BASIC ELECTRICITY - The Human Circuit
This activity teaches students the electron theory of electricity.  Students act as electrons in a circuit and experience series and parallel circuits.  They measure current (flow of electrons) in amps and make power calculations.  They learn the basics of Ohm's law.  You can download a PDF file copy of this lesson plan: Basic Electricity - The Human Circuit.

Set up the classroom or activity area using the arrangements linked below.  The activity can be done with tables or individual desks.  It can be done inside or outside (depending on weather conditions). 
Activity One - Open Circuit (Initial Set Up)
Activity Two - One Load
Activity Three - Two Loads in Series
Activity Four - Two Loads in Parallel
Activity Five - Short Circuit
Students measure the current of the human circuit.  They measure the time it takes for one coulomb of electric charge (the hoola-hoops) to pass a single point.  click on the galvanometer display to the right for a larger copy.  Get a copy of the conversion table to help students convert seconds readings to amps.

 
 


 

 

AMMETER CHART - POWER CHART
Time for 
1 Coulomb 
of electrical 
charge to pass:
Coulombs
per Second
Number
of Amps
X
Number
of Volts
=
Number
of Watts
0.5 second
2 Q/sec
2 Amps
X
 .
=
 .
1 second
1 Q/sec
1 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
2 seconds
0.5 Q/sec
0.5 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
3 seconds
0.33 Q/sec
0.33 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
4 seconds
0.25 Q/sec
0.25 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
5 seconds
0.2 Q/sec
0.2 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
6 seconds
0.17 Q/sec
0.17 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
7 seconds
0.14 Q/sec
0.14 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
8 seconds
0.13 Q/sec
0.13 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
9 seconds
0.11 Q/sec
0.11 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
10 seconds
0.1 Q/sec
0.1 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
11 seconds
0.09 Q/sec
0.09 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
12 seconds
0.08 Q/sec
0.08 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
13 seconds
0.077 Q/sec
0.077 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
14 seconds
0.071 Q/sec
0.071 Amp
X
 .
=
 .
15 seconds
0.067 Q/sec
0.067 Amp
X
 .
=
 .