Resistors of paper and pencil: experimental teaching of electricity using paper and pencil

Abstract

This article describes a low cost method for physics teaching of concepts in electricity which was developed in 2002, July/August, at Faculdade de Física - FAFIS of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul PUCRS, and represent a new didactical approach. This method, which includes only sheets of paper, pencils and a multimeter, was used in a experimental basis with many students of FAFIS/PUCRS and other educational institutions of Porto Alegre, and was improved through theirs recommendations. Consist basically in resistance measurements about a line, or multiple associated lines in series and/or parallel circuits, sketched with pencils in a sheet of paper, and with this drew resistors, called Resistors of Paper and Graphite, students also can make researches about dimensional dependence of resistance. In a classroom of electricity this drew resistors can improve physics learning because the free manipulation of sketched lines is funny, cheap, promote engagement and make possible a lively participation of all scholars.