A student simulation into charging objects using induction and conduction

Link to the lesson plan for this charging simulation/demonstration.
Video demonstration for this simulation, completed by a student.
This lesson complies with Physics standards Part IV, Topic 25 (1a, 1b, 1c) (WASSCE 2016).

When a charged object, such as a blown-up balloon that one rubs on a sweater, is held near a piece of fur or the hairs on someone's arm, the fur or hair will stick up and point towards the balloon, even if the balloon is not touching the fur or hair. This is a process called induction, where the electric field from the net charge of the balloon polarizes the fur or hair, causing an attractive force. If the balloon actually touched the fur or hair, then charge could physically move from one object to the other; this transfer of charge is called charging by conduction.

With these two processes, students will be given a situation and outcome for some number of metallic objects. Students will need to develop a method for that task to actually be able to happen, and using any physical objects they choose as manipulatives, explain how it could work out!

Rotational motion in physics - some examples to try

For any physics classes that do rotational motion, with minimal supplies and materials perhaps some of the activities listed in this lesson could be used as demonstrations or lab examples. The big ideas for rotations is that one or more forces acting on an object or system must create a torque on the object in order to change the rotational motion of the object, that the shapes of objects matter because different shapes have different moments of inertia, and that angular momentum is conserved when there is no external torques acting on an object or system. Give some a try!