Education Technology


WATT's the Deal?

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will use a light probe to measure the light intensities of light bulbs with different wattage ratings.

Before the Activity

  • Install the CBL/CBR Application on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™ or a TI-GRAPH LINK™
  • Connect the TI-73 to the CBL 2™ unit
  • Connect the light probe to the CH1 port of the CBL
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 151 - 159 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Set up the light probe, 1 meter away, in level with the center of the light bulb
  • Switch on the bulb and collect the readings for light intensity
  • Repeat the experiment for the remaining bulbs
  • Plot a graph of light intensity versus wattage and determine the relationship between the two variables by doing a Manual-Fit calculation
  • After the Activity

    Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer the questions listed in it.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary