{"id":202,"date":"2016-06-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-06-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/19\/the-escalator-energy-problem\/"},"modified":"2024-04-04T13:39:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T05:39:05","slug":"the-escalator-energy-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/the-escalator-energy-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"The Escalator Energy Problem: Up or Down?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” module_class=”single-post-body et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Main Blog Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”28px” header_font=”geomanist-bold||||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-55px|-45px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Just recently, a parent on our Parent Support Group<\/span><\/a><\/span> asked us for help with\u00a0a question from Vitamindz Science. This question is testing the student concepts from the topics of Energy<\/strong><\/a> &\u00a0Forces<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Application Based Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Application-based questions typically involve a greater degree of critical thinking. Your child must know how to apply relevant Science concepts to such questions while including\u00a0appropriate keywords and key phrases in his\/her answer.<\/p>\n

\n

Read Also<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Ultimate Science Practice Series: Energy (Practice Questions & Explainer Videos)<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. PSLE Science Guide To Kinetic Energy<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. PSLE Science Guide To Gravitational Potential Energy<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Application-based questions<\/strong>\u00a0are becoming increasingly common\u00a0in PSLE Science examination papers.<\/p>\n

    As such, in today’s article, I’ll show you how we tackle the question<\/a> posted by the parent.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Question<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Background<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The management of ‘Good Buy Shopping Centre’ decided to do some maintenance work on the escalators in the shopping centre. They engaged “Easi-Life Pte Ltd’ to do the job.<\/p>\n

    The picture below shows the two escalators serving Level One of the shopping centre. The two escalators were separated by a wide staircase.<\/p>\n

    ‘Easi-Life Pte Ltd’ started work on the up-riding escalator first, so they shut down the power to the escalator.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Question (a): What should the workers of Easi-Life Pte Ltd’ have done to minimise the inconvenience to shoppers?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Answer:\u00a0<\/strong>The workers should have changed the direction of the down-riding escalator to move upwards instead.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Question (b): Explain your answer in (a).<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Answer:\u00a0<\/strong>When the up-riding escalator is not functioning, the shoppers will have to climb up the stairs. Therefore, shoppers will have to use more Energy<\/a><\/strong> to climb up the stairs, in order to overcome the gravitational force that is acting on them. On the other hand, if the down-riding escalator is not functioning, the shoppers will have to walk down the stairs. Lesser energy is needed<\/strong> as they need not overcome the gravitational force acting on them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    I hope that this article has shown you the thought process that students should apply when they encounter such questions. This is especially because application-based questions are increasingly common in examination papers. In order to score well, students will have to know the concepts being tested and apply them appropriately while being mindful of the keywords or phrases that are required in the answer.<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”CCI” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#898989″ _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/The-Pique-Lab-CCI-Science-Course-CTA.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”CCI” _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#333333″ text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

    If you like our methodology, we’ve some upcoming workshops:<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”geomanist-medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#f44a4a” text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

    P4 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a>
     P5 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a>
     P6 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":241666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Students learn<\/span> the topic of Electricity<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0at Primary 5 and many of them find the concepts to be confusing, especially when they are first exposed to this topic.\r\n\r\nAs such, over the next few blog posts, I will be sharing more about the concepts of Electricity<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0that are commonly tested during examinations.\r\n\r\nIn today\u2019s blog post, I will be focusing on the arrangement of the wires in a bulb and relate it to how a bulb should be connected in a circuit.\r\n

    Today\u2019s Question:<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
    How Should The Bulb Be Connected To The Circuit For It To Light Up?<\/strong><\/span><\/blockquote>\r\n

    The following question is commonly encountered by students during tests.<\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>Question Credit: Anglo Chinese School (Junior)\/ 2015 Primary 5 SA1\/ Question 18<\/em><\/p>\r\nWe can see that the key difference between the four options is the connection of the bulb(s) in the circuit.\r\n

    Requirements Needed for a Bulb to Light Up<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nOne wire is connected to the metal casing & one wire is connected to the metal tip<\/u><\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>Example of a closed circuit<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen the wires in the circuit are connected to the metal casing and metal tip of the bulb, there is a closed (or complete) circuit with the bulb. Electricity will be able to flow through the filament, causing the bulb to light up.\r\n

    What Happens When Both Wires Are Connected To The Metal Tip\/Metal Casing?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\nScenario #1: Both wires are connected to the metal tip<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n

    Example of a circuit when the wires are connected only to the metal tip<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen both wires are connected to the metal tip of the bulb, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n\r\nScenario #2: Both wires are connected to the metal casing<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>Example of a circuit when the wires are connected only to the metal casing<\/em><\/p>\r\nWhen both wires are connected to the metal casing of the bulb, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n\r\nNow, let us now take a look at the question again.\r\n

    Analysis Of The Options<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nWhen analysing the circuits, students need to take note of one key point:\r\n

    How is the bulb connected to the circuit?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nIn the following analysis, I have traced the pathway that electricity flows through (in red) as well so that it is easier to understand why the bulb lights up.\r\n

    Circuit A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nBoth the metal casing and tip of the bulb are connected to the circuit, forming a closed circuit. Thus, electricity is able to flow through the wires in the circuit to the filament, allowing the bulb to light up.\r\n

    Circuit B<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nOnly the tip is connected to the circuit. Thus, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n

    Circuit C<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\nOnly the casing is connected to the circuit. Thus, electricity is unable to flow through the filament, preventing the bulb from lighting up.\r\n

    Circuit D<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\nBoth the metal casing and tip of the two bulbs are connected to the circuit, forming a closed circuit. Thus, electricity is able to flow through the wires in the circuit to the filaments, allowing the bulbs to light up.\r\n\r\nAs the bulbs in circuits A and D will light up, the correct answer is option 4.\r\n

    What We Have Learnt Today<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\nWhen students wish to find out if the bulb will light up, they should check the following:\r\n

    Are both the metal casing and the tip of the bulb connected to the circuit?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIf the answer to the question is \u2018yes\u2019, the bulb will light up. :)\r\n\r\nIn the next blog post, I will be sharing about the advantages and disadvantages of arranging bulbs in series and in parallel.\r\n\r\nStay tuned! :)\r\n\r\n
    \r\n\r\n[thrive_leads id='8207']","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,20,6,3],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"modified_by":"Jaimie Aberia","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244276,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202\/revisions\/244276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=202"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}