Energy systems
ElectroCity
2. Make a Switch
Overview
This lesson begins with a review of the Switch Hunt students have done for homework. Then they discuss reasons for including a switch in a circuit, so they can turn it off without disconnecting wires. Then they design and create their own switches, based on the types they have found, such as rotary, slide, pull, toggle and push button switches.
Advance Preparation
- Make four sample switches (see a video for each one): a) Rotary b) Slide c) Toggle d) Push button
- Photocopy worksheet and assessment (downloadable at bottom of page)
- Post a sheet of chart paper with title “Switch Hunt” and headings, “Where it was Found,” “What it Controls” and “How to Operate It” (see Procedure, step 1, below).
- Post a sheet of chart paper with title “Troubleshooting” and headings “Issue”, “Cause” and “Fix” (see Procedure, step 5)
Procedure
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Switch hunt: Conduct a class discussion of the outcomes of the switch hunt . Then use these results to review the major types of switches (click on each link to see a video).
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What does a switch do: Lead a discussion about why switches are used and what they do. If a circuit doesn’t have a switch, the only way to turn it off would be to disconnect a wire. This can be very inconvenient, because turning the circuit on again will require reconnecting the wire in the right place. Nobody would want to use that method to turn the lights in their home off and on. A switch provides a very convenient way to stop and start the flow of electricity.
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Make a switch: Ask students to think about how they could create their own switches. These could work in a similar way to the switches they found in the Switch Hunt: they could be activated by turning, pushing, pulling, sliding or flipping something.
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What materials could they use?
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What action would they have to take to turn the switch on or off?
Provide materials and challenge students to make their own switches. If they have difficulty, share the sample switches you have made (see diagrams and videos).
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Add your switch to a circuit: Challenge students to add the switch to a circuit so it controls a LED or buzzer. When the switch is closed, electricity can flow through it and the LED or buzzer should turn on. When the switch is open, it should block the flow of electricity and turn the circuit off. Opening a switch is like removing a segment of the ramp from the Penguin Toy – the penguins won’t be able to get back to the top of the stairs. See a diagram and video.
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Troubleshooting chart: A switch is working if the LED or buzzer comes on only when the switch is closed, and turns off only when the switch is open. Engage the class in a discussion about their switches:
- What problems came up?
- What caused each one?
- How did they fix it? Use this information to create a class troubleshooting chart, with the columns “Issue”, “Cause” and “Fix”, and leave it posted for future reference.
Worksheets
Assessment
Troubleshooting
If students have difficulty making basic switches, you can review simple ways of making the four basic types: Instructions showing how to make four basic switches.
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Often, a switch is not added to a circuit correctly. Here are some common problems and how to deal with them:
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Switch seems to work backwards: circuit is off when switch is closed and on when switch is open.
If both the switch and the circuit design are good, but the circuit still doesn’t work, the fault probably lies in;
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A good way to test a switch or a battery is to use the Digital Multi meter. More information about the Digital Multi meter is available in the Appendix to this unit. Click on the items below for some videos and drawings showing to use the Multi meter to: