Physics Project: House/Office/Business, etc
Suggested Materials: ( USE “RECYCLED” objects—do not buy a lot of items for this project.) light weight cardboard (shoebox) or oak tag, graph paper (for circuit diagram), battery, 2 battery holders, 6 flash light bulbs, 6 bulb sockets, 14 6-inch pieces of wire, 3 brads (paper fastener) , 3 paper clips, switch, 6 washers. Also have available: rolls of masking tape, scissors, electrical wire, wire stripper, extra batteries, extra bulbs., wires with alligator clips (or cut up Christmas lights), art supplies, etc
(See Mrs. Huber for electrical supplies you need to borrow.)
Requirements:
1. Every student must build and decorate a structure (may be two levels) from recycled (do not go and purchase items for this project)materials. That structure should have a theme (a beach house, a car repair shop, a beauty shop, police station, etc.). (Students who work in groups must have three rooms per student—min: one in parallel and one in series).
2. If you make your structure from a box, cut one side of the box so it opens like a hinge so the inside can be easily seen. Tape that side so it closes.
3. The structure must fit on a desktop, have three rooms (or areas) and is strong enough to be moved without damage to the “building” or wiring.
4. Decorations are to reflect the theme and be made from recycled (not newly purchased) materials.
5. The only source of power will be one or two batteries (either C, D, or 9V) per room.
6. Your structure must have one area or room that is wired with a series circuit with at least two lights. It must also have a switch.
7. Your structure must have one area or room that is wired with a parallel circuit with at least two lights. It must also have a switch.
8. You must include a wiring diagram that show how each of the two required areas were wired. If you add extra wiring, those areas must be included in the wiring diagram.
9. Your name must appear on the outside of the structure in a way that fits with the theme. (The business sign could have your name; a residence could have the name on the mailbox.)
10. There should be no grammatical errors on your structure.
11. Be prepared to describe your structure and explain the wiring to the class.
12. Due date is Monday, MAY 4, 2009__. Structures that are early and have all required elements will earn 10 bonus points. Late projects will incur a daily 20 point deduction.
You may add another variable such as extra electrical equipment, (doorbell, movement powered by electricity, materials beyond the requirements of the lesson—etc.) for extra points. Anything added must be added to the wiring diagram.
Background Information
There are two ways of connecting components:
In series so that each user of energy has the same current. The battery voltage is divided between the two lamps. Each lamp will have half the battery voltage if the lamps are identical. /In parallel
so that each component has the same voltage.
Both lamps have the full battery voltage across them.
The battery current is divided between the two lamps. /
Switches in Series
A switch is a planned break in a circuit that can be opened to turn off the light (or bell or other user of electricity) or closed to turn it on. When the two sides of the “break” are connected, the circuit is said to be complete.
Most wiring is a combination of series and parallel circuits.
Assessment Rubric for the Presentation of Structures
Outstanding Work / All elements are there. The quality is outstanding.
*builds and describes in detail the path of energy in a series circuit with two light bulbs beginning and ending at the battery.
*builds and clearly describes the paths of energy in a parallel circuit and shows the movement from the battery through two light bulbs and back to the battery
*clearly explains how disconnecting a light bulb in a series circuit breaks the only path there is to conduct electricity
*explains that disconnecting a light bulb in a parallel circuit allows the other lights to stay lit because they each have a different path back to the battery
*can demonstrate and explain the use of the switch
*trace and explain the movement of electricity in the structure and on the wiring diagram
4
Excellent Work / All elements are there. The quality is very good
*builds and describes the path of energy in a series circuit with two light bulbs beginning and ending at the battery. The work is well done.
*builds and describes the paths of energy in a parallel circuit and shows the movement from the battery through two light bulbs and back to the battery
*explains how disconnecting a light bulb in a series circuit breaks the only path there is to conduct electricity
*explains that disconnecting a light bulb in a parallel circuit allows the other lights to stay lit because they each have a different path back to the battery
*can demonstrate and explain the use of the switch
*trace and explain the movement of electricity in the structure and on the wiring diagram
*can tell how the model has been adjusted and modified based on peer review
3. Good Work / *wiring of required elements has minor flaws: parallel circuit, series circuit, and/or switch.
*explanation shows some understanding but needs to be directed by others toward a clearer understanding of concepts
2 Poor work / little or no success in building both circuits or in explaining how they work. Required elements may be poorly done : parallel circuit, series circuit, switch
1. Redo / Incomplete work/little evidence of understanding. Required elements may be missing: parallel circuit, series circuit, switch, and/or evidence of revision
3
Vocabulary
circuit an electrical pathway that provides a route for electrical current to flow
series circuit An electric circuit in which devices are arranged so that charge flows through each in turn. If one part of the circuit should stop the current, it will stop throughout the circuit.
parallel circuit a circuit that splits into branches. A break in one part of the circuit will not stop current in the other sections because there is more than one path for the electricity to flow.
electric switch a component that controls the flow of electricity by either turning it on or off or by changing the path along which it flows
conductor a material through which electricity can easily flow
insulator a material through which electricity does not easily flow
battery is a device that stores chemical energy. That chemical energy is changed into electrical energy that can be used to power users of energy.
voltage The force, or pressure, of electricity.
ampere A measure of electrical current flow
Adapted from: miscellaneous sources that I can no longer identify and
http://www.wcschools.com/mjhs/v2/gayle/Assignments/ElectricHouse.pdf