How can we answer “Why” questions better?
S2 Integrated Science
How can we answer “Why” questions better?
S2 Integrated Science
The light bulb does not glow because the current flowing through it is too small. Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
The light bulb does not glow because the current flowing through it is too small. Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
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Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit when we add wire S?
© J Polias 2013
The light bulb does not glow The light bulb does not glow
the current (that is) flowing through it is too small the current (that is) flowing through it is too small
wire S has a much lower resistance than the (wire in the) light bulb.
wire S has a much lower resistance than the (wire in the) light bulb.
because
because
now nearly all of the current flows through wire S now nearly all of the current flows through wire S
because
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow?
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow?
Why is the current too small?
Why is the current too small?
Why does nearly all the current flow through wire S?
Why does nearly all the current flow through wire S?
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Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit when we add wire S?
CY Ling and J Polias
What do you observe?
What do you observe?
The light bulb does not glow The light bulb does not glow
the current (that is) flowing through it is too small the current
(that is) flowing through it is too smallwire S has a much lower resistance than the (wire in the) light bulb.
wire S has a much lower resistance than the (wire in the) light bulb.
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit?
because
BECAUSE
because
now nearly all of the current flows through wire S
now nearly all of the current flows through wire S
becauseThe words in grey are extra. They are not
always necessary for the reader to understand.
So we can leave them out.
The words in grey are extra. They are not
always necessary for the reader to understand.
So we can leave them out.
© J Polias 2013 33
The light bulb does not glow The light bulb does not glow
the current flowing through it is too small the current flowing through it is too small
wire S has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
wire S has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit?
because
because
now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S
now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S
becausesince.
N
it
There is too much information in one sentence so let us stop after ‘too small’. So we need a full stop and we need a capital letter for ‘now’.
There is too much information in one sentence so let us stop after ‘too small’. So we need a full stop and we need a capital letter for ‘now’.
It is better if we do not always use
‘because’. For example, we can use ‘since’ instead.
It is better if we do not always use
‘because’. For example, we can use ‘since’ instead.
Also, it is better that we do not always
repeat the same words when we can use a pronoun. Instead of repeating ‘wire S’, we can use ‘it’.
Also, it is better that we do not always
repeat the same words when we can use a pronoun. Instead of repeating ‘wire S’, we can use ‘it’.
We can make some more changes so the writing is improved.
We can make some more changes so the writing is improved.
Let us now write it with all the changes.
Let us now write it with all the changes.
© J Polias 2013 34
The light bulb does not glow because The light bulb does not glow because
the current flowing through it is too small.
the current flowing through it is too small.
it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit?
Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since
© J Polias 2013 35
The light bulb does not glow because the current flowing through it is too small. Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
The light bulb does not glow because the current flowing through it is too small. Now, nearly all of the current flows through wire S since it has a much lower resistance than the light bulb.
Why doesn’t the light bulb glow in the circuit?
And here it is all together. This is the best way to answer the question. It has all the correct information and it is written accurately and it ‘flows’ well.
And here it is all together. This is the best way to answer the question. It has all the correct information and it is written accurately and it ‘flows’ well.
© J Polias 2013 36