🚀 go-pugleaf

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> I teach general physics at the high school level, and have the
> opportunity to involve our students in a school-wide construction
> project (building a house). It sounds like an excellent idea, but I need
> some help. Can anyone suggest sources for me to read dealing with the
> practical application of physics to house building? Does anyone have
> suggestions/experience to share? My students would team with construction
> students (under the direction of an experienced contractor) to help with
> specific questions - perhaps calculating load bearing in roof design, or?
> The goal is to bridge the gap between academic and vocational students.
> Thank you.
>         Tom      troper@eis.calstate.edu
>  --
Perhaps one of the most interesting things I think in my opinion to
discuss with the students is the wiring of the house.  There is a lot
of good physics in this, paralael circuits, load, fuses, circuit
breakers.  How many lights and plugs legally on each ciruit breaker or
fuse, the different guages of wire that are used.  For instance, with
a 15 amp fuse you can use 14 gauge wire, with a 20 amp fuse, 12 gauge
wire.  All bedrooms and family areas are wired with 14 gauge wire, but
kitchens, bathrooms, and high use areas use 12 guage wire.  Something
like a refridgerator or a dish washer would have a 30 amp fuse and
10 gauge wire.   How the meter in the basement is hooked up.  2 phase and
3 phase connections.  How the power comes off the lines into the house.
And then there are Ground Fault Circuits, and what makes them trip, very
interesting.  And what trips a circuit breaker, etc.  Calculations of the
load a fuse and a circuit breaker can take.  For instance, a 15 amp fuse
probably can run about 8 hours at 14 amps before it blows, 2 hours at 15 amps
and 10 minutes at 16 amps.  The numbers are not correct, but the idea is.
Just talk to any electrician, or pick up a copy of the electrical code
book.

Gary Garber
Germantown Friends School
and Garber-Doran Electric Inc.
garber1@nes.nersc.gov


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