# data[].attributes.body
1) Is your circuit in series or parallel?

It depends of what type of alarm you want. There are three options for alarms. The first type of alarm is just the buzzer. This alarm doesn't have a light bulb.

This alarm is a series circuit because there is only one resistor which is the buzzer. This circuit has a cup, a battery, a buzzer and paperclips.

The second type of alarm you can make is just the light bulb. The circuit is exactly the same as the first type.

We used series for these two types because there is not other resistor the buzzer or the light bulb needs to compete against. If we used both light bulb and buzzer in a series circuit, one of them will dominate them all.

The last type of alarm is the alarm where they have both a buzzer and a light bulb. This alarm uses a parallel circuit to allow both the buzzer and the light bulb to get a fair amount. But since the voltage of the alarm is not high enough, the light bulb usually dominates over the buzzer.

2) Explain the role of current, voltage, resistance, capacitance and/or induction in the project.

The role of current in this project is whenever the switch is turned on (water is inside the cup and is touching the paperclip), it helps transport the voltage or the energy to the resistors (light bulb and buzzer). The water plays a huge factor to this alarm.

The role of voltage is to provide the energy to the resistors. The current moves the it to the resistors and voltage creates the light or the buzzing sound. This is a huge factor because in a parallel circuit the voltage remains the same. This allows the alarm with both bulb and buzzer to work more effectively because they can both be doing their job better since their voltage is the same as the total voltage. Realistically, the voltage would not be the same because there is resistance inside the wires as the current travels around.

The role of resistance inside my alarm is to make sure the buzzer or light bulb don't overheat or make really loud buzz. The light bulb and the buzzer itself is a resistor. The wire is also a resistor because there is resistance in the wires. Resistance helps prevent the circuit to explode unless it gets short circuited.

3) The switch in my alarm

The switch in my alarm is way more unique than other switches because instead of an actual switch where it just requires you to move it. It requires something to complete the circuit. Since this is a rain alarm, the switch which would complete the circuit would be salt water or any liquid that conducts electricity.

3 Honors) Different substances

Any substance that conducts electricity will work. But if you use normal pure water, the circuit won't work. This is because the minerals inside salt water creates electricity. Distilled water doesn't have minerals inside which allows it to conduct. This is why i put salt into the water before pouring it in.

# data[].attributes.body
Comments:

It's interesting to find out that normal water is a bad conductor while salt water is a great conductor. I tested with tap water and it doesn't seem to work. But the internet says that tap water is a great conductor because it's filled with minerals.

Changes:
- put salt inside the cup before pouring into it.
- I shortened all the wires to lower resistance but it still didn't fix the problem.

The problem with the buzzer and light bulb was fixed. I swapped out the battery into a different one and it works perfectly fine and the rain alarm actually works. Now, all I need is a place to store it.

# data[].attributes.body
- Ran tests and it doesn't really work properly

# data[].attributes.body
Comments:

I completed the entire circuit by putting the battery and paperclips and connected them. The light bulb lit up but the buzzer barely made any noise. It is a parallel circuit so they should both have the same voltage. But it seems like they don't since the light bulb was really lit up and the buzzer barely made a sound. I also started testing with water. I poured water inside the cup to complete the circuit. The water doesn't seem to work.

Changes:

I am planning to get a cardboard box where the alarm can all be kept in one place. This will make the alarm look nicer and help keep the wires organized. So this means when I need to change something, it can be easier to change. An actual alarm doesn't have wires sticking out.

# data[].attributes.body
Comments:

I started building the alarm but It was tough because the wires made it really messy. I finished the layout. I made everything except just missing the battery, the paperclips and the cup. All the wires are setup.

Changes:

I might want to change the buzzer because it doesn't seem that loud or it doesn't work.

# data[].attributes.body
Material List:
a cup
9 volt battery
two paper clips
electrical tape
wires
light bulb
buzzer / speaker
salt