Lesson 3: A Systematic Look at the Incandescent Light Bulb

Overview

Through first hand observations of an incandescent light bulb, students discover the internal components. Students expand their circuitry knowledge by considering the pathway of electrical energy through a light bulb and by incorporating the bulb into an entire electrical system – a complete circuit. They also explore the concept of a system by considering the implications of a nonworking component of a light bulb.

Key Ideas

Lesson Goals

Students will: 

Lesson Resources

Lesson PlanDownload Lesson Plan (14 pages, 504 KB)


 Video clip showing the pathway electric current takes through an incandescent light bulb:
Picture link to "How a Light Bulb Works video on YouTube

Incendescent Lignt Bulb DiagramTeacher Resource 3.1: Incandescent Light Bulb Diagram (304 KB)
 

desk Lamp & electrical Cord DiagramTeacher Resource 3.2: Desk Lamp Diagram (240 KB)


Student HandoutStudent Handout 3.1: The Light Bulb Problem (176 KB)



  Instructions for stripping wire:
PIcture link to How to Strip A Wire video on YouTube

Online Extensions

Learn how incandescent light bulbs are made.

Thomas Edison is most often recognized for perfecting the incandescent light bulb.
Learn about Edison's life and inventions and play "Edison Invents."
 
The National Park Service's website about Edison's estate, Glenmont, contains a wealth of historic information about Thomas Edison's life.

Review some of Thomas Edison's papers.

Connection to Maine Agencies

MEEP (Maine Energy Education Program) has a Home Lighting Inventory and will come to interested schools, free of charge. Students take an inventory of the lighting in their homes - number of fixtures, types of bulbs, and how long the lights are used per day- to see what impact lighting has on their electricity consumption.

For schools in Aroostook County, a Maine Public Service (MPS) representative will come to interested schools, free of charge, to guide and support concepts developed in this lesson.

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