On Friday, we were put in groups and were given 1 ping pong ball and 12 questions to answer.
The ping pong ball turned out to be a simple circuit which would light up if we used our fingers to complete the flow of current.
Answer: Yes, we all tried it and it began to hum and flash.
Smiley Question 2) Why do you have to touch both metal contacts to make the ball work?
Answer: Both metal contacts needed to be touched for the ball to work because you are completing the circuit, if you are not touching both pieces then the energy will not circulate.
Smiley Question 3) Will the ball light up if you connect the contacts with any material?
Answer: No, the ball would only light up if you are using materials that conducts electricity. So, materials like paper and clothes will not light up the ball.
Smiley Question 4) Which materials will make the energy ball work?
Answer: Out of all the different materials we tried, the ones that worked were; skin and a metal spoon.
Smiley Question 5) This ball does not work on certain individuals, what could cause this to happen?
Answer: The ball worked on everyone in the class, but an educated guess would be that that individual is dehydrated or too bony. Humans conduct electricity because they are 70% water, so it is possible that the ball would not work on a dehydrated person. Also, a fellow classmate tried to put his knuckles on the contacts, causing the ball to turn off and on.
Smiley Question 6) Can you make the energy ball work with all 5-6 individuals in your group?
Answer: Yes, the energy ball worked when we linked our pinkies together and formed a longer path for the flow of energy.
Smiley Question 7) What kind of circuit can you form with one energy ball?
Answer: The circuit we formed as a group was a simple circuit.
Smiley Question 8) Can you make it work with 2 balls?
Answer: Yes, when we tried it with 2 balls the results were the same. I'm guessing that as long as the circuit is connected properly the 2 balls should light up.
Smiley Question 9) What do you think will happen if one person lets go of the other person's hand and why?
Answer: I think the ball would stop working because if one person lets go of his or her hand, the flow of current would stop at the hand and the circuit would be incomplete or "switched off". When we tested this out with our group the results were true to our hypothesis.
Smiley Question 10) Does it matter who lets go? Try it.
Answer: No, the ball will stop working if anyone in the human circuit were to let go of their hand.
Smiley Question 11) Can you create a circuit of two energy balls where only one lights up?
Answer: Yes, it is possible to create a circuit like this. The answer is the parallel circuit, because the flow of current only goes one way, a switch can be added to stop one ball from lighting up while other ball it still in a fully working circuit.
Smiley Question 12) What is the minimum amount of people needed to complete this?
Answer:
If each line represents a person, then the minimum amount of people needed for this circuit is 5 people.
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