"Buzz Puzzle Box" Return to list of pracs

Aim: This activity is used to solve a connecting wire problem from a shoe box that has three wires coming out, only two are connected to a battery.

Equipment: The equipment includes...  

• three wires;
• One 9V, C or D size battery;
• masking tape;
• a shoe box;
• a globe.

Method: Construct within a shoe box two wires that are connected to a battery and one that is unattached. Pose the question ... "How can we know which 2 wires will are connected to the battery? The puzzle box is seen below...

Background knowledge: The electricity passes out of the base of the battery through the wire to the globe, through the globe and back to the battery. This only works if the two wires form a complete circuit (ie. you choose the two correct wires). Get students to connect the globe and test various combinations until they get the right combination. For the globe to work the circuit requires a full path for electricity to flow from the positive end of the battery to the negative end.