Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Household Energy Usage
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: current, energy consumption, fluorescent lamp, halogen lamp, incandescent lamp, lumen, usage,
voltage, wattage
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Think about all the electrical appliances in your house. Which ones do you think use the most energy per
second?
Some of the appliances in my house that I think use the most energy per second are: air fryer,
microwave, fridge, and dishwasher.
2. Now think about how much each of these appliances is used. Which appliances do you think use the most
energy each month?
Out of the appliances listed above, I think that the microwave and fridge would use the most
energy per month.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Household Energy Usage Gizmo allows you to compare the energy
used by different appliances in the home. On the BEDROOM tab, click
the laptop computer.
1. Voltage (V) is a measure of how much electrical energy is in a
circuit. Most household circuits operate at 120 volts (120 V).
Is this true of the computer? Yes, the computer has a
maximum voltage of 120.
2. Current (I) is a measure of the amount of electrical charge that passes through the circuit each second.
Current is measured in amperes (A).
How much current does the computer use? 0.9 Current drawn (A)
3. Wattage (W) is the energy that is used by a device each second. It is equal to current multiplied by voltage
(W = I × V). Wattage is measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).
A. What is the wattage of the computer? 108 Watts or 0.108 kilowatts
, B. Click on the other objects. Which has the highest wattage? The Hair Dryer - 1,584 Watts
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Comparing light ● Click Reset all appliances.
bulbs ● Check that the BEDROOM tab is chosen.
Introduction: Three types of light bulbs can be found in a typical household:
● Traditional light bulbs are incandescent lamps. In this bulb, an electric current passes through a thin
tungsten filament. The filament heats up and glows, emitting light.
● In a halogen lamp, the filament is encased in a glass capsule containing pressurized gas. This allows
the filament to be heated to higher temperatures and emit brighter light.
● In a fluorescent lamp, an electrical current passes through a gas inside a phosphor-coated tube. The
gas emits ultraviolet radiation, which causes the phosphor to glow.
Question: Which kind of light bulb uses the least amount of energy?
1. Form hypothesis: Which of the three types of lamps do you think is the most efficient?
I think that the halogen lamp will be the most efficient.
2. Gather data: On the BEDROOM tab, click on the Incandescent light on the desk, and the Halogen lamp
to the right of the bed. Record the wattage of each. Then select the KITCHEN tab and record the wattage
of the overhead Fluorescent lamp.
Incandescent lamp: 60 W Halogen lamp: 300 W Fluorescent lamp: 30 W
3. Summarize: Which lamp uses the most energy? Halogen Lamp Least?
Fluorescent Lamp
Which lamp uses the most energy? Halogen lamp Least? fluorescent lamp
4. Analyze: To gauge the efficiency of a light bulb, it is also important to consider how much light it produces.
Light intensity is measured in lumens (lm). A lumen is equal to the light produced by a single candle. The
lumens produced by each type of light are listed below.
To compare the efficiency of each bulb, calculate how many lumens each bulb produces per watt. To do
this, divide the number of lumens by the wattage for each lamp. Include all units.
Lumens Wattage Lumens per watt
Lamp
(lm) (W) (lm/W)
Incandescent 800 lm 60 13.3
Halogen 6,000 lm 300 20
Fluorescent 2,000 lm 30 66.6
Student Exploration: Household Energy Usage
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: current, energy consumption, fluorescent lamp, halogen lamp, incandescent lamp, lumen, usage,
voltage, wattage
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Think about all the electrical appliances in your house. Which ones do you think use the most energy per
second?
Some of the appliances in my house that I think use the most energy per second are: air fryer,
microwave, fridge, and dishwasher.
2. Now think about how much each of these appliances is used. Which appliances do you think use the most
energy each month?
Out of the appliances listed above, I think that the microwave and fridge would use the most
energy per month.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Household Energy Usage Gizmo allows you to compare the energy
used by different appliances in the home. On the BEDROOM tab, click
the laptop computer.
1. Voltage (V) is a measure of how much electrical energy is in a
circuit. Most household circuits operate at 120 volts (120 V).
Is this true of the computer? Yes, the computer has a
maximum voltage of 120.
2. Current (I) is a measure of the amount of electrical charge that passes through the circuit each second.
Current is measured in amperes (A).
How much current does the computer use? 0.9 Current drawn (A)
3. Wattage (W) is the energy that is used by a device each second. It is equal to current multiplied by voltage
(W = I × V). Wattage is measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).
A. What is the wattage of the computer? 108 Watts or 0.108 kilowatts
, B. Click on the other objects. Which has the highest wattage? The Hair Dryer - 1,584 Watts
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Comparing light ● Click Reset all appliances.
bulbs ● Check that the BEDROOM tab is chosen.
Introduction: Three types of light bulbs can be found in a typical household:
● Traditional light bulbs are incandescent lamps. In this bulb, an electric current passes through a thin
tungsten filament. The filament heats up and glows, emitting light.
● In a halogen lamp, the filament is encased in a glass capsule containing pressurized gas. This allows
the filament to be heated to higher temperatures and emit brighter light.
● In a fluorescent lamp, an electrical current passes through a gas inside a phosphor-coated tube. The
gas emits ultraviolet radiation, which causes the phosphor to glow.
Question: Which kind of light bulb uses the least amount of energy?
1. Form hypothesis: Which of the three types of lamps do you think is the most efficient?
I think that the halogen lamp will be the most efficient.
2. Gather data: On the BEDROOM tab, click on the Incandescent light on the desk, and the Halogen lamp
to the right of the bed. Record the wattage of each. Then select the KITCHEN tab and record the wattage
of the overhead Fluorescent lamp.
Incandescent lamp: 60 W Halogen lamp: 300 W Fluorescent lamp: 30 W
3. Summarize: Which lamp uses the most energy? Halogen Lamp Least?
Fluorescent Lamp
Which lamp uses the most energy? Halogen lamp Least? fluorescent lamp
4. Analyze: To gauge the efficiency of a light bulb, it is also important to consider how much light it produces.
Light intensity is measured in lumens (lm). A lumen is equal to the light produced by a single candle. The
lumens produced by each type of light are listed below.
To compare the efficiency of each bulb, calculate how many lumens each bulb produces per watt. To do
this, divide the number of lumens by the wattage for each lamp. Include all units.
Lumens Wattage Lumens per watt
Lamp
(lm) (W) (lm/W)
Incandescent 800 lm 60 13.3
Halogen 6,000 lm 300 20
Fluorescent 2,000 lm 30 66.6
