Blog 1: The Energy Ball Report

Introduction

On the first day of class, we were introduced to an experiment featuring circuits using a small energy ball.  This special ball had two metallic strips attached to it; acting as positive and negative ends.  Every time someone touches the two metallic strips with their fingers, the ball will light up and hum.  This shows that the circuit is complete: there is a flow of electrons from the negative end of the ball, transferring through the fingers and to the positive end of the ball.  Whenever you let go of the ball, the lights and the humming stops because there is a disconnection in the circuit.

Circuits

There are two type of circuits that we discussed during class.  The two major types of circuits are series and parallel circuits.  In a series circuit, there is only one continuous flow of electricity; one loop of wire connecting the battery or energy supplier.  This means that if the circuit was to disconnect, the flow of electricity would stop.  If a light bulb was to burn out in a series circuit, all the other light bulbs connected would also stop lighting because there is a stop in the flow of electrons.  As for the parallel circuit, there are two or more different strands of circuits within the circuit.  The parallel circuit will still being operational in at least one portion of the circuit if there is a disconnection one part of the parallel circuit.  For example, if two light bulbs were connected in a parallel circuit and one light bulb was to blow, the other light bulb would still be active.

Series circuit

Parallel circuit

Why energy ball doesn't work on some people

First of all, the human body contains 70% water but water itself does not conduct electricity because it is a polar-covalent molecule and the charges in water are balanced.  In order for water to conduct electricity, ions must be added to it.  A great way that the human body adds ions is from the intake of salts.  Salts such as sodium chloride or our normal table salt, is a great example of ways to intake ions from food.  With ions in our body, we will be good conductors of electricity.  The reason that some people cannot make the energy ball work by touching it is because they are either lacking water or electrolytes.  In other words, they are dehydrated or do not have enough salts in their body.  

Self reflection

I did not expect that I would actually learn a lot from this experiment.  Before this class, I didn't know that pure water did not conduct electricity.  It was the first time that I actually experimented with circuits on my own.  During the experiment, the room was chaotic.  Everyone was shouting and few people stood around not knowing what to do.  There were few people that stood and took charge.  I, for one was not one of them however, I did contribute to the fact that we should make a parallel circuit for second question.  One skill that I should improve on for next time is trying to speak up and cooperate more.  Get more involved in group decision making and contribute to the knowledge.  Overall, this experiment went well was a great experience.

Bibliography

Energy ball. ( 2012, July). [Photograph]. 

       http://teachersource.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/energy-ball.jpg?w=300&h=277

Parallel Circuit. (n.d.). [Photograph].
       http://sub.allaboutcircuits.com/images/00092.png

Series Circuit. (n.d.). [Photograph].
      http://sub.allaboutcircuits.com/images/00082.png

Parallel circuits. (n.d.). Circuit Connections. Retrieved February 5 from
     http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/u9l4d.cfm