Curated OER
Wimshurst Machine
Students examine what a Wimshurst machine is and how it operates. In this mechanics lesson plan students build a Wimshurst machine and watch it in action.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench Showcase: Physics, Electromagnetism
Students can use these simulations to understand concepts in electromagnetism. Simulations are available on the following concepts: Lorentz Force, The Hall Effect, capacitor, conductor, transistor, cyclotron, static electricity....
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Forces on Charged Objects
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students learn which subatomic particles contribute to static electricity, and determine the charge of an object based on what particles it has gained or lost.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Lightning, a Natural Capacitor
Text and animated graphic show how lightning is an example of a natural capacitor.
NASA
Nasa: Innovative Engines
NASA's Glenn Research Center reports on its innovative engines program, namely ion propulsion, a technology that once only powered imaginary spacecraft in science fiction novels. It is now a reality.
Science Bob Pflugfelder
Science Bob: Bend Water With Static Electricity!
Contains a procedure for illustrating electrostatic attraction between opposite charges by causing a thin stream of water to bend. The site gives a brief discussion of static electricity, as well.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Changes in Energy Stores
Energy can be described as being in different "stores". It cannot be created or destroyed but it can be transferred, dissipated or stored in different ways. There are seven main stores of energy: magnetic, internal (thermal), chemical,...
Science Struck
Science Struck: The 13 Types of Energy and Their Applications
Read about all the different kinds of potential and kinetic energy. Includes energy formulas and examples of energy applications.
University of Virginia
Uva Virtual Lab: Pithball Ping Pong
Click on the images to observe what happens as a result of electrostatic forces. Each image presents a brief video and explanation of what is occurring.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Target Game
Steer a charged particle to a target, and observe forces and fields.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Van De Graaff Discharge
Charge up the Van de Graaff generator and drag the discharge wand close enough to form a spark. What happens to the electric potential energy when you charge the Van de Graaff and when the spark occurs?
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Conversion of Electric Potential Energy
Explore the conversion of electric potential energy to thermal energy.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Electric Charge Review
Overview of the key terms and skills related to electric charge, including how to calculate net charge.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Sticking a Balloon to a Wall
A simulation to show how a charged balloon sticks to a neutral wall.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Smartgraphs: Visualizing Electric Fields and Forces
Explore how electric fields relate to forces on charged objects.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Capacitors in Electrocardiography Monitors
This passage will test your knowledge on capacitors.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Van De Graaff Generator
A Wikipedia description of how a Van de Graaff generator works.
Other
Eds Journal: The Control of Risks From Static Electricity
From the ESD Journal website. This page describes the industrial and medical risks associated with the buildup of static charge. The investigation of the electric potential created by such accumulated charges and the materials...