This post isn't really about EE Prototyping, but it is about electrical engineering education, so I will post it here. I spent Mother's Day at the Boston Museum of Science with my wife and kids. The kids had a blast, and we all had a great time, except for one thing...
In the "Discovery Center" there was a fun little electricity demo that let you construct simple parallel and series circuits with some magnetic, conducting building blocks. There was a light bulb block, a buzzer block, and an LED block (that glowed green when the current flowed in one direction and glowed red when the current flow in the other). Neat exhibit. The power supply was mounted above the desk with the circuit blocks, and it let you choose to power your circuit with two, four, or six AA batteries. A large knob in the center of the panel selected the power source, and two analog meters displayed the voltage and current.
Here's the setting for 3V output (2 AA cells):
Here's the setting for 6V output (4 AA cells):
Here's the setting for 9V output (6 AA cells):
See the problem? The voltmeter and the ammeter are both wired in series. As connected, this circuit couldn't possibly work! Here's a clearer schematic:
WRONG. The ammeter measures the current through the batteries, but the voltmeter must measure the voltage ACROSS them. The voltmeter should be connected in parallel with the batteries, not in series. The panel should be wired like this schematic:
Better yet, to emphasize that voltage is measured across the power source, and that current is measured through it, the panel should be redesigned to look like this schematic:
Of course, the orange wires in the display case are just representational, and the batteries shown aren't really connected to anything (there is a wall-powered power supply behind the panel), but this error in the connection of the voltmeter should be embarrassing. This exhibit would be a good chance to discuss "across" variables and "though" variables to more advanced students, but the "artist" who designed the panel blew it.
So sad.
UPDATE: See the responses in the comments below.
UPDATE UPDATE: Fixed!
Hey Mr. Lundberg,
ReplyDeleteI’m the “artist” who designed this display, although I am not an artist at all. I am a licensed electrician, a nuclear engineer, a certified physics teacher, and I have a degree in physics and a master’s degree in the philosophy of science (and, just for fun, degrees in geology and science education). The point is that I am well aware of the fact you are exactly correct.
The volt meter is shown wired incorrectly. (Of course, with the actual circuit, which I also built, the volt meter and ammeter are wired correctly or, as was pointed out, the circuit wouldn’t work!) This is a perfect example of museum design as it conflicts with reality. The space available for the cabinet (which I also built) was limited, and a great deal of it is occupied by the custom-made rotary switch (which I also built), leaving little option as to where the meters could be placed. In the original incarnation, the voltmeter was up and to the left with the correct wiring, but that arrangement left a visual clutter which did little to deliver the message which was not “this is the way the meters are actually wired” but rather “circuits have measuring devices attached”.
Remember, this display is for young learners and was intended to demonstrate “cause and effect” rather that present a course in “parallel vs. series”. Ideas must be presented in stages, and while the display is unambiguously incorrect, the idea that “circuits have measuring devices that change with different batteries” is well demonstrated. After all, I spent years as a high school physics teacher telling students about Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation which we all know – of course – is factually incorrect.
And anyway, if one of these young learners actually notices that the display is incorrect, then good for her!
A more detailed description of the design is available at my website www.machinadesigns.com
Cordially,
Bill
There is simply no excuse for presenting what is obviously misinformation. Someone with your brag-list of degrees should surely understand that.
DeleteI agree. This was such an elaborate excuse for not doing it right. The “here’s my credentials” spiel just left bad aftertaste. The whole deal here was that this was done in a way that nobody with such supposed credentials should be doing it. I have done a couple useful things in my life, but I don’t bring it up when I mess things up - because the mess-ups aren’t somehow any better just because an educated man committed them; if anything, it reminds me that we’re all human and all have brain fart moments. No hard feelings and I’m glad it got fixed.
DeleteOops! Minor issue: I just checked my website, and I realized that the post for the new “Electricity!” exhibit (the one discussed here) is not up. The post seen on my website is for the old “Electricity!” exhibit. I will try to fix the problem as soon as I can.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the comment I posted contains only my own thoughts on the issue and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the MoS. Since I no longer work there (I miss it very much!), I thought I should be clear about this.
Bill
Bill -
ReplyDeleteSorry to say this, but your excuse does not hold water. Most likely, some set of people will look at this display and become confused, and no one will ever hear about it.
Your job in designing these exhibits is to educate by telling the truth. If you don't want students looking at the details of the wiring, then omit the wiring "art", and the display will be truthful. If you do want them looking at the wiring, then don't make the "art" wiring gratuitously incorrect.
Please just fix the display. There's plenty of room in the box to do it right.
Gill Pratt
Bill,
ReplyDeleteYou say, "This is a perfect example of museum design as it conflicts with reality." Can you provide other examples at the Museum of Science where truth and accuracy are sacrificed to reduce "visual clutter"?
Invoking Newton's Law of Gravity is disingenuous. Newton's Law of Gravity is a simple and accurate approximation; relativity is only needed for extremely massive objects. Wiring the voltmeter in series is NEVER correct.
Kent.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your approach, it should be wired properly or don't show wires at all - just abstract the voltage and current displays. Young minds will latch onto the patterns of parallel and serial wiring of meters, doing it wrong will give them the wrong patterns which could be very confusing later in life, even dangerous. It's very different from presenting an approximation, I don't think anyone is expecting to see the calibration certificates for the meters!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI was pulled away to Maine just as I was getting involved with a NH museum to make contact with a MOS tech that had something to do with some exhibits donated to us.
DeleteI hope he is still working there, but I think not as he would have noticed.
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