Didactic sequence - From the atom to the wall outlet

↳ Corresponding to the infographic "Atomic Models and Electric Charges".

Lesson plan

FROM THE ATOM TO THE WALL OUTLET: Electric Charge - An introduction to the study of particles

Subject: Physics Grade: High School Duration: 2 classes of 50 minutes (100 minutes total)

General Objectives

To understand the nature of electric charge and its relationship to atomic structure.
To relate the properties of metals to the conduction of electricity.
To explain how electrical energy is generated and applied in simple circuits.

LESSON 1: ATOMIC MODELS AND ELECTRIC CHARGE

Didactic suggestion for the guiding question/contextual introduction: What is electricity? Where do we find it in everyday life?

To understand what it is, we need to discuss its origin; that is, what produces it and where it comes from. To do this, we will analyze its microscopic chronology.

1. Dalton's Model (1808) – “Solid Sphere”

Main idea: Atoms are indivisible and indestructible particles.
Contribution: First scientific atomic theory based on experimental evidence.
Limitation: Did not explain reactions with electricity or the existence of subatomic particles.

2. Thomson's Model (1897) – “Plum Pudding”

Discovery: Electrons (negative particles).
Main Idea: The atom is a positive sphere with electrons embedded within it.
Experiment: Cathode ray tube.
Limitation: It did not explain the structure of the nucleus or the stability of the atom.

3. Rutherford's Model (1911) – “Planetary Model”

Experiment: He bombarded a gold foil with α particles.
Discovery: Small, dense, and positive nucleus.
Main Idea: Electrons orbit the nucleus like planets.
Limitation: It did not explain why electrons did not lose energy and fall into the nucleus.

4. Bohr's Model (1913) – “Quantized Orbits”

Focus: Hydrogen atom.
Main idea: Electrons revolve in fixed orbits (energy levels) without emitting radiation.
Contribution: Explained light spectra and the quantization of energy.
Limitation: Only worked well for simple atoms.

5. Quantum Mechanics Model (1920s) – “Electron Cloud”

Scientists: Schrödinger, Heisenberg, among others.
Main idea: Electrons are represented by probability clouds (orbitals).
Contribution: Most accurate model to date, based on wave equations and uncertainty principles.

The natural question to ask is: How does electricity connect to atomic structure?

Electrons (discovered by Thomson) are the carriers of negative charge.
The mobility of electrons in the outermost layers explains conductivity in metals.
The modern atomic structure underpins all electricity and electronics.

That is, matter (composed of particles) now possesses charge (quantized) and can perform interactions (move through the electron cloud). Furthermore, we can highlight:

Electric charge is a fundamental property of particles such as electrons and quarks.
Electrons have a negative charge; protons (made of 2 up quarks and 1 down quark) have a positive charge.

Experimental suggestion: Demonstrate static electricity with a balloon and shredded paper. Discuss friction, contact, and induction.

LESSON 2: METALLIC PROPERTIES AND ELECTRICAL ENERGY

1. Metallic Properties:

Explain metallic bonding: "sea of free electrons".
Show how the electrons in the outermost shell (valence electrons) are free to move.
Compare with non-metals (e.g., wood does not conduct electricity, but copper wire does).