Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Electricity: Work of Electric Force in Uniform Fields

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)

The Objectives stage is crucial to direct the focus of students and the teacher towards the essential competencies that will be developed during the class. By clearly establishing what is expected to be achieved, both students and the teacher can maintain an aligned vision of the learning process, ensuring that all activities are directly relevant to the proposed objectives.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to solve problems involving the calculation of work and force in uniform electric fields.

2. Develop the ability to calculate the speed of a charged particle at specific points in an electric field.

Side Objectives:

1. Stimulate critical analysis and synthesis of theoretical information for solving practical problems.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction stage serves to engage students with the content they studied at home, using problem situations that stimulate practical application of theoretical knowledge. Furthermore, the contextualization of the topic with real-world examples and practical applications increases the relevance of the subject, encouraging a deeper understanding and facilitating the transition to practical activities in class.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are working in a physics lab and need to calculate the work done by a charged particle moving in a uniform electric field of 10 N/C over a distance of 5 meters. How would you solve this problem?

2. Consider a scenario where an artificial satellite, which has an electric charge, is being launched into space. If the electric field near Earth is 150 N/C and the satellite is placed at a point where the electric field is horizontal and uniform, what acceleration will the satellite be subjected to if it has a charge of 2 C and a mass of 100 kg?

Contextualization

Electricity is one of the fundamental forces of nature, and understanding how it acts in practical contexts, such as the movement of charged particles in electric fields, is essential for various applications, from technology in satellites to medicine in MRI applications. Additionally, understanding the concept of work in physics allows students to appreciate how energy can be transformed and transferred in different forms, a key principle in many modern technologies and in our daily lives.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

The Development section is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply the concepts of work and force in electric fields they studied previously. Through group activities, they can explore different scenarios and solve problems that simulate real or creative situations, facilitating the consolidation of learning and encouraging teamwork and critical thinking.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Space Mission: The Satellite Rescue

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply knowledge of work and force calculation in electric fields to solve a practical space engineering problem.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will take on the role of engineers in a space rescue mission. A satellite, which carries essential equipment for future missions, is stranded at a point in a uniform electric field. The challenge is to calculate the electric force and the work necessary to move the satellite to a point where it can be retrieved by a ship.

- Instructions:

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

• Distribute the satellite information (mass, electric charge, and electric field in the area).

• Each group must calculate the work necessary to move the satellite to a safe distance.

• Present the solutions in a report that includes the calculations and strategies used.

Activity 2 - Electric Charge Challenge at the Amusement Park

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop skills to apply concepts of electric force in a creative and practical context.

- Description: In this playful scenario, student groups must design a new ride for an amusement park that uses the principle of force in electric fields. They will need to calculate the work done by different electric charges moving along electrified tracks, considering the safety and entertainment of the users.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Provide each group with the park specifications and necessary safety conditions.

• The groups must calculate the work done by different electric charges along specific trajectories.

• Each group must present a drawing and an explanatory report of their project.

Activity 3 - The Great Physics Tournament: Electric Challenges

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Review and deepen students' understanding of work and force in electric fields through a competitive and fun challenge.

- Description: This challenge involves a competition between groups where each must solve a series of puzzles involving calculations of work and force in electric fields. Each correctly solved puzzle allows the group to advance to the next stage of the tournament, increasing the complexity of the problems.

- Instructions:

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

• Explain the tournament rules and the scoring associated with each puzzle.

• Provide the necessary materials for the calculations.

• Monitor and assess the progress of each group, offering tips and support when necessary.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback section is to allow students to articulate and reflect on what they learned and how they applied their knowledge during the practical activities. This stage helps to consolidate learning, identify areas of confusion or misunderstandings, and promote a deeper understanding of the topic. Additionally, by hearing their peers' experiences, students can gain new perspectives and insights, further enriching their understanding of the subject.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, the teacher can ask each group to share their findings and challenges faced during the activity. In doing so, the teacher should encourage students to explain not only the final results but also the thought process and strategies used to arrive at those results. This can be done in a rotation format, where each group presents in turns and the other groups can ask questions or comment on the presentations.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges your group faced when applying the concepts of work and force in electric fields in the proposed activities?

2. How did the theory studied at home help in solving the practical problems in class?

3. Was there any situation where the practical results diverged from the theoretical expectations? How did you resolve that?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to consolidate student learning, ensuring they have grasped the fundamental concepts addressed during the class. Additionally, it allows the teacher to assess the effectiveness of the teaching method used and reinforce the importance of the topics discussed. This recap helps reinforce students' memory and establish a solid foundation for future studies or practical applications.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should summarize the main concepts addressed regarding work and force in uniform electric fields, reiterating the calculations performed and the results obtained in each practical activity. It is essential to recap the formulas used and the methods employed, ensuring that students have a clear and consolidated view of the content.

Theory Connection

During the class, the connection between the theory studied at home and the practical activities carried out in class was notable. The problem situations and proposed scenarios were designed to reflect real and creative applications of work and force in electric fields, allowing students to see directly how theory applies in practice. This teaching method not only facilitated the understanding of concepts but also highlighted their relevance in various areas, from engineering to everyday technology.

Closing

Finally, it is important to highlight the relevance of studying electricity and its applications. Understanding how electric force and work operate in electric fields is crucial not only for the advancement of technologies but also for our daily lives, influencing everything from energy efficiency to innovation in electronics. This knowledge, beyond being academic, is essential for forming citizens capable of understanding and actively participating in debates on sustainability and technology.