Answers to today's questions # 1 ~ 12

Q1. Can you make the energy ball work? What do you think makes the ball flash and hum?

A. Yes, I can make the energy ball work by placing my fingers on both of the metal contacts on the ball. Since our bodies are huge massed of atoms, we can generate electricity. This electricity flowing in my body gets transferred to the metal contacts, resulting in the presence of current electricity. The charges would eventually reach the metal contacts, whose obligation is to absorb the charges and spit them out on to the battery in the ball, and cause the battery to reach its ultimate goal: to make the ball light up and hum.

Q2. Why do you have to touch both metal contacts to make the ball work?

A. I have to touch both metal contacts to make the ball work because for current electricity to take place, there have to be two terminals that will help charges flow continuously.

Q3. Will the ball light up if you connect the contacts with any material?

A. No, the lighting up will happen only when the both contacts are connected to conductors.

Q4. Which materials will make the energy ball work? Test your hypothesis.

A. Materials that can conduct electricity, such as human body and metals, will make the energy ball function. Our group has tested our hypothesis by lighting up the ball with the metal parts on the caps of our pens. The two metal parts have to somehow come in contact with each other, whether it be through directly coming in contact with each other or through having metal parts come in touch with a member's any body part (in this instance, fingers). How human bodies trigger the electricity in the ball to flow has already been answered in questions # 1 and 2.

Q5. This ball does not work on certain individuals - what could cause this to happen?

A. In all people's bodies, there has to exist electricity, or people's bodies will not be function properly due to lack of electrical signals. Therefore, it does not make sense to say that the ball does not work on certain individuals, unless hindrances get involved. If they have something on the part that is in contact with the ball. For example, if they put gloves on and try to make the ball work using their hands, they will witness futility. These impediments will obstruct any electricity to do its job of making the ball work.

Q6. Can you make the energy ball work with all 5 ~ 6 individuals in your group? Will it work with the entire class?

A. Yes, our group made the energy ball work, with every five of the group members involved. We had two individuals each touching one metal contact on the ball, and the other members came in touch by touching each other's finger. When someone pulled his finger our of the "bond", the ball would stop working. Involving the entire class will make it work. In fact, Mr. Chung had given the class a challenge. Everyone engaged in this activity of lighting up two balls, and it had taken us only a few minutes to successfully light them up. This result proves that it is possible to involve every student in the class and make the energy ball light up and emit sound.

Q7. What kind of a circuit can you form with one ball?

A. A series circuit would form. Having one ball, we need to make just one path of current; therefore, a series circuit would be the most appropriate answer.

Q8. Given 2 balls (combine 2 groups): Can you create a circuit where both balls light up? [1/3]

A. Yes, I can create a circuit that lights up both balls. The process of lighting them up follows the same principle as the one mentioned in question #6 ㅡ it is just that one more ball and a few more people have been added into the process.

Q9. What do you think will happen if one person lets go of another person's hand and why? [2/3]

A. In a series circuit, regardless of whom releases his/her hand, one person letting go would ruin the whole process. In a parallel circuit, should one person let go, only one ball would work. (Further information in the next answer.)

Q10. Does it matter who lets go? Try it. [3/3]

A. As I had mentioned in the preceding answer, letting go of another person's hand in a series circuit would cut off the flow and make neither of the balls work, no matter who lets go. This is because a series circuit requires everyone to be connected in a "series", which means that whether the ball would work or not is dependent on the cooperation of every individual involved.On the other hand, if someone, does not matter who, lets go in a parallel circuit, only one ball would work. A parallel circuit allows the current to have more than one route to take, disruption of one route will not affect the flowing via other routes. To give an analogy of each circuit, in a series circuit, a postman has something to deliver to only one house; and in a parallel circuit, the postman has things to deliver to two houses. In a series circuit, if a part of the route gets destroyed, the postman cannot deliver whatever has to be delivered; in a parallel circuit, if one route becomes impassable for whatever reason, the postman can still reach one house.

Q11. Can you create a circuit where only one ball lights (both balls must be included in the circuit)? [1/2]

A. Yes, using the idea of parallel circuit would make it possible. Information in depth can be found from the answer of question #10.

Q12. What is the minimum number of people required to complete this? [2/2]

A. The minimum number of people required to complete the task mentioned in Q11 is 4.