Leaf flakes for learning electric fields in senior high school

Abstract

This study aims to develop an electrostatics practice device for learning fundamental physics in senior high schools. The device uses to demonstrate the existence of electric fields generated from electrical charges. In this device, the leaf flakes were used to visualize the lines of electric fields and electric flux, as stated in the Gauss Law. The research was conducted using ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) as a development research method. The researchers use simple material that is widely available around the school so that it can be easily obtained at a low cost. Furthermore, the device only consists of wires, water tank, leaf flakes, and electrical potential generator. The potential generator can be arranged to work between 1.5 – 6.0 Volt. While wires are connected to the generator with different potentials, the leaf flakes are spread around the wires in the water tank. Distribution of leaf flakes will be self-arranged to build the formations according to lines of electric fields generated by wires. The practice device can be equipped with a student worksheet. Based on the results of the validity of the expert, the material score was measured for 97.08%, the expert media was accounted for 99.31%, and the expert learning score was calculated for 95.57%. The effectiveness of the device for physics learning has been examined in two classes of senior high school. The test result shows that the use of the device can significantly gain physics learning in high school.