Electricity laboratory

Laboratory twelve centered on the simplest of electrical circuits, electrical conductivity, and Ohm's law.

On the order of half of the students have no prior contact with the experiment known in science education simply as batteries and bulbs. Given one cell, a single length of wire, and a flashlight bulb, make the bulb light. Myleen watched her partner light the bulb. When I asked if she could light the bulb, she said that she could light the bulb. Her own first attempt, however, resulted in a short circuit and a hot wire. I was reminded once again that seeing is never learning, learning only happens when one is doing.

Serleen checks the conductivity of copper using a basic two cell circuit with a flash light bulb. Other materials include zinc, steel, wood, glass, lead, and aluminum. The bulk of the materials are from the local hardware store.

Nadine and Anchyleen look on as materials are tested. A lead fishing weight lays on the paper.

While Antely closes the circuit with a telegraph type switch, Alisi reads the voltmeter. Mason looks on, he was recording data.

For the single bulb the voltage is about 2.3 volts, the current is 0.48 volts. The relationship is not linear. Using two cells for one, two, and three bulbs, there are temperature differences for the bulbs that affect the resistivity.