Pizza Box/Shirt Box Electrical Circuits
Purpose: To construct series and parallel circuits using the concepts and schematic diagram
circuits learned in class.
Materials: empty clean pizza box or shirt box holiday lights (12) brass fasteners
(6) metal paper clips wire strippers (2 or 3) D-cell batteries
wide masking tape or packing tape scotch tape
General Directions:
1. Cut 9 lights from a strand of holiday lights making sure to leave ~ 2” of wire on each side.
(There will be an additional wire not attached to the lights. Keep this wire as long as possible to use as connectors.)
**If a light bulb has 3 wires coming out of it, throw it out.
2. Using the wire strippers remove ~1/2” of plastic coating from each end of the wires to expose the copper wire. Don’t squeeze too hard or you will cut the wire completely.
3. Check the lights to make sure they work as illustrated: If the light does not work throw it out and cut another light bulb from the strand and remove the plastic coating.
Example:
4. Once all individual lights have been tested and work, tape 2 batteries together using wide tape so that the +end of one battery touches the –end of another battery. Make sure the batteries are touching. If they get closer together when you squeeze them try again.
5. Open the pizza box and divide the inside of the top lid into three sections.
Label 1 section series circuit; 1 section parallel with one switch; 1 section parallel with individual switches.
6. You will attach all wires on the inside of the box but poke the lights through the top of the lid so they are on the outside. See the example on the teacher’s desk.
7. You will make a switch by using (2) brass fasteners + (1) paper clip. Poke the pointy part of the brass fastener through the lid of the box so the points are on the inside.
Example:
Circuit 1: In the section labeled series circuit, draw a series circuit that contains one switch
and three bulbs. Have your design approved by your teacher before you actually
build the circuit using the light bulbs, extra wire etc. When your circuit is complete
demonstrate to your teacher that it works before you design and build the next
circuit. All bulbs light up when the switch is closed.
Circuit 2: In the section labeled Parallel circuit with one switch, draw a parallel circuit that
contains one switch and three bulbs. Follow the rest of the directions above.
Circuit 3: In the section labeled Parallel circuit with individual switches, draw a parallel
circuit that contains a main switch and three bulbs controlled by individual switches.
Follow the rest of the directions above.