Download In this task you will build upon your knowledge of electricity to

Everyday Electricity Research Task
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In this task you will build upon your knowledge of electricity to learn about how electricity is used in everyday life.
Instructions
This research task should be your own work. You may use the internet; your textbook; LMS; your Cornell Notes; or
any other resource that you can find (except someone else’s work!) to complete this task. You have two lessons of
class time to complete this task. Once it is done, upload your work to the Dropbox on LMS.
Good luck!
Introduction – Shock Tactics Video
Watch the video Shock Tactics (either as a class or individually). Please be warned that the video contains some
graphical images of medical procedures. Answer the following questions about the video.
1. What effect does an electric shock have
on a normally functioning heart?
2. What does the controlled shock used at
the start of a heart operation cause the
heart to do?
3. What sort of shock is used to restart the
heart?
4. What effect does increasing voltage in
the conductor have on Dr Barker’s hand
when he is touching it? Why is this
dangerous?
5. Why is it useful to be able to listen to the
electrical signals in muscles?
6. What is measured to see if the nervous
system is damaged?
7. What historical beliefs about the
medicinal effects of electricity did Dr
Lawrence explain?
8. Do you think that the electrical beauty
therapy techniques presented are likely
to work very well? Why or why not?
9. What has Richard Hull built in his
workshop? What does it do?
10. What was the conflict between Tesla and
Edison about?
11. What did Edison do in order to prove his
point? What did this result in the
invention of?
12. What is the main advantage of AC over
DC for electricity transmission?
13. How is the loss in energy overcome when
transmitting AC electricity?
Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC)
14. What happened when the guitarist hit
the microphone stand with his strings?
15. How much current is enough to stop the
heart?
16. What is the purpose of a fuse?
17. Why does a residual current device (RCD)
offer greater protection from
electrocution than a fuse?
Use your textbook and other resources to complete the remainder of this research task.
Electric Shock
18. What level of current is likely to cause
death in humans?
19. What are the two main factors that affect
the current that a person would
experience when receiving an electrical
shock?
20. How can current as small as 10mA still be
fatal?
21. Why is it best to always touch electrical
appliances that you are suspicious of
with the back of your hand?
Sources of Electrical Energy
22. What is the difference between
Alternating Current (AC) and Direct
Current (DC)
23. Name as many different sources as you
can that are used to generate electricity
for widespread distribution.
24. What source of generation does Victoria
use to generate most of its electricity?
25. What is the range of voltages supplied in
Victoria?
26. What is the frequency of the electricity
supply in Australia (in cycles per second
or Hertz)
Household Wiring
27. The picture to the right is of a standard
Australian electrical wall outlet. Correctly
label each of the pins: Active, Neutral and
Earth
28. What colour is the Active wire?
29. What colour is the Neutral wire?
30. What colour is the Earth wire?
31. Find some examples of other electrical
wall outlets from around the world and
paste them in the space provided (say
which country they’re from).
32. Why are household circuits wired in
parallel and not in series?
Safety Devices
33. Which wire (A, N, E) should the switch be
placed on in order to be as safe as
possible? Explain why.
34. Why do some appliances not have an
Earth connection plug? How can they still
be as safe as those with an Earth?
35. What is the purpose of a fuse or circuit
breaker? How do they work?
36. Why is an Earth Leakage System or
Residual Current Device used?
Electricity in Cars
37. Where is electrical energy stored in most
cars?
38. What components of a car use
electricity? Name as many as you can.
39. What part of the car is used to generate
electrical energy (assuming it isn’t an
electric car)?
40. What is the voltage of the electricity used
in a car?
41. Are most circuits in a car wired in parallel
or in series?
42. Cars often use a wiring system called an
Earth return. What is this, how does it
work?