National Teacher Enhancement Project

Middle School Home Energy Audit

TEACHING THE LIGHTING LAB


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Rationale:

This laboratory activity is designed to provide students with a simple, yet effective, introduction to power use. The experiment is centered on the comparison of different power light bulbs and different types of light bulbs (incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, halogen, etc.) with respect to the amount of light produced compared to the power used by each. This approach not only permits the discussion of basic concepts related to energy, work, and power, but also allows the introduction of efficiency as a concept. In the larger scope of this site as a whole, this specifically allows connections to the home energy audit and proposals for energy-saving measures.

From a more global perspective, this hands-on activity provides a gateway to student designed experimentation. Students should be encouraged to propose questions or dilemmas of their own and, subsequently, design experiments to investigate and possibly solve their own issues.

Safety Note:

SHOCK HAZARD!!! MAKE CERTAIN BEYOND ALL DOUBT THAT LIGHT SOCKETS, WIRING, AND BULBS ARE SAFE!!!

INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON THE PROPER AND SAFE WAYS OF HANDLING THE MATERIALS THEY WILL BE USING.

SUPERVISE STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES DURING THIS ACTIVITY.

Tips for Success

Activity Links:

Student Page

Printable Data Sheet


Created for the Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and Friends of Fermilab, and funded by United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), and the National Science Foundation.

Authors: Sue Emmons, Powell Middle School, Littleton, CO; Kevin Lindauer, John F. Kennedy High School, Denver, CO; Linda Lung, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO; John Sepich, Scott Carpenter Middle School, Westminster, CO; ; Janet Stellema, Monarch K-8, Louisville, CO; Edited by Marge Bardeen NTEP II Project PI.
Webmaster: ed-webmaster@fnal.gov
Created: September 9, 1998 revised July 30, 2001
URL: /ntep/f8/projects/nrel/teachlightlab.html