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
- Light bulbs are made up of smaller parts, each with its own function. The parts work together to light the bulb.
- In a complete circuit, electrical energy not only flows to the light bulb but through the light bulb.
- If a part of the bulb or circuit is missing, broken, worn out, mismatched, or misconnected, the circuit will not be complete.
- Many circuits incorporate switches. The simplest switch has two metal contacts that, when touching, allow electricity to flow and, when separated, break the circuit and not allow the electricity to flow.
Lesson Goals
Students will:
- recognize that light bulbs have parts and that the parts work together as a system.
- describe the flow of electrical energy through a light bulb.
- explain how a simple switch can be used to control the flow of electrical energy.
Lesson Resources
Download Lesson Plan (14 pages, 504 KB)
Video clip showing the pathway electric current takes through an incandescent light bulb:
Teacher Resource 3.1: Incandescent Light Bulb Diagram (304 KB)
Teacher Resource 3.2: Desk Lamp Diagram (240 KB)
Student Handout 3.1: The Light Bulb Problem (176 KB)
Instructions for stripping wire:
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.
