My 4th grader is making a lighthouse with a simple circuit and a 9 volt battery. We are using a flashlight bulb as the light. When we turn it on it lights then the light steadily fades and the battery gets hot. If we take out the battery and let it cool it will turn on again, but the same will happen. We have tried changing to a smaller gauge of wire, putting a new switch on and even replaced the battery but it still happens. Any ideas would be greatly appreacated.
2007-01-21 08:22:21 · 3 answers · asked by shellbell 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Johnnie got it although the other option is to use a 1.5v battery - a D-cell.
2007-01-21 08:59:56 · answer #1 · answered by huskie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can make a cool lighthouse using either of the two answers given - switch to a 9v bulb (a 12v automotive interior bulb will work, too) or a 1.5v battery.
The science part of the project happens when your 4th grader thinks about what is needed to make the bulb light at all. Why the light faded and the battery got hot when you put together the mismatch is also interesting to think about, but a much harder question.
2007-01-21 18:42:21 · answer #2 · answered by virtualguy92107 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your light is pulling too much current from the 9 v. battery. U need a 9 v. light .each cell in a flash light is 1.5 v Divide that into 9 and what u get. That would be a 6 cell light.
2007-01-21 16:41:57 · answer #3 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋