Networking Activity card
Students work in small teams to create a circuit which will light five bulbs. The bulbs are in fixed positions and must not be moved. Teams are each given a set number of tokens with which to buy battery packs and leads. The goal of the exercise is to build a distribution system that will light up all five bulbs for the minimum cost.
It is suggested that battery packs are made available rather than power packs as students may try to build a circuit with individual power supplies to each bulb. This should not be disallowed but is likely to work out expensive. As a guide it is recommended that battery packs should cost about 5 times as much as leads.
Students should be encouraged to draw a circuit diagram before buying materials as they may buy things they don't end up using.
For more able groups, extra rules and components could be introduced. For example, switches could be made available.
After completing this activity students will:
- Understand the principles of creating a simple electric circuit.
- Understand how a simple circuit can become quite complex under certain conditions.
- Understand the importance of budget and planning ahead in any project.
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- Electricity generation: Build your own generator
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