Certain crystal substances, such as quartz, are known to be piezoelectric.

Notes:
As your students will no doubt discover in their research, piezoelectricity is a two-way effect: physical motion from electricity and visa-versa. It will be clear how well they did their research by the types of applications they think of for the ëlectricity-to-motion" form of piezoelectricity, given the typical physical scale of piezoelectric displacements.

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Electrical resistance is analogous to mechanical friction: electrons cannot freely flow through a resistance, and the "friction" they encounter translates some of their energy into heat, just as the friction in a worn mechanical bearing translates some of the kinetic energy of it's rotation into heat, or the friction between a person's hands while rubbing them together on a cold day translates some of the motion into heat.

Notes:
This is a good starting point for a discussion on work, energy, and power. Power, of course, may be directly calculated by multiplying voltage by current, and is measured in watts. It also provides an opportunity to discuss some of the practical limitations of electrical conductors.

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Approximately 11 milliseconds (0.0107 seconds).

Notes:
Electricity is fast: the effects of electron motion travel at approximately the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). Actual average electron velocity, on the other hand, is very, very slow. A convenient analogy I've used to illustrate how electrons may move slowly yet have rapid effect is that of a closed-loop hydraulic system. When the valve is opened, fluid motion throughout the system is immediate (actually, the motion progresses at the speed of sound through the fluid - very fast!), yet the actual velocity of fluid motion is much slower.
Incidentally, the double-chevron symbols indicate an electrical connector pair (plug and jack; male and female).

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Average electron velocity = 0.000647 feet per second, or 6.47 ×10^-4 ft/s. This is very slow: only 0.00777 inches per second, or 0.197 millimeters per second!

Notes:
Despite the rapid progression of the effects of electron motion throughout a circuit (i.e. approximately the speed of light), the actual electron velocity is extremely slow by comparison.
Base figures used in this calculation are as follows:

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Number of free electrons per cubic meter of metal (an example taken from Encyclopedia Brittanica 15th edition, 1983, volume 6, page 551) = 10²⁹ electrons per m³. The metal type was not specified.

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22 gauge wire has a diameter of 0.025 inches.

Questions like this may be challenging to students without a strong math or science background. One problem-solving strategy I have found very useful is to simplify the terms of a problem until a solution becomes obvious, then use that simplified example to establish a pattern (equation) for obtaining a solution given any initial parameters. For instance, what would be the average electron velocity if the current were 28.96 ×10²¹ electrons per second, the same figure as the number of free electrons residing in the wire? Obviously, the flow velocity would be one wire length per second, or 3 feet per second. Now, alter the current rate so that it is something closer to the one given in the problem (6.25 ×10¹⁸), but yet still simple enough to calculate mentally. Say, half the first rate: 14.48 ×10²¹ electrons per second. Obviously, with a flow rate half as much, the velocity will be half as well: 1.5 feet per second instead of 3 feet per second. A few iterations of this technique should reveal a pattern for solution:

v = 3 I Q

Where,
v = Average electron velocity (feet per second)
I = Electric current (electrons per second)
Q = Number of electrons contained in wire
It is also very helpful to have knowledgeable students demonstrate their solution techniques in front of the class so that others may learn novel methods of problem-solving.

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Essentially, muscle fibers are äctivated" by electrical signals. I'll let you figure out what practical importance this effect has for you!

Notes:
This question presents an excellent opportunity to discuss one of the important aspects of electrical safety: involuntary muscle contraction.

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A defibrillator machine sends a powerful surge of electric current through the victim's chest to force his or her heart muscles to contract.
Follow-up question: explain how this principle is similar to that of an electric stun-gun ("TASER") or other high-voltage, non-lethal weapon to immobilize a person. How does a defibrillator's function differ from that of a stun-gun?

Notes:
This question is intended to start a lively and active discussion on the effects of electric current on human muscle and nerve tissue. Students are likely to come up with all sorts of interesting questions about defibrillators and stun-guns, so be sure to do your own research in preparation for posing this question to them?

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The choice of battery "polarity" in a simple light bulb circuit makes no difference at all. In either case, the light bulb will energize when the switch is closed.

Notes:
It should be noted that not all electrical loads are "non-polarized" like an incandescent light bulb. Some electrical components, such as light-emitting diodes, are polarity sensitive, and will function only if current goes through them in the proper direction.

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Heat, light, sound, magnetism (compass needles deflecting), radio (ßtatic" heard on AM radios), and chemical reactions (fixation of nitrogen, and the production of ozone).

Notes:
Lightning is a universally recognized phenomenon, and one that inspires no small amount of awe. In other words, it is a perfect discussion topic in a science-oriented class! There is much to be learned about lightning from a variety of sources, and it serves as a vivid illustration of electricity's varied effects.
Having discussed several effects of electricity manifest in lightning strikes, it is an interesting class exercise to discuss possible applications of these effects. What can we do with such phenomenon? Knowing that electricity has the ability to produce heat, light, sound, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, and chemical reactions, what interesting and useful things may we employ electricity for?

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I'll let you discover the actual phenomenon on your own (be careful to use no more than 12 volts when performing an experiment like this, for safety!), but its name is electrolysis.

Notes:
Electrochemical effects are very commonly used in industry to form chemical substances. Ironically, the battery itself shown in the illustration, is another example of electrochemistry in action, just hidden from sight!

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The phenomenon is known as electromagnetism.

Notes:
This makes an excellent classroom demonstration, and students should immediately recognize some of the practical applications of this phenomenon.

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This phenomenon is called the photoelectric effect. Incidentally, the mathematical expression of this effect earned Albert Einstein a Nobel Prize for Physics in the year 1921.

Notes:
There are several features of the schematic diagram worthy of note:

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High-voltage battery

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Ammeter symbol (circle with letter Ä" inside)

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Twin arrows designating light

Applications of the photoelectric effect are many and varied. Special versions of the basic phototube (called photomultiplier tubes) are able to detect extremely small impulses of light, enabling scientists to detect small light flashes from cosmic-ray events, among other optical phenomena.

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