RET Teaching Module 8: Exploring Conductivity and Thickness with Graphite

Overview

Students will use 4 x 6 notecards and scissors to create masks to place over other notecards to lay down layers of graphite. By measuring the length of the graphite in a mechanical pencil before laying down the layers of graphite and then measuring the length afterward, the volume of the graphite used can be determined based on the diameter of the graphite insert. By measuring the area on the bottom notecard over which this graphite was applied and the volume of graphite from the insert, one can determine the thickness of the applied layer of graphite. Students can make a number of different applications on various notecards to determine whether any relationship exists between the thickness of the graphite and its electrical properties. Within a given application of graphite, students can determine the relationship between the distance and resistance. This could serve as an application of dimensional analysis, as well as a means of distinguishing between bulk properties of materials and the properties of their components

After completing this module, student should be able to:

• the thickness of a layer of graphite
• the number of layers of graphene in a sample of graphite on table
• the relationship between the thickness of graphite on paper and resistance

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Included in this Module:

• Teacher Guide
• Module Lessons
  • Mask Making
  • Device Measurements
• Worksheet and Assessment

Samples of the materials

• Example Lesson See Day 1

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