Simple Simulation of current
ELECTRIC CURRENT AS A FLOW OF CHARGE
Current is not energy moving through the wire — it is charge moving through the wire. Raise the voltage and the positive charge particles speed up, more of them cross the mid-section every second, and the ammeter reading climbs. The cross-section counter keeps a tally of every charge that passes, making the definition of current concrete: one ampere = one coulomb of charge passing a point every second.
Electricity – Shuffle Bottom Activity
Objective: Demonstrate how electric current flows in a circuit using students as “electrons” and chairs as “atoms.”
Materials
- Chairs or lab stools (enough for all students, placed in a close circle)
Instructions
Set Up the Circle
Arrange chairs/stools in a tight circle, almost touching. Sit with the students, then stand up leaving one empty chair in the circle.
Start the Movement
Stand in the middle and explain: if a student has an empty chair on their right, they must move into it.
Take Turns in the Centre
Once students are moving confidently, show that you will try to sit on an empty chair. The student who lets you sit moves to the centre. Continue this until several students have experienced being in the centre.
Introduce the Concept
Discuss how the students (electrons) move around the circle while the empty chair (representing a positively charged atom) appears to move in the opposite direction. Emphasise that the chair itself does not move—only the “empty space” (positive charge) does.
Repeat
Continue until all students have had a turn in the centre or the activity naturally concludes.
Discussion Questions
After the game, guide the students with questions such as:
- Which moves faster: the negative or the positive charge?
- What makes the current flow?
- What can make the current flow faster or slower?
- What represents the battery in this activity?
- Why do we say current moves from the positive to the negative terminal?
- How could we add resistance to our circuit?
Connecting to Real Circuits
- Ammeter: Measures the number of charges passing per second, with negligible resistance.
- Voltmeter: Measures energy difference between two points and ideally has very high resistance.