Project Blog Circuit.

Link to image
This week I learned a lot about electricity. My partner was Izzy and we were sharing ideas, trying to build a blinding ray. So we figured out that some connections of wires did work and some didn't. So, we gave each other ideas and figured out a working switch. we eventually came up with an idea. We had a handle with the batteries concealed inside. Then we taped a plastic clear diamond over a non colored light. We then connected the wires and created a switch. You push on a paper clip and the light turns on. We used three batteries to make it strong.
Backward Looking: What process did you go through to produce this peice?
Well, we had an idea in our mind. We took it, and put it on paper in a schematic diagram. Then we connected the batteries and put them in a case of popsicle sticks. Then we connected the wires and switch.

Inward Looking: What did you find frustrating about the project?
What I found frusterating was that we had good ideas, and most of them didn't work. I had a good Idea, but it didn't work! I got kinda sad, but I found a better one.
Outward looking: What grade would you give it? Why?
I would give it an A- because it is kind of messy. I couldn't find my invention paper so Izzy gas only hers. I know I did it, I just can't find it. But the invention works!

Forward Looking: One thing I would like to improve upon is...
 I would like to improve on working together and listening to each other's ideas. We each had such good ideas that we thought they couldn't wait, so we were interrupting each other.

Series and parallel circuits

This week Learned about series and parallel circuits. A parallel circuit is when you have either two batteries, two lights, or two switches. Say I had two lights. I would build the circuit so that the lights would never touch. So I would build it where the lights were across from each other. A series circuit is when the electricity has one path to follow. Unlike a parallel circuit which goes in two or more paths, a series circuit has one path to follow.    

images

S&EP:SP2: Developing and using models

This week we were building circuits, which was a kind of model. We had wires, a battery, and some lights. We built different kinds of models. 

circuts

Electricity

The-Future-Of-Electricity1.jpg

Summary: This week we were experimenting with electricity. We had a bunch of centers. At center 1, we were reading some stories and were writing some advice. They were all stories based on electric related accidents. Some advice was not to fly kites around power lines, don't climb electric towers, never put electronics near water, that sort of thing. At center 2, we built a circuit. Everyone in the class had a wire, two people had a battery, and one boy had a light. We all connected our wires, batteries, and lights together to create a giant circuit. We had to be careful, though, because about seven people got shocked. I learned to be careful around electricity. Center 3 was were we were testing conductors and insulators. The conductors were a silver bracelet, a penny, and pencil lead. The insulators were a marker, cloth, and a rubber balloon. I learned that the conductors were mostly metal. There were other centers that I liked. Like station 9. We ice-fished. We would stick the "hook" into the ice and find the "fish" (paperclips). If the hook touched a fish, the light would glow. 

S&EP:SP4" Analyzing data

We had a journal that we would use to keep track of our data. We would have to answer questions and write down the answers in the journal. Most of the questions were: What do you think you are supposed to do with it? What are the parts you can see? What are the parts you can't see? What do you think you are supposed to do with it? I learned all about how to stay safe nearby electric currents, power lines, outlets, and more.