Unit 9

Heat and Electricity

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 1

Introduction 3

Essential Questions 4

Review 4

Lesson 9.1: Electricity 5

Objectives 5
Warm-Up 5
Learn about It 6
Key Points 10
Web Links 10
Check Your Understanding 11
Challenge Yourself 12

Lesson 9.2: Conductors of Heat and Electricity 13

Objectives 13
Warm-Up 13
Learn about It 15
Key Points 18
Web Links 18
Check Your Understanding 19
Challenge Yourself 20

Lesson 9.3: Insulators of Heat and Electricity 21

Objectives 21
Warm-Up 21
Learn about It 22
Key Points 25
Web Links 25
Check Your Understanding 26
Challenge Yourself 27

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Lesson 9.4: Effects of Heat and Electricity 28
Objectives 28
Warm-Up 28
Learn about It 29
Key Points 33
Web Links 33
Check Your Understanding 34
Challenge Yourself 34

Laboratory Activity 35

Performance Task 39

Self Check 41

Key Words 41

Wrap Up 42

Photo Credits 43

References 43

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GRADE 5 | SCIENCE

Unit 9
Heat and Electricity

In today’s modern world, different appliances and gadgets allow us not only to
accomplish important tasks but to live comfortably as well. At home, sumptuous
food is cooked with the help of an electric or a gas stove. Information can be
obtained in one click with the use of computers or mobile devices. You get to enjoy
and relax during your free time watching television. One thing that is common
among the appliances mentioned is that all of them are powered by electricity and
at some point releases heat.

The discovery of the use of heat and electricity has improved the lives of people
throughout history. The applications of heat and electricity became possible
because of the materials that allow heat and electricity to flow through them.
Choosing the right materials to use with heat and electricity allows its safe and
proper use.

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 Essential Questions

At the end of this unit, you should be able to answer the following questions.

● What is electricity?
● How is static electricity different from current electricity?
● What makes a material a good conductor or insulator of heat and electricity?
● What are some uses of conductors and insulators?
● How do black and colored objects affect the ability to absorb heat?
● What are the different uses of heat and electricity throughout history?
● What could be harmful effects of heat and electricity?
● How can you keep yourself safe when using heat and electricity?

Review

● Heat is a form of energy that flows between objects with different

temperatures.
● Temperature is the measurement of hotness or coldness of an object.
● Heat travels by conduction, convection and radiation.
○ When heat travels between two things that are touching or in contact,
the process is called conduction.
○ The process of rising of hotter and lighter particles and the sinking of
heavier and colder particles in liquids and gases is called convection.
○ In radiation, heat travels as waves from the source to an area or
object with lower temperature.
● Exposure to intense heat can result in dehydration and heat stroke.

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 Lesson 9.1: Electricity

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to:
● recognize the particles in an atom;
● differentiate between static and current electricity; and
● describe electricity.

Have you seen a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm? If you have, then you have
seen electricity. You are using electricity when you turn on a flashlight, your gadget
or the lights in your room. Technological developments were made possible
because man learned how to harness and use electricity. What is electricity and
how does electricity work?

Warm-Up

Dancing Paper Bits

Materials:
● 1 sheet of a plastic cover (size is 4” × 4”)
● glossy and colorful magazine cover
● transparent glass jar
● scissors

Procedure:
1. Cut the magazine cover into tiny bits.
2. Place the cut bits of glossy paper inside a transparent jar. Remember not to
shake the jar as you put the bits of paper. Leave the jar open.
3. Hold the plastic cover on both ends. Rub the plastic cover against the side of
the table. Do it for at least 30 times.
4. Right after rubbing the plastic cover, place it over the opening of the jar.
5. Observe what happens to the bits of paper inside the jar.

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Guide Questions:
1. What happens to the bits of paper when you place the rubbed plastic cover
over the jar?
2. What made the bits of paper attracted to the plastic cover?
3. What do you think will happen if you shake the jar upon placing the bits of
paper in it?
4. If you did not rub the plastic cover, do you think it will still attract the bits of
paper?
5. How does rubbing the plastic cover make it “attracting” to the bits of paper?

Learn about It

All things, living or not are made up of atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of
matter. An atom is a tiny particle which cannot be seen even with an ordinary
microscope. It contains smaller particles which carry charges. The positively
charged particles in an atom are known as protons while the negatively charged
particles are called electrons. The number of protons and electrons in an atom
determines its charge too. A neutral atom has the same number of protons and
electrons. When an atom loses or gains electrons, the atom becomes charged. A
charged atom has an unequal number of protons and electrons.

Fig. 1. A simple model of an atom with a proton (red) in the middle, and an
electron.

Electrons are loosely attached to atoms, and this enables them to move to other
atoms. When an atom loses electrons, then it will have more protons than
electrons. An atom that has more protons than electrons is said to have a
positive charge. On the other hand, an atom that gains electrons will have more
electrons than protons and is said to have a negative charge.

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 Fig. 2. A negatively charged atom has more electrons while a positively charged
atom has more protons.

Realizing that all materials are made up of atoms which have positively and
negatively charged particles, it is easy to understand how electricity is produced.
Electricity can be described as the movement of electrons. When electrons move
to other atoms causing an unequal number of protons and electrons, atoms
become charged. When there are charged atoms, there is electricity.

Static Electricity
When you witness a lightning strike, you are looking at static electricity. Static
electricity is the result of an imbalance in electric charges in an object.

Fig. 3. Static electricity can make hair strands repel temporarily.

Have you experienced combing your hair and noticing that some of the strands
seem to follow the comb once you take it away from your hair? Friction between
the comb and the hair can rub electrons off from your hair to the atoms in the

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comb. This will result in the comb gaining electrons, making it negatively charged.
Since your hair lost some electrons, then it becomes positively charged.

Similar to magnets, like charges repel while opposite charges attract. In the given
illustration, as the boy slides, some of the electrons on his body transferred to the
slide. This transfer of electrons made parts of his body like his hair positively
charged. Since his hair strands which are close to each other are positively charged,
they will repel one another. The repulsion will result in the temporary standing of
some of the hair strands. If the boy combs his hair, some of the electrons will move
to positively charged atoms for it to become neutral.

Fig. 4. Static electricity can make comb attract paper temporarily.

Static electricity occurs when atoms build-up charges. When atoms are charged,
electrons move. Lightning happens because of the build-up of charges in clouds.
You see lightning as electrons transfer to positively charged atoms.

Fig. 5. Lightning occurs when there is a build-up of opposite charges in clouds.

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Electric Current
Every time you turn on the light or switch on any appliance or electronic gadget,
you are using electricity. The form of electricity referred to when used in appliances,
machines and other electronic devices, is known as electric current. Current
simply means flow. Electric current can be described as flowing electrons.

Fig. 6. The electricity you use everyday flow through wires.

Unlike static electricity, electric current can flow only through a material. The
electrical wire serves as the pathway for electrons to flow. This flow of electrons
can also be likened to falling domino bricks. One push on one brick pushes the next
brick, until all that is in the line of dominoes are toppled down.

Fig. 7. Parts of a car engine are connected to the energy source (battery) through
wires.

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 Key Points

● Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.

○ An atom has smaller particles in it which carry charges.
○ The positively charged particles in an atom are known as protons,
while the negatively charged particles are called electrons.
○ An atom becomes charged when it loses or gains electrons.
● Electricity can be described as the movement of electrons.
○ Static electricity occurs when atoms build up charges.
○ Electric current can be described as flowing electrons.

Web Links

For further information about electricity, you can check the following web links:
● Read this article about the kite experiment of Benjamin
Franklin which leads to the discovery of the electrical nature of
lightning.
The Franklin Institute. 2018. ‘Benjamin Franklin and the Kite Experiment’.
https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/kite-key-experiment

● Watch this video to understand the science of static electricity.

TED-Ed. 2015. ‘The science of static electricity - Anuradha Bhagwat.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc2-363MIQs

● Watch this another video to learn several facts about the

electricity you use in your daily life.
Kiddo Club. 2017. ‘10 Facts About Electricity!.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz0IgM8Nlhc

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 Check Your Understanding

A. Identify what is being described in each statement. Choose your answers

from the box below.

atom attraction current electricity electron static

1. It exists when there is a buildup of charges in objects.

2. It happens between two atoms that have opposite charges.
3. It can be described as the movement of electrons.
4. It is the smallest particle that makes up all things.
5. It is a particle that can transfer to another atom and can change the
charge of an atom.

B. Read and analyze the following statements given. Tell if the statement is true
or false.
1. Lightning occurs because the protons in clouds transfer to other clouds.
2. When an atom has more protons, it is positively charged.
3. An electron that flows through a material is electric current.
4. An object with a negative charge will repel an object with an opposite
charge.
5. An atom that loses its protons creates a current.

C. Tell whether the given illustration of the atom is positive, negative, or

neutral.

1. 2. 3.

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 4. 5. 6.

Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is the difference between static and current electricity?
2. What will happen if two objects with unlike charges are near each other, and
when two objects with like charges are near each other?
3. How does rubbing an object create charges?
4. When will an object be positively or negatively charged?
5. How is an electric current produced?

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 Lesson 9.2: Conductors of Heat and
Electricity

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to:
● describe what conductors are;
● explain why some materials are good conductors of heat and
electricity;
● infer how black and colored objects affect the ability to absorb
heat; and
● cite some uses of conductors.

When you plug in a cell phone charger, you allow electricity to flow from the source,
through the cable, and to the cell phone. Why does electricity flow in the charger
cable? What materials allow heat and electricity to flow?

Warm-Up

Light Me Up
Materials:
● 1.5 V battery (size AA)
● battery holder (for size AA)
● 1.5 light bulb
● bulb socket
● electrical tape
● rubber band
● aluminum foil
● metal key
● toothpick
● ballpen
● safety pin

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Safety Alert!
Adult assistance is required in doing this activity especially in connecting the wire
of the battery holder to the bulb socket.

Procedure:
1. Screw the light bulb in the socket.
2. Place the battery inside the battery holder.
3. Connect one end of the wire of the battery holder to one screw of the bulb
socket.
4. Stretch the other end of the wire of the battery holder on the table. Put
electrical tape on it to keep it steady but make sure to expose its end.
5. Test each material that you have and see if it will light up the bulb. To do this,
connect one end of the material on the exposed battery holder wire and
attach its other end to the other screw of the bulb socket.

6. Record your observations.

Guide Questions:
1. Which materials make the bulb light up when it completes the connection
with the battery?
2. Which materials did not make the bulb light up even if it is connected to the
battery?
3. What is common among the materials that make the bulb light up?
4. How did the electricity flow from the battery to the light bulb?

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 Learn about It

Imagine a road with different pathways where vehicles are passing by. The said
scenario is similar to how electricity is flowing. Electricity flows in a certain pathway
until it reaches its destination which will make an object work. Conductors can be
described as materials that can be likened to pathways. A material is a conductor if
it allows heat or electricity to travel through it. Conductivity describes how easily
heat or electricity can transfer through a material. It is a measure that can be used
to compare how good a material is as a conductor compared to others.

Fig. 8. Conductors have electrons that can easily move away from the atoms.

Heat energy is generated when particles move. Heat spreads throughout the
material when there is an electric current because of the movement of electrons.
Therefore, many electrical conductors are also conductors of heat.

Characteristics of Good Conductors

A material made of atoms with loose electrons will allow heat and electricity to flow.
Metals are made up of atoms that have more loose electrons compared to other
materials. This characteristic of metal made them good conductors of heat and
electricity. However, metals differ in their conductivity. Some metals like silver, gold,
copper and aluminum have higher electrical conductivity compared to others.
Their higher conductivity makes them good conductors of electricity.

Take note that there are also some nonmetal materials that can conduct heat and
electricity. Water and your body are examples of nonmetal objects that allow
electricity to flow.

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 silver aluminum gold copper
Fig. 9. Silver, aluminum, gold, and copper are metals with high conductivity.

Common Uses of Conductors

Silver is used as contact parts of batteries and other conductive parts that need to
be connected to equipment like watches, computers and solar panels.

parts of a battery charger parts of a watch and solar panel

battery
Fig. 10. Silver is used as an electrical conductor in parts of devices, batteries and
solar panels.

On the other hand, copper is commonly used in electrical wires because of its high
conductivity, ductility, and it is more abundant than silver.

Fig. 11. Copper is made into electrical wires.

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Materials used for heating are chosen because of their good conductivity and their
abundance. Silver is a good conductor of heat, but diamond is known to have a
higher heat conductivity than silver. Copper, aluminum, and iron are more
abundant than diamond, a lot cheaper to use and are also good conductors of heat.
They do not change easily as they transfer heat when used in cooking. If they are
poor conductors, it will either take more time for food to cook, or they might
change shape, or melt because of the heat.

Fig. 12. Metals like aluminum and iron are used to conduct heat from source to
food that is being cooked.

Absorption of Heat
Light has different components including the colors of the rainbow. When light
passes through a white colored object, all the colors of light bounce off the object
and you see the white color. When light passes through a black object, all the light
is absorbed, and no color bounces off the object, hence you see only black.

Fig. 13. Black colored parts of a material will heat faster because it absorbs all the
light.

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When light is absorbed by an object, it interacts with the atoms of the object,
making the atoms move. Atoms bumping each other generates heat. Since black
object absorbs all the light, its temperature can increase faster than any other
colored objects.

Key Points

● Conductivity describes how easily heat or electricity can transfer through a

material.
● A material is described as a conductor if it allows heat or electricity to travel
through it.
● Metals are known to be good conductors of heat and electricity. However,
metals vary in their conductivity.
● Black absorbs all light, and light is converted to heat.

Web Links

For further information about conductors of heat and electricity, you can check the
following web links:

● Read this article to find out which metals best conduct

electricity.
All Metals Fabrication. 2016. ‘Which Metal Best Conducts Electricity?’
https://www.allmetalsfab.com/metal-best-conducts-electricity/

● Watch this video to understand more about the electrical

conductivity of an object.
It’s AumSum Time. 2015. ‘Electrical Conductivity.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZPURSF5iH4

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 Check Your Understanding

A. Put a check (✓) if the statement is true and a cross (X) if the statement is
false.
1. Silver is the most commonly used heat conductor.
2. Any object that allows electricity to flow is a conductor of electricity.
3. A black shirt will absorb more heat than a white shirt.
4. Metals are conductors because they have more electrons than other
materials.
5. Heat conductors allow heat to spread on its surface.

B. If the statement is true, draw a smiley face ( ). If it is not, change the

underlined word to make it true.
1. Metals have loose protons that can easily transfer to other atoms.
2. Diamond allows heat to flow in it.
3. An object with high conductivity is considered as good conductors.
4. A black car will bounce off all light that is why you see it as black.
5. A metal that spreads heat fast is a good conductor of heat.

C. Tell whether the material is a conductor of heat and/or electricity or not.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

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 Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why are metals considered as good conductors of heat and electricity?
2. What are the properties of copper that make it a common material for wires
and cooking pots?
3. Why should you not plug electric appliances with wet hands?
4. Why is it not advisable to wear black or dark colored shirts on a sunny day?
5. If a material has intact electrons, do you think it will be able to conduct heat
and electricity? Why or why not?

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 Lesson 9.3: Insulators of Heat and
Electricity

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to:
● describe what insulators are;
● explain why some materials are good insulators of heat and
electricity; and
● cite some uses of insulators.

Have you noticed that all the electrical wires you use at home, from charger cables
to appliance cables, are covered in plastic or rubber? Why are electrical wirings
wrapped with those kinds of materials? There are materials that are opposite to
conductors in which they do not allow heat and electricity to pass through them.
What materials do not allow heat and electricity to flow?

Warm-Up

Beat the Heat

Materials:
● 4 identical small jars with lid
● thermos with hot water
● thick cloth
● aluminum foil
● 4 pieces rubber gloves
● 2 sheets bond paper

Safety Alert!
Be careful in handling the hot glass with hot water. Ask for an adult to assist you
in doing this activity.

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Procedure:
1. Label the jars as A, B, C, and D.
2. Cover Jar A with thick cloth; Jar B with aluminum foil; Jar C with rubber gloves;
and Jar D with bond papers.
3. Pour an equal amount of hot water in each jar and cover each jar with its lid.
4. Gently touch the sides of each jar. Observe which jar has the hottest cover
and which jar is the least heat absorbed by the cover.

Guide Questions:
1. Which material / covering of the jar absorbed the most amount of heat from
the hot water? the least amount of heat?
2. What characteristics does a material possess in order for it to absorb the
most amount of heat? the least amount of heat?
3. How did the heat from the water transfer to the covering of the jar?

Learn about It

Most of the cooking pots and pans are made up of metals so the heat from the
stove can easily be conducted to the food it is cooking. Most of the time, handles
are made up of wood, plastic, or rubber. This is to prevent the heat from flowing
easily on handles which are necessary for the person to hold it while cooking.

A material that does not allow electrons to flow is called an electrical insulator.
Electrical insulators are materials made of atoms that do not have loose electrons
On the other hand, a material that does not allow heat to flow is called a heat
insulator. These materials do not transfer heat throughout their surface easily.
Plastic, glass, cloth, and wood are examples of both electrical and heat insulators.

plastic cloth glass wood

Fig. 14. Materials such as plastic, cloth, glass and rubber do not allow heat and
electricity to flow.

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Characteristics of Good Electrical and Heat Insulators
Good electrical insulators prevent electric current from traveling through
them. Insulators are used to cover electrical wires to prevent the flow of electrons
to other conductors such as water, and the human body. If wires are not insulated,
electricity can be conducted from the wire to your body if you touch it.

Fig. 15. Copper wires are covered with insulators.

Good electrical insulators are not always good heat insulators. Plastic and
rubber are heat insulators therefore heat does not easily spread on these
materials. However, too much heat can change some types of plastic and rubber
easily by melting them. There are also types of glass that crack when heated, so not
all glass are good insulators of heat.

Good heat insulators are heat resistant. Being heat resistant is similar to being
heat proof, wherein the material does not become hot easily even if it is exposed to
heat. Good insulators are heat resistant. These are materials that do not allow heat
to travel through them, and do not change easily. Also, such materials are used to
make lunch boxes and water bottles that can maintain the temperature of food or
water inside them. In insulated containers, the heat from hot food does not
transfer to the air outside the container. In the same way, heat from the air outside
does not transfer to cold food or drink inside the container.

Fig. 16. Lunch boxes and water jugs are often insulated to keep the temperature of
the food or drink it contains.

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Do you notice the materials used in drinking coasters, pot place holders, and ladle
handles? Insulators like plastic, rubber, cloth, and wood are usually found in parts
of those objects. These materials keep heat from traveling to your hands when
handling hot objects.

Fig. 17. A rubber coaster prevents heat from reaching the table. A plastic handle
prevents heat from going to the cook’s hand.

Silicone and polystyrene are examples of plastic that are good insulators. Silicone
is used in electrical wires, cooking, and baking because of its electrical and heat
insulating properties.

Fig. 18. Silicone mold was placed inside the oven to bake this cupcake.

Polystyrene is commonly used to make packaging materials. One popular brand of

polystyrene is styrofoam. Fresh meat, fish, and ice are commonly packed in
polystyrene boxes when they are being transported from the source to the
markets. They maintain the freshness of food and prevent ice from melting by
keeping heat away from the inside of the box.

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Fig. 19. Eggs of sea turtles were collected for safe transfer. The eggs are insulated in
a polystyrene box.

Key Points

● A material that does not allow heat or electrons to flow is an insulator.

● Not all good electrical insulators are good heat conductors too. Some
electrical insulators may not be able to withstand the high heat that enters
through it.
● Good insulators are heat resistant. Heat resistance is the ability of a
material to resist heat to flow through it.

Web Links

For further information on insulators of heat and electricity, you can check the
following web links:

● Read this article to discover some do-it-yourself insulated lunch

bags.
Beaty, V. 2017. ‘10 Easy to Sew DIY Lunch Bags and Pouches for Kids and Adults.’
https://bit.ly/2L6Phj1

● Watch this video to find out how insulation works at home.

Kingspan Insulation UK. 2017. ‘How does insulation work?.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaUz_SqOXnI

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 Check Your Understanding

A. Classify the materials if it is an electrical insulator, heat insulator, or both. Put

a check (✓) in the appropriate column.

Material Electrical Heat Both Electrical

Insulator only Insulator only and Heat
Insulator

1. air

2. cloth

3. silicone

4. rubber

5. glass

6. wood

7. plastic

8. styrofoam

9. cotton

10. leather

B. Read and analyze the following statement given. Fill in the blanks to
complete each statement. Choose from the words given in the box below.

electrical flow insulator melt metal polystyrene wood

1. _______________ is commonly used in packaging fish, fresh meat and ice.

2. Heat will not travel from a hot pot to your hands if there is an ___________
in between.

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 3. If wire is not covered with an insulator, electricity can ____________ outside
the wires.
4. An object that is heat resistant will not easily _______________.
5. A _____________ handle will not keep heat from transferring to your skin.

Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why are electrical wirings covered with rubber or plastic?
2. How are heat and electrical insulators different from each other?
3. Why are some electrical insulators not good heat insulators?
4. How does insulation in food containers maintain the temperature of food
and beverages?
5. How important is observing proper insulation at home?

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 Lesson 9.4: Effects of Heat and Electricity

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to:
● describe common uses of heat and electricity; and
● discuss safe use of heat and electricity.

Can you think of a day in your life when you have not used heat and electricity? In
the present modern society, heat and electricity are part of everyone’s life. You use
heat and electricity every day, in both your waking and sleeping hours. How are
heat and electricity safely used by man?

Warm-Up

Spot the Hazard

Material:
● laptop or mobile device with an internet connection

Procedure:
1. Open your browser and go to the Power Up UK website.

● Power Up UK - Spot the Hazard Game

UK Power Networks. 2014.’ Spot the Hazard.’
http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powerup/en/over-11/danger/spot-
the-hazard/

2. Play the game by spotting the different hazards related to electricity.

Guide Questions:
1. What does hazard mean?
2. When is something considered a hazard when it comes to electricity?
3. What are some hazards you have spotted in the game?
4. Why is it important to know the different electric hazards at home?

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 Learn about It

Using Heat and Electricity

Electricity is the energy used to run all industries that exist today, from
manufacturing to entertainment. It can be transported to specific areas through
wires to make it useful for so many purposes in any area. Factories rely on
electricity to operate machines. Buildings and homes use electricity for light, air
cooling or warming, appliances, and many more. Electricity is also necessary for the
field of transportation and entertainment.

Fig. 20. The needs and wants of society are fulfilled with the use of electricity.

Heat is used in many industries such as in mining, electricity generation,

manufacturing, transportation, and food. Heat is used in buildings and homes to
control the temperature inside, for cooking, and for drying.

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 Fig. 21. Many power plants use heat to Fig. 22. Heat is used to purify and
generate electricity. transform metals into usable forms.

Dangers in Using Electricity

Electricity can be harmful if not used with proper care. If you have experienced
accidentally touching an exposed wire while it is plugged, you are aware of how
unpleasant that can be. An electrical wire that is not covered by an insulator is
referred to as exposed. A live wire describes a wire carrying an electric current. If
your body comes in contact with a live and exposed wire, you are allowing your
body to become a conductor of electricity. The effect can be mild to deadly.

Fig. 23. Do not touch an exposed wire as it may be a live wire.

An electric shock can be experienced by a person that comes directly in contact

with a live wire. The effects of electric shock depend mainly on how much electricity
passed through the body. The effects range from a startling tingling sensation that
can be painful, minor or major burns due to heat carried with electricity, to damage
of internal organs. In the worst cases, electric shock can lead to electrocution or
death by electric shock.

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Dangers in Using Heat
Heat can cause burns in the body. Depending on the intensity of heat and the
length of time the body is exposed to it, burns can be severe, and in worst cases, it
can be deadly. Contact between heat from objects and the skin can cause burns.
On the other hand, contact between heat from objects and flammable objects can
cause a fire. Flammable objects are those that can easily ignite or burn such as
dried leaves, paper, oil, and alcohol.

Electricity carries heat with it as it travels through wires. Overheating of electrical

devices can cause a fire. Fire can form if there is enough heat, oxygen, and
something that can burn (fuel). Fire can cause damage or loss of property, injuries,
and death.

Fig. 24. The misuse or careless use of heat and electricity can lead to tragic
accidents such as fire.

Safe Use of Heat and Electricity

Hazards are conditions that can possibly cause harm or lead to accidents. In order
to reduce the hazards of heat and electricity, it is important to take note of the
following:

Safety Measure Reason

For heat hazards:

● Make sure to use insulated pads, It will prevent heat from flowing to
gloves or mittens when handling hot your skin. The thicker the insulator,
objects such as pots and pans. the harder it is for heat to flow
through it.

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 ● Stay focused when cooking and Flammable ingredients may come in
baking. Do not leave food contact with a heat source and start
unattended while they are being a fire.
heated.

● Keep flammable objects (ex. as

paper, alcohol and oil) near a heat
source.

For electricity hazards:

● Before plugging and using They may come in contact with other
appliances, check if the wires are conductors.
completely insulated, and there are
no exposed parts of the wire.

● Never touch the metal parts of the Electricity can flow to you.
plug.

● Unplug appliances, devices and Appliances, devices and chargers

chargers when not in use. Do not can overheat.
leave charging devices unattended.

● Do not plug in too many devices at There can be an overload of power

the same time. use and this can cause a fire.

● Do not touch electrical appliances Water is another electricity

with wet hands. conductor that can easily allow
electricity to flow to your hands.

● During rainy weather, wear There may be live wires that can
rubber-soled covered shoes when it accidentally fall and come in contact
is unavoidable to walk on wet with the wet street.
streets.

● Report immediately to adults if you Odor and sparks are signs of

smell something near the wires, or if burning.
you notice sparks coming off the
wires.

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 Key Points

● Heat and electricity are used in various fields and industries, However, its
misuse can bring hazards or conditions that can possibly cause harm or lead
to accidents.
● Dangers of using heat and electricity include electric shock, burns,
electrocution, and fire.
● Precautionary measures for safe use of heat and electricity include
prevention of contact with conductors and prevention of overheating.

Web Links

For further information on the effects of heat and electricity, you can check the
following web links:

● Read this article to find out some efficiency tips on the use of
electricity at home.
Meralco. 2018. ‘Top 10 Efficiency Tips | Meralco Darksite.’
http://powerstatus.meralco.com.ph/top-10-efficiency-tips/

● Watch this video to learn how to stay safe around electricity.

OG & E. 2014. ‘Kids Safety.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr9YntO7V1U

● Watch this video to know how to stay safe under the heat of
the sun.
mlhealthunit. 2016. ‘Heat Safety.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCsJv8RpBM

33
 Check Your Understanding
A. Read and analyze the following statements given. Identify what is being
described in each statement.
1. It can result in a situation wherein heat, fuel, and oxygen are present.
2. It is death by electric shock.
3. An electric wire that is not covered by an insulator.
4. A wire that is carrying an electric current.
5. Objects that can easily ignite, burn or catch fire.
6. Objects or situations that can lead to accidents.
7. It happens when an electrical device produces too much heat as it
functions.

B. Write the word Do if it is a correct practice, and Don’t if it is not.

1. Hold the metal plug if you will put it in the socket.
2. Wear open sandals when walking in wet streets because it is easier to
clean.
3. Plug appliances with dry hands.
4. Unplug the cell phone charger when the battery is full.
5. Use aluminum foil to hold a hot pot.
6. Play mobile devices while still charging.
7. Report immediately if you smell a burning wire.
8. Leave the kitchen while cooking.

Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What do you think will happen to you if you accidentally touch a live wire?
2. In your opinion, at what age should a child be allowed to use things that
involve heat and electricity? Defend your answer.
3. What are some safety symbols that you usually see in electrical appliances?
4. Why is it not safe to use an electrical appliance such as a radio or hair dryer
in the bathroom?
5. How does understanding the dangers of using heat and electricity help you
be safe as a student?

34
 Laboratory Activity

Activity 9.1
Homemade Electroscope

Objectives
At the end of this laboratory activity, the students should be able to:
● describe how electroscope works;
● explain how different materials produce static electricity; and
● make an improvised electroscope.

Materials and Equipment

● styrofoam cup ● aluminum foil
● barbecue stick ● styrofoam plate
● plastic drinking straw ● balloon
● aluminum pie pan ● wooden desk or table
● clay ● materials to test such as cotton,
● scissors nylon, plastic wrap, tissue paper,
● thread and silk

Safety Alert!
Be careful with the use of scissors and barbecue sticks as these are pointed
materials that may puncture your skin if not used properly.

Procedure
1. Make your homemade electroscope.
a. Using a barbecue stick, make two holes near the bottom of a styrofoam
cup. Holes should be on opposite sides of the cup.

35
b. Push a plastic straw through both holes.
c. Stick four small clay balls on the rim of the styrofoam cup. Then, turn it
upside down and secure it on the aluminum pan.
d. As you stick the cup on the pan, make sure that the one end of the straw
is right above the edge of the pan.

e. Using a thread, measure the distance between one end of the straw and
the edge of the pan.

f. Cut a piece of thread that is three times longer than the distance you
measured before. Tie a few knots in one end of the thread.

36
 g. Make a ball around the knots in the thread using an aluminum foil. The
ball should be like the size of a marble or smaller. It should be tightly
wrapped around the knots.

h. Attach the thread to the tip of the straw. Let the ball of foil hang from the
straw, and touch the edge of the pan.

i. You may now test your homemade electroscope.

2. Test your electroscope.

a. Create some static electricity by rubbing the inflated balloon on a
styrofoam plate.

b. Place the electrically charged styrofoam plate on the wooden desk.

37
 c. Hold your electroscope by the cup and not by the pan. Then place it on
top of the plate. Observe what happens to the ball of foil of your
electroscope.

d. Test the other materials by following steps a to c. Make sure to discharge

first the electroscope by touching the pan with your fingers before testing
the other materials.
e. Record your observations.

Observations
Table 1. Reaction of the Foil Ball.
Materials Observations

cotton

nylon

plastic wrap

38
 tissue paper

silk

Guide Questions
1. How does rubbing the balloon on the materials to be tested to create static
electricity?
2. What does the movement of the foil ball away from the edge of the pan
indicate?
3. Which material has the most build up of electric charges? Least build up of
electric charges? Why do you think so?
4. How does an electroscope work?

Performance Task

Designing a Solar Oven

Goal
● Your task is to design and construct your own solar oven using a shoe box as
the main material and clean recyclable materials that are appropriate for this
project.

Role
● Together with an adult partner, research on how you can construct a
functional solar oven. Once you have gathered enough information, you are
to create a solar oven that is not only functional but should also be durable,
reusable, and portable.

Audience
● The target audience for this activity is your classmates. You should be able to
convince them that your solar oven is working and is safe to use.

39
Situation
● You are to demonstrate to your class how your solar oven works by cooking
a slice of pizza in it. The pizza must be cooked in the shortest possible time.
While cooking, you should also consider the safety features of your solar
over. It should have an insulated handle which is safe to hold in case you
need to transfer it immediately.

Product, Performance, and Purpose

● The solar oven must be as big as a shoe box. It should have an insulated
handle/s which keeps the user safe when holding it. It should also be
portable or easy to carry around. Lastly, the solar oven must be capable of
cooking a slice of pizza in the shortest possible time.

Standards and Criteria

Your performance will be graded by the following rubric.

Needs Successful Exemplary

Below Expectations,
Criteria 0% to 49%
Improvement Performance Performance
50% to 74% 75% to 99% 100%

Design. The design The design The design The design

showed a lack of achieved at least 1 achieved at least 2 achieved all the 3
The overall design of
research and most out of 3 criteria out of 3 criteria criteria given. All
the solar oven shows
of the materials given. Some of the given. Most of the the materials used
durability, reusability,
used are materials used are materials used are in the project are
and portability. The
inappropriate. inappropriate too. appropriate for appropriate and
materials used are
the project. served their
appropriate for the purposes.
project.

Functionality The solar oven is The solar oven The solar oven The solar oven
not functional. It was able to was able to was able to
The solar oven is able
was not able to conduct heat from conduct heat from conduct heat from
to conduct heat from
conduct heat from the sun. However, the sun. It was the sun and cook
the sun to the slice of
the sun. it was not able to also able to cook the slice of pizza in
pizza being cooked. It
cook the slice of the pizza in it but a very short time.
was able to cook the
pizza in it. the length of time
slice of pizza in the of cooking may
smallest possible still be lessened.
time.

40
 Self Check

After studying this unit, can you now do the following?

Check I can…

describe electricity.

differentiate static electricity from current electricity.

differentiate conductors from insulators.

explain what makes a material a good conductor or insulator of heat

and electricity.

enumerate some uses of conductors and insulators.

explain how black and colored objects affect the ability to absorb heat.

cite common uses of heat and electricity at home and in various

industries.

discuss some harmful effects of heat and electricity.

suggest ways to keep safe when using heat and electricity.

Key Words

Atom It is the building block of matter.

Charged atom It is an atom has an unequal number of protons and

electrons.
Conductor A kind of material that allows heat or electricity to travel
through it.
Current electricity It is described as the flowing electrons.

Electricity It is described as the movement of electrons.

41
Electron It is a negatively charged particle in an atom.

Insulator A kind of material that does not allow heat or electricity

to travel through it
Neutral atom This atom has the same number of protons and
electrons.
Proton It is a positively charged particle in an atom.

Static electricity It is the result of an imbalance electric charges in an

object.

Wrap Up

Heat and Electricity

Photo Credits

Fig. 3. Static slide.jpg by Ken Bosma is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia
Commons.

Fig. 4. Foto0175 by karabekirus is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr.

42
Fig. 7. Engine bay by Tobias Toft is licensed under CC BY-2.0 via Flickr.

Fig. 10. Ergorapido battery charger by endolith is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via
Flickr.

Fig. 23. Insulation matters by Jeff Keyzer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via
Flickr.

References

Jones, Mary, Geoff Jones, and Phillip Marchington. Physics. 2nd ed. Coordinated
Science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Dobey, Daniel C., Robert J. Beichner, and Sharon Lee Raimondi. Essentials of
elementary science. 2nd ed. Essentials of Classroom Teaching Series. Boston:
Allyn and Bacon, 1999.

Hackett, Jay K., Dr., Richard H. Moyer, Dr., JoAnne Vasquez, Dr., Mulugheta Teferi,
M.A., Dinah Zike, M.Ed., Kathryn Leroy, M.S., Dorothy J.T. Terman, Dr., and
Gerald F. Wheeler, Dr. Science. a closer look 5. Quezon City: McGraw-Hill
Education (Asia) and Phoenix Publishing House, 2013.

McGrayne, Sharon Bertsch, Edwin Kashy, Eustace E. Suckling, and Frank Neville H.
Robinson. "Electricity." Encyclopædia Britannica. April 19, 2017. Accessed
September 11, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/science/electricity.

"Electric charge and Coulomb's law." Electric charge and Coulomb's law. Accessed
September 10, 2017. http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py106/Charge.html.

"Electricity." Electricity - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy -

Energy Information Administration. Accessed September 11, 2017.
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_home.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Polystyrene." Encyclopædia Britannica.

October 21, 2016. Accessed September 11, 2017.
https://www.britannica.com/science/polystyrene.

43
Lovatt, Andrew, Dr., and Hugh Shercliff, Dr. "About Conductivity." Conductivity.
Accessed September 11, 2017.
http://www.lehigh.edu/~amb4/wbi/kwardlow/conductivity.htm.

“Static Science: How Well Do Different Materials Make Static Electricity?” An

electrically charged exercise from Science Buddies. Scientific American.
Accessed August 10, 2018.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/static-science-how-well-do-differe
nt-materials-make-static-electricity/

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