Energy Ball Activity

Questions

1. Can you make the energy ball work? What do you think makes the energy ball flash and hum?
2. Why do you have to touch both metal contacts to make the ball work?
3. Will the ball light up if you connect the contacts with any material?
4. Which materials will make the energy ball work? Test your hypothesis. 
5. This ball does not work on certain individual - what could cause this to happen?
6. Can you make the energy ball work with all 5-6 individuals in your group? Will it work with the entire class?
7. What kind of a circuit can you form with one energy ball?
8. Given two balls (combine two groups): Can you create a circuit where both balls light up?
9. What do you think will happen if one person lets go of the other person's hand & why?
10. Does it matter who let's go? Try it.
11. Can you create a circuit where only one ball lights (both balls must be included in the circuit)
12. What is the minimum number of people required to complete this?

Answers

1. Yes you can. 
2. You need to touch both metal contacts to complete the circuit for the ball to work.
3. It depends if the material is a good conductor of electricity or not so no, not all material will work. 
4. Materials like metal, 
5. If the individual were to wear gloves, or a type of material (insulator) that does not conduct electricity very well, or if they were to touch one of the metal contacts with their nail, then they would not be able to make the ball work. 
6. Yes you can. Yes it will.
7. A series circuit.
8. Yes you can.
9. The ball won't hum or flash because the circuit is broken. 
10. It does not matter who let's go. Either way, you are still left with a broken circuit.
11. Yes you can. It is called a parallel circuit. 
12. 1 person. 

Difference Between Parallel and Series Circuit

The series circuit is a single path for current to flow. Like Christmas tree lights, if part of the path is obstructed (a light burnt out) they all go out.

Parallel circuits have more than one path for the current to flow, so if a path is obstructed, the current can take another path (like rungs of a ladder).

Read more: What is difference between parallel and series circuit? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/794765#ixzz0zGIIJyDV