Static electricity and sparks
CONCEPTUALExplain static electricity as the build-up of electric charge through friction, describe how charged objects attract or repel each other, and relate static discharge to everyday phenomena such as lightning
Mastery Evidence
- Explains that rubbing transfers electrons from one material to another, creating opposite charges
- States that like charges repel and unlike charges attract
- Links the concept of static discharge to the formation of lightning as a large-scale electric spark
Assessment Prompt
“Can [child] explain why a balloon rubbed on hair sticks to the wall, and connect this to the science of how lightning forms during a thunderstorm?”
Prerequisites2
- Current, voltage, and what they measuresoftAges 11—12
- Conductors and insulatorssoftAges 8—9
Show full prerequisite tree
- Current, voltage, and what they measure soft
Understanding charge flow in circuits (current) enriches the concept of static charge as a build-up of charge with no flow path
- Circuit vocabulary hard
Understanding current as charge flow and voltage as energy per charge requires these exact technical terms
- Drawing circuits with proper symbols hard
Understanding current and voltage as quantities requires the ability to read circuit diagrams with standard symbols, established at KS2
- Why circuit components behave differently soft
Understanding component variations supports interpreting and drawing circuit diagrams
- Circuit vocabulary hard
Comparing circuit component function requires component vocabulary: bulb, buzzer, switch, resistance
- More batteries, brighter bulb hard
Must understand voltage-brightness relationship before comparing component variations
- Will the bulb light up? hard
Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them
- Circuit vocabulary hard
Associating brightness with voltage requires 'voltage', 'current', and 'series circuit' vocabulary
- How energy travels around soft
Energy transfer concept supports understanding voltage as energy per charge
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Naming types of energy hard
Describing energy transfer by sound, light, heat, and electric current requires energy type vocabulary
- Building a simple circuit hard
Must know circuits before understanding energy transfer by electric current
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
- Communication with Light & Sound hard
Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- More batteries, brighter bulb hard
Must understand circuit behaviour before representing circuits with formal symbols
- Will the bulb light up? hard
Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them
- Circuit vocabulary hard
Associating brightness with voltage requires 'voltage', 'current', and 'series circuit' vocabulary
- How energy travels around soft
Energy transfer concept supports understanding voltage as energy per charge
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Naming types of energy hard
Describing energy transfer by sound, light, heat, and electric current requires energy type vocabulary
- Building a simple circuit hard
Must know circuits before understanding energy transfer by electric current
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
- Communication with Light & Sound hard
Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- More batteries, brighter bulb hard
KS2 observation that more cells gives brighter bulbs is the empirical foundation for defining voltage as energy per charge
- Will the bulb light up? hard
Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them
- Circuit vocabulary hard
Associating brightness with voltage requires 'voltage', 'current', and 'series circuit' vocabulary
- How energy travels around soft
Energy transfer concept supports understanding voltage as energy per charge
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Naming types of energy hard
Describing energy transfer by sound, light, heat, and electric current requires energy type vocabulary
- Building a simple circuit hard
Must know circuits before understanding energy transfer by electric current
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
- Communication with Light & Sound hard
Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Conductors and insulators soft
KS2 conductors and insulators provides context: static charge builds where charges cannot flow (insulators)
- Building a simple circuit hard
Must know circuit components before testing which materials conduct electricity
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