8th graders explore simple circuits using the Snap Circuits kit.

1. SNAP
CIRCUITS
By C.C.

2. LOADS
Light bulbs Motors
Light bulbs are loads that use Motor s are also loads that use
the energy transferred from the the energy transferred. They spin
power source. When the circuit their top piece when are
they’re in works, they light up. functioning, while also creating
They’re brightness depends on a sound. The sound decreases
how many loads are in the when more loads are in the
circuit. circuit.

3. ENERGY SOURCES
Batter y
T h e b a t te r y i s a l a r g e ye l l ow s q u a r e w i t h
5 s n a p s . Tw o s n a p s a r e n e g a t i v e , a n d
t h e o t h e r t h r e e a r e 3 V, 5 V a n d 6 V. T h e
b a t te r y g i v e s e l e c t r i ci t y w h e n i t ’ s p o w e r
c o r d i s p l u g g e d i n to a n o u t l et . T h e p o wer
it gives of f is based of f of with snap is
u s e d i n t h e c i r c uit , 3 V b e i n g t h e
smallest power and 6V being the
l a r g e s t . T h e b a t te r y w i l l o v e r h e a t a f te r
long periods of time.
Batteries
B a t te r i e s a r e a b a s i c p o w e r s o u r c e . I t i s
a large clear square, with 2 slots for
p u t t i n g i n 2 d o u b l e A b a t te r i e s . I t i s n o t
the most reliable source because the
b a t te r i e s w i l l r u n o u t o f p o w e r
ev e n t u a l ly, b u t w i l l n o t o v e r h e a t .

4. WHAT KINDS OF CIRCUITS DO NOT WORK
Circuits do not work when there is something wrong with the
circuit. These list of things make circuits work improperly and
not functioning right.
 Too many loads, not enough energy sources
 Too many energy sources, not enough loads
 Short circuits (causes the circuit to catch on fire)
 Wrong parts on the wrong circuits

5. OUR PROJECTS
Recently we tried to accomplish 2 dif ferent projects. One
of the projects we attempted was to build one huge circuit using
all of the snap circuit parts we had. It did not work except for 1
light bulb (surprisingly), and we couldn’t figure out why it
wouldn't function properly. We assumed that there were too
many pieces and not enough energy sources.
Our second project was to build a giant structure made
of connectors and could function and use loads properly. We
never got to this project because we only had time for one and
we knew that we couldn’t accomplish this project successfully.