Introduction

In this project, we will explore the fascinating world of electrical circuits. Imagine what the world would be like without electricity. There would be no light in our homes, no television to watch, and no computers to learn and have fun. In fact, almost everything we use on a daily basis works on the basis of electrical circuits.

A electrical circuit is a connection of electrical devices that allows electric current to flow through it. It is basically formed by a source of energy (like a battery), a load or device (like a lamp, a motor or a buzzer) and conductors that connect the source to the load. It is important to understand that in order for current to flow, the circuit must be closed, that is, there can be no interruptions or "gaps" in the path that the current must follow.

Inside a circuit, the electric current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal, passing through the various components that can make up the circuit, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Each of these components plays a specific and fundamental role in the operation of the circuit. In our project, we will focus on the simplest circuits, which involve only a power source, conductors, and a load or device.

Contextualization

Electrical circuits are essential to our modern life. They are the basis for the operation of all appliances and devices that we use daily. Therefore, understanding how they work is essential not only for those who wish to pursue a career in science or engineering, but for anyone who wants to better understand the world around them.

Therefore, in this project, we will dive into the world of electrical circuits. We will build our own circuits, understanding in detail how each component works and how they relate to each other to allow the passage of current and the operation of a device. In the end, you will have a better understanding of how electricity is conducted and how electrical appliances work.

To prepare for the project and deepen the subject, I recommend reading chapter 7 of the book "Physics - Concepts and Contexts", by James Walker, which talks about current, resistance and electromotive force. Additionally, the website Brasil Escola has a section dedicated to explaining electrical circuits (https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/fisica/circuitos-eletricos.htm) that can be very useful for understanding the subject. And finally, the Manual do Mundo channel on YouTube has several videos about electricity and circuits that are both educational and fun.

Practical Activity

Title of the Activity: Building a Basic Electrical Circuit

Objective of the Project:

In this project, you will build a basic electrical circuit, applying the theoretical concepts learned about electric currents, verifying Ohm's law and understanding the concept of electrical resistance in a circuit.

Detailed Description of the Project:

Each group of 3 to 5 students will be responsible for building two different types of circuits: a series circuit and a parallel circuit, using light bulbs, wires, batteries, and a switch. The idea is to create a mini dollhouse with electric lighting.

We will divide the activity into phases:

1. Theoretical study of electrical circuits in series and parallel.
2. Planning and designing the circuits.
3. Building the circuits.
4. Testing and analyzing the circuits.
5. Writing the final report.

Necessary Materials:

• 2 Batteries (1.5V)
• 4 Small light bulbs
• Copper wires
• 1 Switch
• Cardboard and materials for building the mini dollhouse
• Multimeter for measuring current and voltage (optional)

Activity Step by Step:

1. Theoretical study: Review the concepts of circuits in series and parallel using the resources recommended in the introduction.

2. Planning the Circuits: Draw a detailed diagram of the series and parallel circuits you intend to build. The house should have at least two rooms with one lamp in each. In the series circuit, the bulbs should be connected one after the other and in the parallel circuit, the bulbs should be connected in parallel.

3. Building the Circuits: Follow the diagram to build the circuits in the dollhouse. Remember to consider where the switch will be placed and make sure that the electric current can flow adequately through your circuit.

4. Testing and Analysis of the Circuits: Switch on the circuit and make sure that all the lamps light up. Use the multimeter to measure the current and voltage at different points in the circuit (if available). Observe what happens if a lamp is removed or burned out.

5. Writing the Final Report: Based on the practical experience and the theoretical study, the students will write a report containing:

   • Introduction: Context of the project, relevance and application of electrical circuits in the real world, and the objective of the project.

   • Development: Explanation of the theoretical concepts worked out, detailed description of the construction of the project, discussion of the results obtained. Here, the students should explain their construction process, the decisions taken, the challenges encountered and how they were overcome, and interpret the data obtained (if they used the multimeter).

   • Conclusion: Recapitulation of the main points of the work, reflection on the lessons learned, and conclusions drawn. Students should think about the project from a broader perspective, think about how this project fits into the real world, and what were the main lessons learned from the activity.

   • Bibliography: List of references used to help develop the project.

At the end of the project, you are expected to have understood the basic concepts of an electrical circuit, its characteristics and functionalities, and to have developed skills in teamwork, time management and problem solving.