Name:
Class:
Date:
Where: In the Communication Gallery in the lower level of The Tech
The Big Idea: Come to The Tech and find out all you can about electricity and how it works
Find the entrance of the Communication Gallery. Standing in one spot, look, listen, smell, and feel this area. Now, imagine that the electricity just went out!
What would you see?
(BLACKNESS)
What would you hear?
(SILENCE OR THE VOICES OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU.)
What would it feel like?
(IT COULD EITHER BE VERY STILL AND QUIET, OR PANIC-FILLED, DEPENDING ON THE PEOPLE IN THE MUSEUM AT THE TIME.)
Would the temperature change?
(YES, THE HEAT OR THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NO LONGER WORK.)
Where would you go?
(OPINON)
Would you be afraid?
(OPINON)
Did you use electricity this morning before you came to The Tech? Circle the things that electricity made possible that you used already today:
turned on the lights |
blew dry your hair |
used cold milk for your cereal |
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listened to the radio |
cooked breakfast on an electric stove |
called someone on the phone |
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rode the light rail |
turned on the heat or a/c |
woke up when the alarm |
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watched TV |
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Before you get started exploring, write down 2 things you already know about electricity.
1. (OPINON)
2. (OPINON)
Where: At the Electronic Messages Display in the Communication Gallery
in the lower level of The Tech
The Big idea: You couldn't talk on the phone without
Electricityyou need to know why!
With a partner, send each other messages using the telephone and the modem.
When you talk to a friend on the telephone, your words are travelling along telephone wires. If you cut one of those wires, would you hear people's voices?
Yes |
How should I know? |
NO WAY! |
When you talk into a telephone, what does the mouthpiece do?
(TRANSLATES YOUR VOICE INTO ANALOG ELECTRIC SIGNALS)
When you send a friend an email, your letters are travelling along computer and telephone wires. If you cut one of those wires, would you see letters?
Yes |
How should I know? |
NO WAY! |
When you write an email, what does the modem do?
(TRANSLATES LETTERS INTO DIGITAL ELECTRIC SIGNALS)
What was the longest distance phone call ever made?
(2 MILLION MILE PHONE CALL BETWEEN BUZZ ALDRIN, ON THE MOON, AND PRESIDENT NIXON IN WASHINGTON, DC)
Where: At the Copper Wire Network Display in the Communication Gallery
in the lower level of The Tech
The Big Idea: Electricity helps get your words through the phone
lines...where does it go?
Before looking at the display, answer this question!!
Imagine you are calling your friend. After you punch in the numbers on
your phone, you wait a few seconds and you hear your friend's phone
ringing on the other end. How do you think this happens?
Now look at the display
Chart the electronic signal that travels on the Copper Wire when you
call your next door neighbor. (Don't forget to show: Copper Wire, Your
House, Central Office, Frame, Switch, Neighbor's House.)
Where: At the Satellite Network Display in the Communication Gallery
in the lower level of The Tech
The Big Idea: You can't even watch TV without electricity...how does
it help you watch live sports games?
Be a news anchor and give a report on an upcoming event at the San Jose Arena. Now, look carefully at the sign that says, "Follow the live TV report to space and back."
Where is electricity being used in the picture?
(VIDEO REPORT TRAVELS THROUGH COPPER CABLE TO TV TRUCK, SATELLITE DISK ON ROOF OF TV STATION PICKS UP SIGNAL AND SENDS IT THROUGH CABLE TO STUDIO.)
How do you think the video report is travelling through the copper
wires?
(THROUGH ELECTRIC SIGNALS)
Where? In the Digital Studio of the Communications Gallery
The Big Idea: Can electricity make a monkey dance...what are you
talking about?!
Make this monkey do a jig.
Do you think electricity is necessary to make this crazy ape dance?
YES |
How should I know? |
No way! |
Explain your answer:
(ELECTRIC SIGNALS ARE PICKING UP THE MOVEMENT OF THE SENSORS. A TRANSMITTER PRODUCES ALTERNATING ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD, WHILE SENSORS IN THE HEADSET AND GRIPS HAVE ELECTRIC CURRENT.)
Where: In the Innovation Gallery at the Inventor's Workbench called
"Build Circuits"
The Big Idea: A circuit is a path for Electricity...you get to make a
circuit!
What electricity items did you use to get up here?
(ESCALTOR OR ELEVATOR, LIGHTS)
Now, try out the Inventor's Workshop and perform the five activities
at this station.
What is a circuit?
(PATH FOR ELECTRICITY)
Do you have any circuits in your house?
(LIGHT SWITCHES, DOORBELLS, ALL KINDS OF ELECTRIC DEVICES)
1. (OPINON)
2. (OPINON)