Electrical Maze
Nina Cox
Powhatan County
Developed with funding from the American Council of Engineering Companies
of Virginia and the Math Science Innovation Center
Adapted from “Wire Maze”, www.teachengineering.org
Question(s)
What causes an electrical circuit to work?
Grade/Subject
Physical Science, and Grades 4 and 6 Science
Virginia Standards of Learning: 2010 Science 4 (4.3); 2010 Science 6 (6.2);
2010 Physical Science (PS.6, PS.11)
21st Century
Curriculum
Engineering: Nature of STEM (1.21, 1.23); Design and Build (2.21, 2.23); Civil
Engineering (4.42)
Background
We use circuits every day in household appliances such as computers, ovens,
and refrigerators. Electrical engineers study and apply the science of electricity,
electromagnetism, and electronics to solve problems. One of the most important
circuits we access each day is used to activate the light bulb. In this activity,
students will gain a basic understanding of an electrical circuit—the basis of
electrical engineering.
Electrical Maze is a hands-on activity in which students build and investigate the
characteristics of a series circuit. Students will construct an electrical series
circuit and pass a paper clip through a maze without touching the wire.
Touching the wire with the paper clip will disable the entire circuit. This will
cause the load device (lamp) to turn on.
Students may find this activity similar to the Milton Bradley game Operation®.
In an attempt to remove organs from patient “Cavity Sam”
with tweezers, if the tweezers touch the metal edge of the opening a buzzer
sounds. If the path is broken, no current flows and no part of the circuit will
work (close circuit).
Materials
Electrical Maze
Per Group of 4 Students:
Maze:
Loose Leaf Paper
Pencil
Cardboard boxes
Scissors
Masking tape
http://MathInScience.info
Circuit:
5 meters of striped wire
1 pair of wire cutters
1 D-battery in holder
1 light socket
1 light bulb
©MathScience Innovation Center, 2009
Duct tape
Rulers
Glue gun
1 metal paper clip
Safety



Procedure
1. Put students in groups of four.
Supervise the use of scissors.
Set up a hot glue station monitored by the teacher.
Warn students about the hazards of hot glue.
2. Design the maze on paper with at least 4 turns and no more than 10 turns.
3. Using cardboard boxes students will cut and arrange the walls of a maze on a
piece of 8x11 cut cardboard.
4. Assemble the wire (conductor) in the shape of the maze leaving a strand of
wire on each end of the maze.
5. Take one end of the wire and connect it to a D battery (power source).
6. Then take the other end of the wire and thread the paperclip onto the wire
and connect the light socket (load device).
7. Move the paper clip around the wire as quickly as possible trying not to
touch the wire.
Data Analysis /
Results
1. What happened when the paper clip touched the wire? (it closed the circuit)
How do you know? (the light went on)
2. Brainstorm ways to create an open series circuit. (remove the light bulb,
don’t touch the wire, disconnect the wire from the battery or light)
3. What would happen if the paper clip was coated? (a coated paper clip would
not close the circuit because the coating acts as an insulator)
Conclusion /
Questions
References




The electrical circuit is the basis of electrical engineering.
What are some examples of circuits we use every day?
What would happen in this activity if the wire was covered?
How is this activity similar to the game Operation®?
TeachEngineering.org
This web site contains a variety of engineering activities.
http://www.teachengineering.org
KS3 Bitesize
This web site contains pictures and diagrams for a variety of science and math
activities: such as a series circuit and a parallel circuit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/energy_electricity_forces/electric_current_voltage/revise4.shtml
Electrical Maze
http://MathInScience.info
©MathScience Innovation Center, 2009
MathScience Innovation Center
Information on educational programs available to students, teachers and school
divisions and procedures for registering for programs.
http://msinnovation.info
Electrical Maze
http://MathInScience.info
©MathScience Innovation Center, 2009