3. Lesson 3 - Measuring Current: Wire Width

Gabriella Anton, Connor Bain
Physics
90 minutes
High School
v2
Make a Copy

Overview

Throughout lessons 3, 4, and 5, students will continue to deepen their understanding of how to measure electric current, and how constancy of flow is maintained. Students will develop two different ways to measure current: average current and instantaneous current. Students will be introduced to some computer-based modeling to achieve this. 

In this lesson particularly, students will identify how electric current depends on the width of the wire, as well as the applied voltage. They will also start to explore tools for measuring electric current (sampling different areas of the wire, and comparing the values; averaging) and aggregate data they collect with the class. 

Underlying Pages

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards
  •   Physical Science
  •   NGSS Practice
    • Using Models
    • Arguing from Evidence
    • Analyzing Data
    • Communicating Information
Computational Thinking in STEM
  •   Data Practices
    • Analyzing Data
    • Collecting Data
    • Visualizing Data
  •   Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • Using Computational Models to Understand a Concept
  •   Computational Problem Solving Practices
    • Computer Programming
  •   Systems Thinking Practices
    • Understanding the Relationships within a System
Make a Copy