PROBLEM: How can one determine if a substance conducts electricity?

PREDICTION:

MATERIALS: miniature light bulb, battery, battery holder

EXERCISE I. Look at one battery.

1. What size is it?

2. How many volts does it have?

3. What is in the battery?

4. Draw a picture of the battery, label + and -.

 

 

5. Put the ends of the miniature light bulb to the ends of the battery. Is your battery charged? How do you know?

6. Reverse the wires? Record what happens?

7. What have you completed?

8. Put two batteries in a battery holder. Draw how to arrange the cells. Why do you think they are put in this way?

 

 

9. Use the miniature light bulb on each of the ends of the holder. Is there a difference between 2 cells versus 1 cell? Describe.

 

10. How many volts does 2 batteries working together have?

 

EXERCISE II. Use the miniature light bulb, one battery, and various conductors and non-conductors. Try to determine if a material is a conductor. Record what you find below by listing the material and then stating if you think it conducts electricity or not.

CONCLUSION: