Curated OER
Physics4 kids.com: Direct Current and Alternating Current
Illustration showing the difference between a direct current and an alternating current.
PBS
Who Made America?: Innovators: George Westinghouse, Jr.
One-page profile of influential innovator, George Westinghouse, Jr., whose vision and ideas helped to increase the safety of the railroad system in America. His experimentation with electricity also had a huge impact on the power...
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Electric Circuits Aqa
This lesson focuses on Electrical circuits including standard symbols for electrical components, a list of components and what they do, a discussion of various types of resistors, and alternating current and direct current. Links to a...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Nikola Tesla: The Electro Magnetic Motor
Use this site to learn about the inventor of the electro-magnetic motor, Nikola Tesla. Find out why Tesla's experimentation with alternating current was so important to later inventions and use of electricity.
PBS
Pbs: Who Made America?: George Westinghouse, Jr.
From the series, They Made America, on PBS, this biography of George Westinghouse tells about his development of the air brake for railroad cars, and his experimentation with alternating current that revolutionized the transmission of...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: George Westinghouse
This brief article on the life and contributions of George Westinghouse (1846-1914) includes a picture. Read about his air brake as well as his development of the alternating current system.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Nikola Tesla
Awarded more than 100 patents over the course of his lifetime, Nikola Tesla was a man of considerable genius and vision. He was reportedly born at exactly midnight during an electrical storm, an intriguing beginning for a man who would...
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: George Westinghouse
Find information about George Westinghouse's contributions to both railroad safety and the adoption of alternating current for motors and the transmission of electricity.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Ac Transformer
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about how high-voltage alternating current (AC) electricity generated by a power station is converted into low-voltage AC electricity for your home using this interactive simulation. A PDF...
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Voltage, Current, and Resistance
Illustrated explanation of voltage, current, and resistance and the relationship between them.
PBS
Pbs: War of the Currents
Read here about the industrial "war" that took place between the patents on alternating and direct current.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What's the Conductivity of Gatorade?
Students use conductivity meters to measure various salt and water solutions, as indicated by the number of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that illuminate on the meter. Students create calibration curves using known amounts of table salt...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Ohm's Law I
Students will work to increase the intensity of a light bulb by testing batteries in series and parallel circuits. It analyzes Ohm's Law, power, parallel and series circuits, and ways to measure voltage and current.
Other
Articles About "Electricity": New Explanations, Alternate Mental Toolkit
This highly informative site contains many resources and articles on electricity. A wealth of information about electricity can be found. This site also contains many FAQ's.
Other
Tesla Memorial Society of New York: Nikola Tesla
This article provides information regarding Nikola Tesla, inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply...
Robin Chew
Lucid Cafe: Nikola Tesla
Learn here about Nikola Tesla, nventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: Nikola Tesla Biography
Interesting biographical information, fun facts, and famous quotes about Nikola Tesla known for his work with alternating current.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Electric Circuits
Current transfers energy around circuits. Circuit components have various properties that can be measured and then used to make circuits for control and also circuits for testing other components.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: The Electric Generator
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This lesson explains how an electric current is produced by a generator. Includes a simulation.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Electric Current
Kids learn about electric current in the science of physics including the flow of electrons, measurement, alternating, and direct current.
Other
Democracy Now
Internet counterpart of the daily news program hosted by bestselling author and journalist Amy Goodman. She tackles the stories the mainstream media is not covering. Content of the site is more liberal and progressive, but that does not...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Electricity and Magnetism
Students learn about static electricity using terms such as friction, induction, and conduction. They also explain and illustrate the difference between alternating and direct current, and understand the relationship among voltage,...
Other
Nicky Case: To Build a Better Ballot
Distrust in democracy has been growing in America over the past few generations. There are many ways to help regain trust and Nicky Case analyzes one of those ways - choosing an alternative voting system. By viewing computer simulations...
Choices Program, Brown University
Choices: Teaching With the News: Iraq After War: Securing the Peace
Interactive lesson places students in the role of decision-makers as they explore divergent policy alternatives concerning how the post-war period in Iraq should be handled, who should be in charge, and what the goals should be.