Series and Parallel Circuits
Series circuits and parallel circuits are types of circuits. In a series
circuit, there is only one path through which the electricity can pass. If this
path is disrupted, any electrical devices that are connected would turn off.
This disruption can be achieved using a switch or disconnecting a wire. In the
energy ball lab, removing a finger from the metal conductor would open the
circuit and stop the energy ball. Turning off a device can also cause a
disruption (Henderson, n.d.). This is especially evident in things like older
Christmas lights. If one light bulb burns out, then all of the light bulbs in
the string will also turn off. It can be hard to determine where the problem is
and it is therefore difficult to fix. A series circuit does however have its
advantages as it can prevent an electrical issue moving from one device
to another since the current has been stopped. In a parallel circuit, there are
multiple paths through which electricity could pass. As long as there is a
closed circuit between a device and the power source, an open switch or broken
device in another loop will not affect it . This type of circuit was
created when we did the last activity with the whole class. Houses are
wired in parallel so that turning off the lights in a bedroom will not affect
the lights in the kitchen.
Conductivity of the Human Body
The human body is made up of covalent bonds and thus does not conduct
electricity very well. However, the human body contains a lot of water with dissolved
salts. Water has polar covalent bonds, so pure water does not conduct
electricity very well, but when salts are dissolved in water, it becomes a
conductor. The body can then act like a wire and make the energy ball work. The
brain needs salt to function, so if the ball does not work, a person must be
dehydrated. Dehydrated, callused skin might not be able to make the energy ball
work. The dry, dead skin cells can have a high resistance to electricity (Fish
& Geddes, 2009). The high resistance would mean that the skin no
longer acts as a good conductor of electricity (Nave, n.d.) and the ball would
not work in this case.
Self- Reflection
I have learned that I have good collaboration skills and can work
well in a group. During the lab, we discussed the answers and worked together
to try and get the energy ball to work. At first we had some trouble finding
metal to test our hypothesis for one of the questions, but eventually we were
able to find some coins that we could use to test our answer. We, however, did
not finish the whole lab, and could have improved on our time management by
paying more attention to the clock and how many questions we had to answer.
These time management skills are especially important to me because I get stressed
when I don't think I have enough time to finish something.
Reference
(1) Fish, R. M. & Geddes, L.A.
(2009, October 12). Conduction of electrical current to and through the
human body: A review. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763825/
(2) Henderson, T. (n.d.). Two Types of
Connections. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/circuits/u9l4b.cfm
(3) Nave, C.R. (n.d.). Conductors and insulators.
Retrieved February 3, 2013, from
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
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