My Energy Ball

The Energy Ball Report

Figure 1. Series Circuit (6)

Figure 2. Parallel Circuit (2)

Figure 3. Electrolytes in the Human Body (5)

Figure 1 is a series circuit. A series circuit is a closed circuit in which there is only one path that the electrons can flow through between any two points therefore the electrons must flow through all the loads (6). Furthermore, when the circuit becomes an open circuit due to a break or opening in the series circuit, the entire circuit does not operate because the flow of electrons passing through the circuit is stopped when it reaches the break or opening in the series (7). For visual sense, if the wire was disconnected between bulbs one and two, it would be an open circuit in which the electrons cannot flow thorough the bulbs, hence neither bulb will flash. On the other hand figure 2 is a parallel circuit. A parallel circuit is two or more series circuits connected together which means multiple pathways where the electron current can flow through. This allows the electron current to flow through one load without affecting the other load and, as a result, if there is a break or opening in the circuit, resulting in an open circuit, it will not affect the operation of the entire circuit, unlike the series circuit (3).

Human bodies are natural conductors due to the ions therefore allowing the electrons to flow through the body (2). The human body’s fluids consist of water and electrolytes, refer to figure 3 (5). Electrolytes, also known as ions, are atoms that have either a positive or negative charge due to the gain or loss of electrons. Due to the positive or negative charges in the body’s fluids, it allows a current of electrons to flow through the body (5). The only logical possibility in which the energy ball does not work on an individual would be there is a presence of an insulator therefore inhibiting the flow of electrons. Insulators are materials that have low conductivity that, when a current flows through them, the current is negligible (4). The person could possibility be wearing rubber gloves, which are insulators, thus making the energy ball not work because the current through the rubber gloves is so low that the electrons cannot be conducted to complete the flow of electrons in the circuit. 

During this assignment, I solidified my knowledge over the differences between a series and parallel circuit and understand how an open circuit can cause a series circuit to stop operating all together while a parallel circuit can still operate through the other pathways. I also learned how there are electrolytes in the human body which are the main causes of electric conductivity in humans. For the learning skills, I learned responsibility by completing this assignment by the due date and organization by organizing my schedule and time for this report. I worked independently and collaborated my previous knowledge as well as the discussions in class and verified my statements with reliable internet resources. I had the initiative to complete this assignment independently and self educated myself in this course. Furthermore, I self regulated by periodically checking my work and self accessing the quality of this paper.

References

1. Cew. (n.d.). Parallel Circuits. Instructables - Make, How To, and DIY. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Complete-Guide-To-Basic-Electronics/step3/Parallel-Circuits/

2. Heller, J. (2012, January 26). Electrical injury: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000053.htm

3. Henderson, T. (n.d.). Parallel Circuits. The Physics Classroom. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/u9l4d.cfm

4. Insulators. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved February 08, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/insulators

5. Its Electrifying! Electrical Signals in the Human Body. (2010, September 3). Home for HASPI, San Diego's Health and Science Pipeline Initiative.. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://haspi.org/curriculum-library/MedicalChemistry/00%20Medical%20Chemistry%20Core%20Labs/02ab_Core%20Lab__It's%20Electrifying!%20Electrical%20Signals%20in%20the%20Human%20Body.pdf

6. Ruth, J. (n.d.).  circuit .  Laurier Elementary . Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://lau.vsb.bc.ca/studentp/judyruth/circuit.html

7. Series Circuit. (n.d.). Fundamentals of Electricity. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://epb.apogee.net/foe/fcsps.asp

8. The Series Circuit. (n.d.). NDT Research Centre. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriescircuit.htm