Week 14: Faraday & Watt
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Read K – 3: This topic is a bit complicated for this age group. I recommend skipping this lesson and moving on to “Week 15”.
4 – 8: Watch the following videos:
- Faraday video Part I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVEBzNSwTU
- Faraday video Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVDHKKTC4tA
- James Watt & Steam Engine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWppmWCW0Qw
Discuss:
- Why was Faraday famous? (invented the electric motor & electric generator)
- T/F Faraday came from a wealthy family. (F)
- T/F Faraday was considered well-educated. (F)
- What country was Faraday from? (England)
- How did Faraday educate himself? (read many books in the bookstore where he worked)
- Who was Faraday eventually able to work for? (Humphry Davy, a famous scientist)
- At that time scientists believed electricity flowed in a straight line and only on a wire. What did Faraday believe? (That there was an electro-magnetic field around where electricity flowed.)
- T/F Faraday had a strong faith in God. (T)
- How did Humphry react to Faraday’s success? (wasn’t pleased, possibly jealous)
- Why was Faraday’s invention so important? (generators eventually paved the way for power plants and electricity on a broad scale, motors eventually used to power many things including boats, automobiles, plains, machines, etc.)
- Why was James Watt famous? (made huge improvements to the steam engine, which became the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution)
- What was the Newcomen steam engine used for? (water pump for coal mines)
- Why did the Newcomen steam engine need improvements? (broke often, inefficient)
- Where was James Watt from? (Scotland)
- How was James Watt able to finance his new improved steam engine? (wealthy Matthew Boulton became his business partner)
- How were Watt’s steam engines used? (water pumps for mines, factory work, cotton mills, railroad transportation)
- What unit of electrical power is named in his honor? (the watt)
- Where did the Industrial Revolution begin? (Great Britain)
Discuss:
K – 3: None!
4 – 5: Which inventor, Faraday or Watt, do you consider to be more important? Why? Explain your answer.
6 – 8: Write an essay on one of the following:
- Do you believe Faraday or Watt to be the more important inventor? (5 paragraph, 3 proof essay)
- Discuss how these three events: work at a book-binder’s, tickets to see Humphrey Davy, Humphrey Davy’s injury from a science experiment, paved the way for Faraday to become a great scientist. What role do you believe Faraday’s faith played in his achievements and decisions?
Copyright December 18th, 2016