Monday, 11 February 2013

THE FUN ENERGY BALL


                           



During class we participated in group experiments. With the experiment, we were given an array of questions to answer. Making the energy ball work you must place two fingers on both of the metal contacts on the energy ball, being able to conduct electricity. This results in current that makes the ball flash and hum. This works because humans make pretty good electrical conductors.
There was one question that asked how to make one of two energy balls light up when one path of the circuit was broken. The solution is to make a parallel circuit instead of a series circuit. As you may know, there is a large difference between parallel and series. Before we learn about series and parallel we need to learn what a circuit is. Stated in the textbook, a circuit is ‘the path of electric current flow from and to the power supply' (1). A simple circuit includes an energy source, a load and a conductor. These are pictures of the two types of circuits, series circuit and parallel.

The major differences in Parallel vs. Series Circuits:
       In a series circuit, all devices are connected in series, which means there is only one pathway for charge flow. If one of the devices is broken, the circuit is referred to be an opening circuit and the charge would stop flowing.
In a parallel circuit, each device is placed in its own branch, which means there are multiple pathways for charge flow. If one of the devices is broken, other devices are normally working.

Some individuals could not make the energy ball work probably due to the dry hands or some non-conductor on hands, such as hand cream, which could not conduct electricity. Charges pass through all the conductors from negative to positive in a circuit. If it is added in a non-conductor, charges could not flow. Therefore the circuit becomes a opening circuit and the energy ball could not work.
Self-reflection
       From the experiment, I have learned that human bodies could conduct electricity. Because of human bodies are mainly made by water and salt [3]. In addition, I have learned the differences between series circuit and parallel circuit as well. The major difference of these two circuits is that series circuit has the only one pathway for electric charge flow, but the parallel circuit has separate pathways. Also I think, the most important part for studying physics is the attitude. Even if there are questions that I could not understand, I have a good attitude which could lead me to find the final solution.
Reference
[1] “Electronics and You”, (2009). Fig - 1: Series Circuit, Retrieved September 10, 2011
from http://www.electronicsandyou.com/circuit/analog_circuits.html
[2] “Electronics and You”, (2009). Fig - 1: Parallel Circuit, Retrieved September 10, 2011
from http://www.electronicsandyou.com/circuit/analog_circuits.html
[3] H. A. Harper, V. W. Rodwell, P. A. Mayes (1977). Review of Physiological Chemistry, 16th ed.,
Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, California.

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