Electrical Circuits Web Links

Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for the Electrical Circuits lessons.

General Electricity

Electricity Misconceptions

• http://www.amasci.com/emotor/stmiscon.html

• http://www.pz.harvard.edu/ucp/curriculum/circuits/

These sites provide background information on students’ prior ideas and misconceptions about electricity.

Electricity Resources

• http://amasci.com/ele-edu.html

• http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html

A brief review of these sites will provide additional educational content in the fields of electricity and circuitry.

Static Electricity (Lessons 1-2)

Types of Natural Electricity

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lightning/
• http://www.kidslightning.info/zaphome.htm
• http://science.howstuffworks.com/lightning.htm
• http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/aug97/871742132.Ph.r.html
• http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/stelmo.htm
• http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20031001/Feature1.asp
• http://staff.washington.edu/chudler/ap.html
• http://www.calacademy.org/science_now/archive/academy_research/shark_brown.html

• http://www.theallineed.com/ecology/06021705.htm

These sites provide information on types of natural electricity in the world including lightning, St. Elmo’s fire, and creatures that use electricity generated in their bodies to navigate, to attack, and for protection.

Triboelectric Series

• http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_materials.htm
• http://www.semiconfareast.com/tribo_series.htm

• http://www.ece.rochester.edu/~jones/demos/triboseries.html

These sites provide additional information on the Triboelectric Series of materials that causes static electricity.

Benjamin Franklin

• http://www.fi.edu/franklin/scientst/electric.html
• http://www.fi.edu/franklin/inventor/inventor.html
• http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-59/iss-1/p42.html

• http://www.school-for-champions.com/biographies/franklin2.htm

These sites provide additional information about Benjamin Franklin and his famous “kite and key” experiment, as well as his invention of the lightning rod.

Current Electricity (Lessons 3-7)

Alessandro Volta

• http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htmhttp://www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/physgeog/contents/10h.html

• http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/scientists/volta.html

These sites provide information about Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the “voltaic pile,” the forerunner of today’s battery.

Thomas Edison

• http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/edison.htm
• http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/50.html
• http://www.nps.gov/edis/home.htm
• http://www.fi.edu/qa98/attic12/attic12.html

• http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/history/people/pioneers.html#Edison

These sites provide information about Thomas Edison and his invention of the incandescent light bulb.

Michael Faraday

• http://www.fi.edu/franklin/scientst/faraday.html

• http://www.rigb.org/rimain/heritage/faradaypage.jsp

These sites provide information about Michael Faraday and his discovery of electro-magnetic rotations, which led to the development of the electric motor.

Electric Generators and Transformers

• http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/electricity.html
• http://www.dairynet.com/kids/electric.html
• http://www.jea.com/community/education/kidscorner/electricalfacts.asp
• http://www.kcplkids.com/pr_plant.html

• http://www.rp-l.com/makeelectricity.htm

Learn about how electricity is generated and transformed for use in homes and businesses.

Communications Technology

• http://www.knowitall.org/kidswork/etv/history/telegraph/index.html
• http://www.fcc.gov/kidszone/history_telephone.html

• http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelephone.htm

Visit these kid-friendly sites for information about the telegraph, telephone, and other uses of electricity in communications.

Electrical Safety

• http://www.hydroonenetworks.com/en/safety/safety_tips/children/
• http://www.statefarm.com/consumer/vhouse/articles/childout.htm
• http://www.smud.org/safety/world/
• http://www.fplsafetyworld.com/ http://www.fplsafetyworld.com/pse_ifrm.aspx
• http://www.sierrapacific.com/kids_safety/electric/html/kids1.html

• http://www.hydroonenetworks.com/en/safety/safety_tips/children/

These sites provide important information on electrical safety, with games and activities for students to engage in.