Indiana Science HS-PSII-4.2
The Standard
For a single isolated charge, develop and apply graphical and mathematical representations that describe the relationship between the amount of charge, the distance from the charge and the strength of the electric field created by the charge and apply those representations to qualitatively and quantitatively describe how changing either the amount of charge or distance from the charge affects the strength of the electric field.
Indiana Academic Standards for Science (2023) · Electricity
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use an equation and graphs to show how the electric field around one charge changes with distance. They calculate how field strength changes when the charge or distance changes, and show the field's direction.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students use E = k|Q|/r² to calculate field strength and explain why doubling distance cuts it to one-fourth. They graph a straight-line increase with charge magnitude and a curved decrease with distance. They draw field arrows outward for positive charges and inward for negative charges.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often divide by distance rather than distance squared, so they predict that doubling distance halves the field. Some treat a negative charge as a negative field strength instead of a change in direction. Others draw a straight line for field strength versus distance.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A single charge makes a 36 N/C field at 1 m; calculate and plot field strengths at 1, 2, and 3 m. Then write what happens to each value if the charge doubles.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Use a ruler to mark 1, 2, and 3 cm from a paper charge, then place field-strength cards labeled 9, 2.25, and 1.
Have students answer in writing: If charge and distance both double, does field strength double, halve, or stay the same, and why?
Give pairs two single-charge cards, 2 nC at 1 m and 4 nC at 2 m, and have them rank field strengths.
Show a photo of a small charged metal sphere; ask students to compare field strength 10 cm and 20 cm from its center.
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