Zap! Play it Safe Around Electricity!

Will the Bulb Light?

contain 5,000 to 6,000 little parts called electro plaques. Each electroplaque produces only a small amount of electricity, but when all the charges are added together, they pack quite a wallop!

I’d bet you’re wondering if electric fish ever shock

themselves. They do, but their bodies aren’t affected by it. That’s something scientists like me want to learn more about. n Think About It! OneDbattery is about 2volts. How manyD batteries would it take to equal the shock froman electric eel?

1. Set up the equipment as shown, using a 1.2-volt light bulb and matching base, and fill the beaker with distilled water. Does the bulb light? 2. Add salt, one-quarter teaspoonful at a time, to the water. How much salt does it take to make something happen? 3. Pour the water out and repeat the experiment several more times. In place of the salt use other particles such as dirt, bread crumbs, blackboard chalk, etc. Each time you try a new substance, start over with fresh water observations and note how much of each substance it takes to get a result. Use your observations to formulate a hypothesis about what is needed for the bulb to light. SAFETY TIP: E lectricity from outlets has more than 80 times the voltage of your D battery, and will travel through water whether or not it has impurities in it. Never experiment with electricity from outlets! and wipe off the nails and exposed copper wires. 4. Create a data table where you can record your

Electric eels like me can be up to 8 feet long and weigh 100 pounds!

You don’t have the same protection as an electric fish, so if you contact elec tricity, you will be hurt or killed. n Make sure your hands are dry before you touch anything electrical, even if you think it’s turned off. n Unplug electric appliances before cleaning them. n Keep electric cords and electric appliances away from water.

ZAP!

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