Energy Stick (Allison Shiff)

Author

Allison Shiff - Nobel Charter Middle School

Principles:

The Energy Stick is a great toy to explore the science of electricity and circuits.

The Energy Stick is a great visual aid and hands-on science tool that teaches young scientists about open and closed circuits as well as conductors and insulators.

Standards:

CA State Science Standards Grade 4 - Physical Sciences

1. Electricity and magnetism are related effects that have many useful applications in everyday life. As a basis for understanding this concept:

• • a. Students know how to design and build simple series and parallel circuits by using components such as wires, batteries, and bulbs.

    • NGSS 4-PS3 Energy

• • • • • • • Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Materials needed:

Energy Stick

Hands!

Procedure:

1. Grasp the sensor end (in silver) on the end of the Energy Stick

2. Grasp the other end of the Energy Stick on the sensor end.3. You should see flashing lights within the Energy Stick and hear noises from the Energy Stick.

4. Make a long chain circuit with others by holding hands with the person standing on either end of the circle holding onto one sensor end of the Energy Stick.

5. Test the "circuit" by having two people let go of hands. You should see the lights go off and then back on again when they rejoin hands.

Explanation:

A closed circuit has a complete path for current to flow. When all hands are joined and there is a hand gripping each sensor on the Energy Stick the pathway is closed and complete.

An open circuit has an incomplete path with an opening so the current cannot travel through. This means that the circuit is not functional. If this is a students first exposure to circuits, you might think that when a circuit is open, it's like an open door or gate that current can flow through. And when it's closed, it's like a shut door that current can't flow through. Actually, it's just the opposite, so it might take awhile for students to get used to this concept.

Questions:

1. Can one person "make a circuit" with the Energy Stick?

2. Will the Energy Stick still register a closed circuit with 38 people holding hands?

3. Can you "feel" the electricity as it is conducted through your hands?

Everyday examples of the principles illustrated:

an example of a closed circuit is holiday lights! When one of the bulbs burns out it sometimes can cause the circuit to fail because it leaves a space open.

Another example of an open and closed circuit is a button switch. When you push the button you either complete the circuit (turn something on) or by pushing the off button break the circuit (turning something off)

Photos:

Just hold onto the sensors on each end!

Movies:

References:

Steve Spangler Science

Human Circuits - Insulators and Conductors

How Stuff Works