Download Electricity Field Trip/Scavenger Hunt

Electricity Field Trip/Scavenger Hunt (Visit my website for help!!)
1. Find three different appliances in your house. Examples: tv, microwave, computer
(each component has separate data but since they operate simultaneously the components
are considered one unit, one computer), hair straightener, blowdryer, washing machine,
toaster oven, dryer, air conditioning unit, hot water heater (if electric)
For each device, write down as much as possible of this data:
device
Power in
Voltage
Current
Watts W
Volts V
Amps A
Resistance Hz
frequency
2. List three things in your house that run on DC ONLY and state how you know this.
3. List three things in your house that run on AC only and state how you know this.
4. List three things in your house that run on either AC or DC and how you know.
5.Make a copy of your household’s latest electric/gas bill: front and back of the page that
lists actual useage, not the page that lists your address, etc.
a. what unit of measurement does the electric company use to sell/charge for
electricity?___________________
b. What do they charge per kWhr? _______________________
6. Find the owner’s manual for your family vehicle. Copy the page that lists the fuses
and the devices wired to the various fuses.
a. how many amps is the circuit/fuse that controls your headlights?
b. how many amps is circuit/fuse that controls your air conditioning compressor?
c. how many amps is the circuit/fuse that controls your horn?
d. what is the maximum amperage fuse in your car AND what devices does it
control?
4.
Locate the main circuit box for your home. Answer the following questions:
a. Where is it in your home?
b. How many circuit breakers are active? (It may be that not all the circuit
breaker slots are used up?
c. Are the circuits labeled as belonging to ‘kitchen’, ‘living room’, etc.?
d. Check the amperage of the breakers. The breaker switch itself will be marked
as 15 or 20. If one is marked ‘20’ is there something different in terms of
major appliances on that 20 Amp circuit?
5. Go to the PSEG or JCPL website and find info on the power generation plants that
serve our area. http://www.pseg.com/family/power/index.jsp
Find the following info:
a. where are these plants located?
b. If it burns fossil fuels, what type?
c. Do you get any electricity generated at nuclear powerplants?
d. At hydroelectric powerplants?
e. How many watts of power does the plant produce? (as much info as possible)
f. How much fossil fuel is used to generate this power? Info on efficiency?
6. IN CLASS: Calculate how much energy an appliance uses in a month and how much
you pay for it.