What Is Light? Name: Iesha Matthew Date: 03/03/12 Subject: Science Fair

Initial Introduction My name is Iesha Matthew and I am in the 10 th grade. I currently attending FLVS as a full-time homeschooler. The classes I’m currently taking for FLVS is Economics, Physical Science, English IV, Adv Pl United States History, and Chinese 2. I have always been interested in Science because I can always learn what science has on the affect of all living things on Earth. My name is Iesha Matthew and I am in the 10 th grade. I currently attending FLVS as a full-time homeschooler. The classes I’m currently taking for FLVS is Economics, Physical Science, English IV, Adv Pl United States History, and Chinese 2. I have always been interested in Science because I can always learn what science has on the affect of all living things on Earth.

Project Introduction My project is going to be what light is and how it works. My purpose for this project is because I want to know what material would be a good conductor to make a light bulb work. My hypothesis is that if I use aluminum, then it will be a good conductor for a light bulb. My goal is to prove that it is possible to use aluminum as a conductor for light. My project is going to be what light is and how it works. My purpose for this project is because I want to know what material would be a good conductor to make a light bulb work. My hypothesis is that if I use aluminum, then it will be a good conductor for a light bulb. My goal is to prove that it is possible to use aluminum as a conductor for light.

Hypothesis If I use aluminum, then it will be a good conductor for a light bulb. If I use aluminum, then it will be a good conductor for a light bulb.

Materials The materials that I used for my project are the following materials: The materials that I used for my project are the following materials: A copper wire A copper wire An aluminum wire An aluminum wire A flash light bulb A flash light bulb A double AA Rayovac Alkaline battery A double AA Rayovac Alkaline battery

Results of Experiment Metals Battery Voltage Coil Light or No Light? Copper 1.5 V 1Light Aluminum 1Light

Discussion The electrical capacity of any type of cables/wires are depending on the heat withstand capacity of the material which can be calculated with the product of square of current, Resistance of the material and Total time for flow of current. So for a fixed current flow and fixed length of wire the area of cross section of the cable is directly proportional to the resistivity. Resistivity of copper is 1.68x10 power -8 and that of pure aluminum is 2.82x10 power -8. So.. for a specific current flow, an aluminum cable size should be 1.7 times that of copper cable. From my experience, I noticed that when I used the copper wire the battery heated up less than when I used the aluminum wire. The aluminum heated up the battery to the point it was hot to the touch. The electrical capacity of any type of cables/wires are depending on the heat withstand capacity of the material which can be calculated with the product of square of current, Resistance of the material and Total time for flow of current. So for a fixed current flow and fixed length of wire the area of cross section of the cable is directly proportional to the resistivity. Resistivity of copper is 1.68x10 power -8 and that of pure aluminum is 2.82x10 power -8. So.. for a specific current flow, an aluminum cable size should be 1.7 times that of copper cable. From my experience, I noticed that when I used the copper wire the battery heated up less than when I used the aluminum wire. The aluminum heated up the battery to the point it was hot to the touch.

Conclusion I have concluded that my hypothesis is correct that aluminum is a good conductor for electricity. It has been proven that copper is a more commonly used conductor for electricity than aluminum. The reason for this is because of the different electrical capacity that a copper wire and an aluminum wire have are completely different. A copper wire can hold more electricity than an aluminum wire. Though it is possible that an aluminum wire can be used to conduct electricity. I have concluded that my hypothesis is correct that aluminum is a good conductor for electricity. It has been proven that copper is a more commonly used conductor for electricity than aluminum. The reason for this is because of the different electrical capacity that a copper wire and an aluminum wire have are completely different. A copper wire can hold more electricity than an aluminum wire. Though it is possible that an aluminum wire can be used to conduct electricity.

Bibliography and Acknowledgements res res res res Acknowledgements: Acknowledgements: My Parents My Parents

Photos of Experiment Supplies: Aluminum Testing: Copper Testing: