Exploring Physics Class Summary 3/31/14

with Sally Zeiner

Let there be light!

In our Exploring Physics class we continue to learn about stored chemical energy, atoms, and electrons. Our challenge this week was to use a C or D battery and a coated copper wire to light a light bulb. It is not as easy as it sounds! 

The children worked in small teams of two or three, working together to brainstorm, test their ideas, and try again. Though several of the children felt confident in the beginning that they knew exactly what to do -- and they were close -- they actually worked for 45 minutes before the first team discovered exactly what they had to do to light the bulb.

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Now that we have experienced success with using stored chemical energy to light the bulb, next week we will attempt the lemon battery experiment in our laboratory book. To build the lemon battery, each student volunteered to bring something that they think they have at home. They wrote, drew, or circled the items in the lab book (Experiment 5) that they volunteered to bring. These items will include:  copper pennies (older than 1982), galvanized nails, duct tape, a lemon, styrofoam, metal paper clip, and a plastic paper clip. Please send these items in with your student on Monday.