios, such as solving problems in electrical circuits. By focusing on these objectives, the lesson becomes more targeted and effective, ensuring that all students, regardless of their prior familiarity, can actively participate and consolidate their learning.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to understand the concept of capacitance and its importance in the theory and practical application of electricity.

2. Enable students to perform calculations involving capacitance, as well as use these calculations to determine charges and potential differences in electrical circuits.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage collaboration and discussion among students to promote a deeper understanding of the topic.
2. Develop analytical and critical skills through practical problem-solving.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and activate their prior knowledge about capacitance. Through the problem situations, students are challenged to think critically and apply what they have learned in a practical manner. The contextualization helps demonstrate the relevance of the study of capacitance in the real world, increasing student interest and motivation. This stage lays the groundwork for an interactive and productive lesson, where students can explore and apply concepts in a context that makes sense to them.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are building a new electronic device and need to calculate the capacitance of a capacitor to ensure the safe storage of charge. How would you start that calculation?

2. Think of a scenario where you have a complex circuit with several interconnected capacitors. How would the addition of a new capacitor affect the total capacitance of the circuit and, consequently, the charge and potential difference at different points in the circuit?

Contextualization

Capacitance is the ability of a component to store electric charge, fundamental to the operation of various electronic devices. The technology we use daily, such as mobile phones and computers, heavily relies on the efficient use of capacitors to regulate voltages and ensure the safe operation of their circuits. Additionally, the history behind the study of capacitance dates back to figures like Michael Faraday and Benjamin Franklin, who made foundational discoveries in electricity.

Development

Duration: (70 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to consolidate and apply students' prior knowledge of capacitance in practical and challenging contexts. Working in groups, students have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate, and creatively solve problems, which not only deepens their understanding of the topic but also promotes teamwork and critical thinking skills. Each proposed activity aims to explore different aspects of capacitance, from its application in circuits to the construction of simple devices, ensuring engaging and meaningful learning.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Capacitors in Series and Parallel: The Tournament Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the behavioral differences between capacitors in series and in parallel and how this affects the total capacitance and charge distribution.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will receive a circuit assembly kit with capacitors. They must assemble circuits in series and in parallel, measure total capacitance and the potential difference at different points. Then, each group must prepare a small presentation explaining the differences observed between the two types of circuits and how this influences the charge and the potential difference.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the assembly kits and briefly explain how series and parallel circuits work.

• Ask each group to assemble a series circuit and a parallel circuit.

• Instruct students to measure the total capacitance and the potential difference in the assembled circuits.

• Students should prepare a presentation for the end of the lesson, explaining the differences observed and the practical implications.

Activity 2 - The Great Capacitance Challenge: Building a Homemade Capacitor

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the relationship between the design of the capacitor and its capacitance, as well as understand the role of capacitors in a circuit.

- Description: In this activity, students will use simple materials such as aluminum foil, wax paper, and straws to build a homemade capacitor. They should calculate the capacitance and then test the capacitor in a simple circuit to see how it stores and releases charge. The final challenge will be to optimize the capacitor's design to store as much charge as possible.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5.

• Distribute the materials (aluminum foil, wax paper, straws, etc.) for building the capacitor.

• Instruct students to calculate the capacitance of the capacitor they built.

• Each group should test the capacitor in a simple circuit to verify its operation.

• Challenge the groups to optimize the design of the capacitor to store more charge.

Activity 3 - Mission: Unknown Capacitance

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop measurement and calculation skills for capacitance while promoting the application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations.

- Description: Students will receive different types of capacitors without their specifications. The challenge is to determine the capacitance of each one using experimental and theoretical methods. Groups will have to perform measurements, calculations, and comparisons to discover the capacitance of each capacitor.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5.

• Give each group capacitors without capacitance labels.

• Guide students to use multimeters and capacitance formulas to determine the values.

• Groups should record and compare the results obtained with the real values, if available.

• Each group presents the results and the discovery process to the class.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to articulate and consolidate the knowledge acquired through practical activities. Group discussion facilitates the exchange of ideas and perspectives, helping students view the topic from different angles and understand better the practical applications of the theoretical study. Additionally, this stage promotes communication and argumentation skills, essential for the academic and professional development of students.

Group Discussion

At the end of the practical activities, organize a group discussion with all students. Start the conversation with a brief introduction, recalling the importance of capacitance in the study of electricity and how the activities undertaken help visualize and better understand the concept. Encourage each group to share their discoveries and challenges faced during the activities. Use targeted questions to ensure all relevant aspects are covered and that students can reflect critically on what they have learned.

Key Questions

1. What were the main differences observed between capacitors in series and in parallel during the practical activities?

2. How did building the homemade capacitor help you better understand the theory behind capacitance?

3. What was the biggest challenge in determining the capacitance of the unknown capacitors, and how did you manage to overcome it?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of capacitance and its practical impact. This recap helps students retain key concepts and understand the applicability of these concepts in real-world contexts. Furthermore, by highlighting the connection between theory and practice, we reinforce the relevance of learning for their academic and future professional lives.

Summary

To wrap up, we recall that capacitance is the ability of a component to store electric charge, fundamental to the functioning of various electronic devices. During the class, we explored capacitors in series and parallel, built a homemade capacitor, and faced the challenge of determining the capacitance of unknown capacitors, applying both theoretical and experimental methods.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was carefully planned to connect theory and practice in an integrated manner. We began with a brief theoretical review followed by practical activities that allowed students to apply their knowledge in everyday situations and experiments, thus consolidating understanding of the subject.

Closing

Understanding capacitance is crucial, not only for academic success but also for daily application in technologies we use, such as mobile phones and computers. The ability to manipulate and understand capacitors is essential for any student or professional seeking to work in the field of electronics.