INTRO TO NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSENSORS

5E Inquiry Lesson Plans – Grade 11-12 PHYSICS

Lesson Plan #7: Using currents and biosensors in a circuit

2 block days and a speed day

62

Previous Knowledge: Students need to have an understanding of the following: electric potential (voltage), elementary charge, Coulombs’s Law, electric current, electric circuit, Voltmeters, Ammeters, Ampere, Resistance, Power, P = VI, R = V/I, Ohm’s Law, Circuit schematics, series vs. parallel design, Energy Transfer in circuits, P = I2R, capacitance, capacitor, kilowatt hours,

ENGAGE: Show the powerpoint from Lesson Plan 6 to remind students the focus of the project. Skip the slides on the Chemistry project and continue to the end of the presentation. At the end of the presentation are the slides on the physics project.

EXPLORE: . Circuit Design:

·  Draw a circuit diagram and have your teacher approve it.

·  Make a list of supplies needed & have your teacher approve it.

·  Make a list of tests you should run once it’s working & have your teacher approve it.

Make the Circuit!

à  Build it! Ask your teacher for help if you are having trouble getting it to work.

à  Run your tests! Analyze your data

EXPLAIN: Write your conclusion. The conclusion should include the following:

à  Paragraph 1: Explain first the purpose of the project. Explain the entire design process you went through. Explain the toughest and easiest parts of the design process.

à  Paragraph 2: Building the circuit: explain all the materials used and difficulty/ease of getting and using those materials. Explain difficulties in putting the circuit together and getting it to work. Include a diagram of your circuit and refer to it in your writing.

à  Paragraph 3: The Tests: Explain what tests you chose to run on your circuit and why.

ELABORATE:

à  Paragraph 4: Write about your results. Give an analysis of your results.

à  Paragraph 5: How do your results relate to the biosensor project? What thoughts, ideas, or suggestions might you have for the researchers on the project? What did you like and dislike about this project? What recommendations do you have for the next time physics students do this project?

EVALUATE: Teachers at this level can determine a rubric that is comfortable to both students and the teacher. Some will base the entire project on the conclusion whereas others will want to weight the design and building process too.

Contact Michigan State University regarding a field trip there for the students to see what the latest is in biomedical engineering and physics on campus! Of course a stop by the biosensor lab is vital so students can see any updates since they were there last year!

62