5 General Physics 2-Performance Task

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines

2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section: Grade 12
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-
bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

A. INTRODUCTION
The electric telegraph is developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and other inventors.
It is one of the most important inventions in the history of Science, Technology, and Engineering.
Invention of the telegraph directly led to the development of all digital communications, including
computers, fax, the Internet, e-mail, and text messaging.
A telegraph is a device for transmitting and receiving messages over long distances. It has two
main components: a sender and a receiver. It works on basic principles of electricity and
electromagnetism. After accomplishing the previous modules, it is possible for us to construct our own
simple telegraph at home. Though the simple telegraph could not be used for long-distance
communication, it can demonstrate how a telegraph works applying the principles of electricity and
magnetism.

Figure 1 Figure 2
Fig. 1 shows a picture of the materials needed for the experiment. Fig. 2 on the right is the
schematics of the experiment setup.
When a capacitor is connected to a battery, electrons flow from the negative terminal of the
battery, changing the plate X of the capacitor negative. Capacitance is defined as the ratio of the charge
Q
Q on either of its plates to the potential difference V between the plates. Capacitance, C=
V
It is also possible that three capacitors of capacitance C1, C2, and C3 are connected in series with a
battery that results now to this equation.
1 1 1 1
= + +
Ceq C 1 C2 C 3
When capacitors of capacitance C1, C2, and C3 are connected in parallel to a battery, the
capacitors are charged until the potential differences across the capacitors are equal to the emf V of the
battery. The equivalent capacitance for a parallel connection is then:
¿ C eq=C 1 +C2 +C 3
B. MATERIALS (most of these can be found in your homes)
• 2 Pieces of wood. (Any kind of wood will be fine.)
Longer wood (suggested) dimensions: 13” x 4 “
Shorter wood (suggested) dimensions: 6 “x 4 “
5 General Physics 2-Performance Task
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines
2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section: Grade 12
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-
bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

• 9 Small wood screws or small nails.

• 2 Large iron nails. (about 2-3 inches long.)
Note: It is important that these be IRON OR STEEL nails. Aluminum and
copper nails will not work.
• 4 Flat strips of bendable metal.
Three of them should be about 4 inches long by 1 inch width.
One should be about 7 inches long by 1 inch width.
Note: The long one must be iron-bearing or “ferrous” metal.
• 12ft-20 ft. (or more) of insulated solid electrical wire (22 – 30 gauge)
The metal part of the wire should be about 1/64 inch or less in diameter.
Note: The more turns of wire you can wind around the nail, the stronger its
magnetism will be and the better it will work.
• 2 1.5 V batteries. (Everyday batteries may do)

C. PROCEDURES
Reminder: Be careful not to cut yourself on the edges of the metal strips.
PART A.CONSTRUCTING THE SENDER
1. Screw one of the strips of metal to the smaller piece of wood so that pushing down on the
strip brings the strip into electrical contact with the screw that is mounted under it.
2. Make a battery holder by screwing two of the metal strips to the wood so that they can make
electrical contact with each end of the lineup of the two batteries. A rubber-band may be used
to maintain pressure on the battery contacts. Be sure to put the batteries in the holder with the
positive tip of one battery pushing against the negative bottom of the other battery creating
series connection.
3. Connect this screw with the negative terminal of the battery using 6’’ electrical wire cut from
the 20 ft. electrical wire you have.

PART B. CONSTRUCTING THE RECEIVER

4. Construct an electromagnet by coiling the rest of the electrical wire around the first large iron
nail. More turns make the magnetic force stronger.
5. Slightly hit the nail into an open side of the wood. Leave about 6 inches of free wire
extending from each end of the nail.
6. The longer iron-bearing strip of metal is screwed to the wooden base and bent so that it
extends up and over the top of the electromagnet. 
7. Create a small hole at the end of the longer metal. Insert the nail through the hole and mount
it on the wood. Make sure that the second nail fits the hole but without touching the metal.
The second nail should be higher than the electromagnet.
Note: The second nail is important because it keeps the strip of metal from pulling too far
away from the electromagnet. It also serves to make a “clacking” sound when the strip of
metal is released by the magnet and moves upward.
5 General Physics 2-Performance Task
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines
2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section: Grade 12
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-
bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

8. The end of the wire from the lower end of the nail should be connected to the positive
terminal of the battery, while the wire from the upper end of the nail should be connected to
the sender.
PART C. APPLICATION OF THE TELEGRAPH
9. You can now start sending messages using the Morse code mentioned below. A dot (.) is a
quick press-then-release (click-clack) and a dash (-) is a press-wait-release (click-pause-
clack).
10. Send a secret message to your Physics Teacher through a video or sound recording using your
DIY telegraph. The message is “PHI62”.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/images/gatewaysci_09.gif

D. QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS

1. Based on the laboratory activity, when you pressed the sender metal strip to touch the screw, it
produced a “click” sound. What does this signify?( 2 pts)

2. Why did the metal strip produce a “clack” sound when you released the sender’s strip? What does
it mean?( 2pts)

3. Why do we need to coil the electrical wire on the nail before attaching the ends to the terminals? (
2pts)

E. DOCUMENTATIONS

- Attach your documentations here with appropriate captions. Send your secret message to your
Physics teacher on Canvas.
 5 General Physics 2-Performance Task
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines
2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section: Grade 12
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-
bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

References:
Alvarez, J. 2019. SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: GENERAL PHYSICS 2. Oxford Publishing (Malaysia) Sdn.
Bhd.

Lord, M. 2019. EGFI DREAM UP THE FUTURE: BUILD A TELEGRAPH TAPPER. Retrieved from:
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/build-a-telegraphtapper/?fbclid