Creative Technologies 9

Module 1

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Overview
Welcome to Grade 9 Electricity/Electronics Technology!
As a student enrolled in a distance learning course, you have taken on a dual
role—that of a student and a teacher. As a student, you are responsible for
mastering the lessons and completing the learning activities and assignments.
As a teacher, you are responsible to check your work carefully, noting areas in
which you need to improve and motivating yourself to succeed.
In this course, you will study and learn the basics of electricity and electronics,
including the following specific topics:
n How electricity plays a vital role in our lives
n The importance of electricity and electronics
n Important electronics terms
n Proper procedures for using tools and equipment
n Careers and jobs in the electronics field
n Health and safety issues when working with electronics
n How to read and interpret schematic diagrams
n How to use appropriate terminology for electricity or electronics
n How to design and/or build circuits to an acceptable standard capable of
producing a desired output
n How to demonstrate the safe use and knowledge of meters and hand tools used
in the electrical industry
n How to read and interpret meter readings
n How to test and evaluate the integrity of electrical and electronic components
n How to find out about post-secondary programs in the electrical and
electronics fields

Electronics play a huge part in our everyday lives. You may

not realize it, but just about everywhere you go and everything
you do involves using electronics in some shape or form. For
example, when you are travelling to and from school, the
vehicle you are in is made up of various forms of electronics to
make your automobile work. Listening to music on a radio,
CD player, MP3 media player, or a computer involves
electronics, and that music is recorded with electronic devices.
While driving, you can see hydro lines carrying electricity to
houses and other buildings. It’s everywhere! In this day and
age of technology, our lives are driven greatly by electronics.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Overview
Welcome to Grade 10 Electricity/Electronics Technology!
As a student enrolled in a distance learning course, you have taken on a dual
role—that of a student and a teacher. As a student, you are responsible for
mastering the lessons and completing the learning activities and assignments.
As a teacher, you are responsible to check your work carefully, noting areas in
which you need to improve and motivating yourself to succeed.
In this course, you will study and learn the basics of electricity and electronics,
including the following specific topics:
n How electricity plays a vital role in our lives
n The importance of electricity and electronics
n Important electronics terms
n Proper procedures for using tools and equipment
n Careers and jobs in the electronics field
n Health and safety issues when working with electronics
n How to read and interpret schematic diagrams
n How to use appropriate terminology for electricity or electronics
n How to design and/or build circuits to an acceptable standard capable of
producing a desired output
n How to demonstrate the safe use and knowledge of meters and hand tools used
in the electrical industry
n How to read and interpret meter readings
n How to test and evaluate the integrity of electrical and electronic components
n How to find out about post-secondary programs in the electrical and
electronics fields

Electronics play a huge part in our everyday lives. You may

not realize it, but just about everywhere you go and everything
you do involves using electronics in some shape or form. For
example, when you are travelling to and from school, the
vehicle you are in is made up of various forms of electronics to
make your automobile work. Listening to music on a radio,
CD player, MP3 media player, or a computer involves
electronics, and that music is recorded with electronic devices.
While driving, you can see hydro lines carrying electricity to
houses and other buildings. It’s everywhere! In this day and
age of technology, our lives are driven greatly by electronics.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

We rarely stop to think of the role the electronic devices we use play in our
lives. When we use that cordless phone or mobile phone to call up our
friends, when we log onto the computer to check our email, and
when we watch our favorite shows on television, we are using
electronics. It is amazing when you actually consider all the
electronic devices we use on a daily basis. You may be forced to
notice it when the power in your area goes out and all of a sudden
everything goes dark and there’s not much to do! Electronics seem
to make our lives a whole lot easier and much more exciting.
Electronic devices seem to be constantly evolving and improving.
The record player evolved to a cassette tape player, then the CD player, and
now a hard disc or solid state form of electronic equipment
called an MP3 player. Video recording went from the VCR to
the DVD player, and now we are able to pause and instantly
replay live television using a hard disk or Personal Video
Recorder (PVR) device. Sound systems for home
entertainment grew from stereo systems with two speaker
outputs to surround sound systems with up to six different
channels of sound output.
Electronics are used everywhere—in our homes, for law
enforcement and rescue units, for government business, all
the way to traffic signals and emergency response systems.
We have become so dependent on them, it would now be
extremely difficult for us to live without them. But if you
went back in time only 200 years, there would be no
electronics whatsoever.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

What Will You Learn in This Course?
In each lesson, you will read a few pages and then complete a learning activi-
ty and/or assignment. Some lessons may require you to do some investiga-
tive research or observation work in the community. The course is made up
of the following five modules:
Module 1: Introduction to Electronics
Module 2: The Basics of Electricity
Module 3: Capacitors and Semiconductors
Module 4: Ohm’s Law and Circuit Fundamentals
Module 5: Magnetism and Induction

How Is This Course Organized?

Each module in this course is made up of several lessons, which are
organized as follows:
n Introduction: Each lesson begins by outlining what you will be learning.
n Power Words: Throughout this course you will be introduced to words that
will increase your electronics vocabulary. These words are called “power
words.” Each power word will be in bold and the definition for each
word can be found in the glossary at the end of the booklet. You should
be able to define and/or explain these words when you have completed
this course.
n Lesson: The main body of the lesson is made up of the content that you need
to learn. It contains explanations, diagrams, and fully completed
examples.
n Summary: Each lesson ends with a brief review of what you just learned.
n Learning Activities: Most lessons have a learning activity. These include
questions that you should complete in order to help you practice or
review what you have just learned. Once you have completed a learning
activity, you should check your answers with the answer key provided at
the end of the module.
n Assignments: Assignments are found at the end of lessons. You will mail or
electronically submit all of your completed assignments to your teacher
for assessment.
n Projects: You will be completing and sending in two hand-in projects. The
two projects must be mailed to your teacher for assessment.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

What Resources Will You Need for This Course?
You do not need a textbook for this course. All the content is provided
directly within the course. You will, however, need access to a variety of
resources.
Grade 9/10 Electronics Video
You will have the opportunity to view the Grade 9/10 Electronics video on
various YouTube channel.
Each student needs to purchase his or her own Grade 10 Electricity Kit, as group
submissions for projects and assignments will not be accepted. A list outlining all
components found in the Grade 10 Electricity Kit can be found on the following
two pages.

Other Supplies/Requirements
• Safe work area with 120-volt, 15-amp power supply
• Calculator
• 9-volt batteries
Variations in Components and Tools
Components and tools in the Electricity Kit might or might not be identical to
those described or shown in the course and video. This is common in the
electronics industry, where manufacturers often modify components and
tools in order to improve them. It is also possible the kit suppliers have had
to purchase the components and parts from new manufacturers, which may
account for a change from time to time.
People in the electronics industry often face this challenge. It will give you
the chance to practice your critical thinking skills to work around it.
Troubleshooting skills are an essential part of working in the electronics
industry and of life in general. If your components or tools are slightly
different from the ones shown in the course or video, be assured that they
work in the same way but they just look slightly different.

Optional Resources
1. Access to a computer with Internet would be beneficial but is not
compulsory.
2. Access to a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, which will let you
write your assignments, that you can later attach to your email to send in
for assessment.
3. Access to a computer and an email account, which allows you to email
your assignments to the Independent Study option office. Instructions on
how to email assignments to your teacher are found later in this introduc-
tion.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Who Can Help You with This Course?
Taking an independent study course is different from taking a course in a class-
room. Instead of relying on the teacher to tell you to complete a learning activity
or an assignment, you must tell yourself to be responsible for your learning and
for meeting deadlines. There are, however, people who can help you be success-
ful in this course: your teacher and your learning partner.

Your Learning Partner

A learning partner is someone you choose who will help you learn. It may be
someone who knows something about electricity/electronics, but it doesn’t
have to be. A learning partner could be someone else who is taking this course,
a teacher, a parent or guardian, a sibling, a friend, or anybody else who can help
you. Most importantly, a learning partner should be someone with whom you
feel comfortable, and who will support you as you work through this course.
Your learning partner can help you keep on schedule with your coursework,
read the course with you, check your work, look at and respond to your learn-
ing activities, or help you make sense of assignments. You may even study for
your examination with your study partner. If you and your learning partner are
taking the same course, however, your assignment work should not be identi-
cal.

Your supervisor
The next person who can help you is your supervisor. Your supervisor could
be a teacher in your school or one of your parents. Your supervisor will help
you keep on schedule, check your work, help you make sense of the assign-
ments and the Hand-In Project, or look at your work and give you advice. In
order to complete this course, your supervisor must sign and initial your Log
Sheets before you mail them in to your teacher.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

How Will You Know How Well You Are Learning?
You will know how well you are learning in this course by how well you complete
the learning activities, assignments, projects, and examination.

Learning Activities
The learning activities in this course will help you to review and practice what you
have learned in the lessons. You will not submit the completed learning activities
to your teacher. Instead, you will complete the learning activities and compare
your responses to those provided in the Learning Activity Answer Key found at
the end of each module.
Make sure you complete the learning activities. Doing so will not only help you to
practice what you have learned, but will also prepare you to complete your
assignments and the examination successfully. Many of the questions on the
examination will be similar to the questions in the learning activities. Remember
that you do not mail learning activities to your teacher.

Assignments
Each module in this course contains assignments, which you will complete and
submit to your teacher for assessment. The assignments are worth a total of 55% of
your final course mark. There are two types of assignments in this course: the writ-
ten question format, and eight hands-on experiments that involve lab reports.
The teacher will mark your assignments and return them to you. Remember to
keep all marked assignments until you have finished the course so that you can use
them to study for your examination.

Projects
You will be completing and sending in two hand-in projects by mail, one at the end
of Module 3 and one at the end of Module 5. Each student is to complete the two
projects, as group submissions will not be accepted. Each project is worth 15
percent of the final grade for the course. Therefore, the two projects are worth 30
percent of the total mark for the course.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Final Examination
The final exam covers the entire course and is worth 15% of the final mark. The
final exam must be written under the supervision of a proctor. When you start
Module 5, you need to make arrangements to write the exam.

How Much Time Will You Need to Complete This

Course?
Learning through independent study has several advantages over learning in the
classroom. You are in charge of how you learn and can choose how quickly you
will complete the course. You can read as many lessons as you wish in a single
session. You do not have to wait for your teacher or classmates. From the date of
your registration, you have a maximum of 10 months to complete this course, but
the pace at which you proceed is up to you. Read the next few pages to get a
recommendation on how to pace yourself.
If you want to start the course in September and complete it in January, you can
follow the timeline suggested below.

Module Completion Date

Module 1 Middle of October

Module 2 Middle of December

Module 3 End of February

Module 4 Middle of April

Module 5 Middle of May

Final Exam End of May

Timelines
Do not wait until the last minute to complete your work, since your teacher may
not be available to mark it immediately. It may take a few weeks for your teacher
to assess your work and return it to you or your school.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

When and How Will You Submit Completed Assignments?
When to Submit Assignments
While working on this course, you will submit completed assignments to your
teacher five times. The following chart shows you exactly what assignments you
will be submitting.

Submission of Assignments, Log Sheets, and Projects

Submission Assignments You Will

1 Module 1: Introduction to Elec-

tronics
Module 1 Cover Sheet
Assignments 1.1 to 1.4
2 Module 2: The Basics of Electrici-
ty
Module 2 Cover Sheet
Assignments 2.1 to 2.8
3 Module 3: Capacitors and Semi-
conductors
Module 3 Cover Sheet
Assignments 3.1 to 3.5
Project 1: The Decision Maker
4 Module 4: Ohm’s Law and Cir-
cuit Fundamentals
Module 4 Cover Sheet
Assignments 4.1 to 4.5
5 Module 5: Magnetism and Induc-
tion
Module 5 Cover Sheet
Assignment 5.1
Project 2: Brain Meter

How to Submit Assignments?

In this course, you have the choice of submitting your assignments either by mail
or electronically. The two projects and Assignment 1.3 must be submitted by mail.
n Mail: Each time you mail something, you must include the print version of the ap-
plicable Cover Sheet (found at the end of this Introduction).

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

What Are the Guide Graphics For?
Guide graphics are used throughout this course to identify and guide you in spe-
cific tasks. Each graphic has a specific purpose, as described below.

Module Focus/Specific Learning Outcomes (SLOs): Note that these SLOs are
addressed within the lesson.

Power Words: This icon indicates key “power” words that you will learn in
the module.

Learning Activity: Complete a learning activity. This will help you to review
or practise what you have learned and to prepare you for an assignment or an
examination. You will not submit learning activities to your teacher. Instead,
you will compare your responses to those provided in the Learning Activity
Answer Key found at the end of the applicable module.

Check Your Work: Check your responses against those provided in the Learn-
ing Activity Answer Key found at the end of the applicable module.

Video: View a video.

Stop/Caution: Use caution when conducting this learning activity or experi-

ment.

Assignment: Complete an assignment. You will submit your completed as-

signments to your teacher for assessment in accordance with the chart found
in the course Introduction.

Mail or Electronic Submission: Mail or electronically submit your completed

assignments to your teacher for assessment at this time.

Tech Project: Complete a project that you must send in to your teacher.

Examination: Write your final examination at this time.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Creative Technologies 9
Module 1 - Introduction to Electronics

n Introduction
n Lesson 1: Electricity: Let’s Get Started

n Lesson 2: How Electricity Is Produced

n Lesson 3: A Brief History of Electronics

n Lesson 4: How to Solder

n Lesson 5: Practice Solder Board

n Lesson 6: Careers in Electronics

n Module 1 Summary

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

 Module 1: Introduction to Electronics

Module Focus

After working through this module, you should be able to:

a. have a basic understanding of what electricity is.
b. understand the way in which it is generated and
transmitted.
c. learn to measure electricity with a multimeter.
d. create some electricity of your own.
e. understand the hazards of working with electricity.
f. understand a brief history of electricity.
g. learn how to solder.
h. practice using a solder board.
i. engage in career exploration.

Introduction
In this module, you will learn about what electricity is and how it is
transmitted and generated. You will also learn how to measure with a
multimeter, learn about the hazards of electricity, and learn and
practice how to solder. You will also explore the various careers in
electricity and electronics.

Power Words

electrical outlet insulator volts rotors

batteries satellites electrodes hydroelectricity
static electricity electrolyte current multimeter
lightning insulator generator electrochemical
conductor potential energy DC reaction
turbine AC mechanical energy
transformer electric shock

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Module 1 Assignments
In Module 1, you will complete the following four assignments, which you will
send to your teacher at the end of the module.

Lesson Assignment Number Assignment Title

1 Assignment 1.1 Electricity: Let’s Get Started
2 Assignment 1.2 The Hazards of Working with Electricity
5 Assignment 1.3 Practice Soldering Project
6 Assignment 1.4 Careers in Electronics

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Lesson 1: Electricity: Let’s Get Started

What Is It?
If you look around your house, you will see many electrical outlets where you
can plug in all your appliances, gizmos, and gadgets. On the other hand, some of
our electrical devices don’t use the electricity that flows from these outlets.
Instead, they use batteries, which can produce varying amounts of electricity,
depending on how many batteries there are and the configuration that they are
in.
One of the most obvious examples of electricity is during a thunderstorm. At this
time, you will often see huge bolts of electricity that flash and come down from
the sky. Lightning is one of nature’s most awesome displays, and also one of the
deadliest. Bolt temperatures are hotter than the surface of the Sun (27,000
degrees Celsius) and it is the shockwaves produced by the rapid heating of the
air around the bolt that gives us thunder.
On a much smaller scale, you can get a shock from static electricity. Almost all of
us are familiar with static electricity because we can see and feel it, especially in
the winter. On dry winter days, static electricity can build up in our bodies and
cause a spark to jump from our bodies to a piece of metal or another person’s
body. We can see, feel, and hear the sound of the spark when it jumps.

You walk across the rug, reach for the doorknob, and ZAP!!! You get a shock. Or,
you come inside from the cold, pull off your hat, and BOING!!! All your hair stands on
end. What is going on here? The answer is static electricity.

It is easy to create electricity from sunlight

using a solar cell. You’ve probably seen
calculators that have solar
cells—calculators that never need batteries
and in some cases don’t even have an off
button. As long as you have enough light,
they seem to work forever. You may have
seen larger solar panels on the roofs of
houses. These panels generate electricity
for people to use as long as the sun is
shining. Although these larger panels
aren’t as common as solar-powered
calculators, they are not that hard to spot if
you know where to look. Satellites also

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

have large arrays of solar panels, where they are used to power the
electrical systems.
So what is this mysterious stuff that we call electricity? Where does it
come from, and why is it able to do so many different things?

What Can Electricity Do?

The electricity that we get from power outlets and batteries can power all dif-
ferent kinds of devices. The fact is that electricity can be used in many different
ways to do many different things.
For example:
• n Electric motors can turn electricity into motion.
• n Light bulbs and LEDs turn electricity into light.
• n Computers use electricity to store and transmit information.
• n Telephones use electricity to make communication possible.
• n TVs use electricity to transmit moving pictures onto screens.
• n Speakers turn electricity into sound waves and music we can hear.
• n Stun guns and tasers turn electricity into weapons.
• n Some furnaces and stoves turn electricity into heat.
• n Radios turn electricity into waves that can travel great distances.

Be Safe!Get this! Your whole body needs electricity in tiny amounts to make it work.
And when your body encounters large amounts of electricity, it is very dangerous.
The amount of electricity flowing in a lamp is enough to seriously hurt you!

It is now time for you to complete your first learning activity.

The purpose of this learning activity (along with all the other learning activities
in the course) is to help you prepare to complete your assignments and write
your final exam. You will not mail any of your learning activities to your
teacher for assessment.
For some learning activities, there are no correct or incorrect answers. For that
reason, you will not find an answer key for every learning activity.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

 Learning Activity 1.1

Electricity
Check your answers in the Learning Activity Answer Keys found at
the end of this module.
1. List three items in your home that you need to plug in.
2. List five items in your home that use electricity, but you don’t
need to plug in.

How to Measure a Battery

The first thing you need to do is get out your digital multimeter (DMM)
from your electronics tool kit.

In this section, you will be measuring your 9-volt battery and

watching a video presentation on how to use the multimeter.

Caution: You will be working with your digital multimeter to

test your battery. It is very important that you follow the
instructions carefully every time you use the meter or any
other equipment in this course. If you’re ever not sure about
something, ask your learning partner or teacher.

Using Your Multimeter

One of the most commonly used tools in electronics
is the digital multimeter or DMM. A DMM allows
you to measure and compare electronic output
values. Most DMMs will measure voltage, amperes,
continuity, and resistance. These four measurement
terms will be discussed in detail as you work
through the course. Just remember that your DMM
is a fairly sensitive measuring tool. You have to
make sure to take good care of it and

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

The meter in your tool kit should look similar to the one in the course pictures.
From time to time, some of the settings on the meters may change position on
the dial. When using your meter, always make sure you find and select the
correct function symbol for the task you are performing. The symbols are the
same, but their placement on the meter may vary.
Without the DMM measuring tool, it would be nearly impossible to work with
electricity and electronics.
Watch the section on the digital multimeter. After you have watched the video,
come back to this page and continue on from here.

To measure battery voltage, set your DMM to the

feature or function known as voltage direct
current or VDC. It is important to learn about this
function because your 9-volt battery needs to
be tested to see if it has enough electrical energy to
run your projects and experiments.
The correct setting on the multimeter dial is
shown in the picture on the left. It is important to
know the purpose of each setting. A white dot on
a multimeter dial indicates the correct position for
the selection knob. Look for the white dot on the
multimeter. If you were to choose the wrong func-
tion, you could damage the DMM.
All meters are different but they have the same
symbols. There are five symbols that you will be
referring to and they are on all meters regardless
of the make and model

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Testing Your 9-Volt Battery
The negative and positive posts of the battery are clearly indicated on the
battery itself. This should help you to be sure which test lead from the me-
ter goes on which post of the battery.
It is safe to say that when using the meter the black probe is always nega-
tive and the red probe is positive. Some components, like the resistor, do
not have a negative and positive side. But when measuring things that do,
like your battery, you have to be sure to place the correct post on the
correct pole.

Now, if you haven’t already done so, turn the meter on by pressing the
power button. The meter should turn on and the small screen should have a
bunch of zeros on it.

Next, take the battery and find the

negative and positive posts, as indicated
on the side of the battery.

Place the meter selection dial to read

voltage direct current or VDC.

Take the two test probes and place the

black one on the negative post of the
battery and the red one on the positive
post. Watch the display screen for your
reading.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

 Learning Activity 1.2

Reading Your Multimeter

Write down the value that the screen indicates in the space below.
1. I read the battery with my DMM and the meter indicated the
battery has ___________volts DC.
Check your answer in the Learning Activity Answer Keys found at
the end of this module.

Congratulations! You have successfully measured your battery’s voltage

level. Now, you can turn the meter off by pressing the power button one
more time.

Troubleshooting
If your DMM won’t turn on, there is a possibility that the battery inside
the meter is dead. Ask an adult to help you change the battery. The worst
case is that you misused the meter. Once a DMM is damaged, you only
have one option—purchase a new one. It is too expensive to repair a
DMM.
Make sure you double- and triple-check the Function dial before you test
anything.

Storing Your Meter

Whenever you are finished with your meter,
it is a good idea to wrap the wires around the
meter and snap the probes back into the side.
This way your meter is safe and stored
properly for the next time you need to use it.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Cool Electronics
Now that you have learned about electricity, how to measure it, and the many
things that it can do, let’s see if we can make some electricity on our own. Here’s
an experiment you can try. It may be a good idea to have your learning partner
assist you in this experiment.

The Lemon Battery

You may have already heard of this experiment, but successfully creating one of
these devices is not always easy.

Batteries are made from two different metals and an acidic solution. Copper and
zinc work well as the two metals, and the citric acid of a lemon will provide the
acidic solution. (This lemon battery will not be able to run most light bulbs.)
Here is a list of things that you will need to do this experiment.
n A lemon: A fresh, juicy lemon works best.
nA nail: Galvanized nails are coated in zinc. Use a 2-inch galvanized nail
(available from a hardware store).
n A penny: Any copper coin will work.

Batteries are made from two different metals and an acidic solution. Copper
and zinc work well as the two metals, and the citric acid of a lemon will pro-
vide the acidic solution. (This lemon battery will not be able to run most light
bulbs.)
Here is a list of things that you will need to do this experiment.
n A lemon: A fresh, juicy lemon works best.
n A nail: Galvanized nails are coated in zinc. Use a 2-inch galvanized nail
(available from a hardware store).
n A penny: Any copper coin will work. (Canadian pennies from 1960–2001
should all work.)

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Let’s create the battery:
n Push a galvanized nail into one side of the lemon. (The nail and penny can-
not touch.)
n Put a penny into a cut on the opposite end of the lemon.
This is a single cell of a battery. The zinc nail and the copper penny are called
the electrodes. The lemon juice is called the electrolyte. All batteries have a “+”
and “–” terminal. You can create a battery anytime you have two dissimilar met-
als and an electrolyte.

Electric current is the flow of electrons. Conductors allow electrons to flow through
them. Most metals (copper, iron) are good conductors of electricity. Electrons will flow
from the “–” (negative) electrode of a battery, through a conductor, towards the
“+” (positive) electrode of a battery. Volts (voltage) is the measure of force moving the
electrons or making them want to move. (High voltage is dangerous, but in this experi-
ment the voltage is low.) We will go into exactly what electricity is and how it flows in
greater detail in Module 2.

Connect the multimeter to

our lemon battery. Put the
meter selection knob to the
Volts DC setting. The meter
will tell us how many volts
are being generated. Note the
amount of voltage shown on
the meter for use in Learning
Activity 1.3. Unfortunately
this battery will not produce
enough current (flowing elec-
trons) to light a bulb.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

 Learning Activity 1.3

Testing Volts
Record your results below.
1.The voltage that my lemon battery produced was volts DC.

You might want to try using a different fruit or even a potato and see
what kind of voltage you can get, if any. It goes without saying that once
you put the nail and penny into the lemon, or any other fruit or vegeta-
ble, do not eat it! You will have to dispose of it.
(Optional activity)

2. I also tried using a as a battery and the Volts DC on the meter read .
Check your answers in the Learning Activity Answer Keys found at the
end of this module.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]

Improving Your Battery
The quality of the copper and zinc can be a problem for a battery like this. Pen-
nies, in particular, are rarely made of pure copper.
If you can, try substituting a piece of copper wire (common house wire) for the
penny. Experiment with different lengths and configurations of electrodes. Oth-
er sources of zinc and copper may be found in the plumbing supply depart-
ment of a hardware store.
It is now time for you to complete Assignment 1.1: Electricity: Let’s Get Start-
ed on the following pages. This assignment (along with all other assignments)
is worth marks. You will mail them to your teacher, along with your Module 1
Cover Sheet, when you have finished this module.

Electronics 10 —Electricity/Electronics Technology [Module 1]