SAMPLE: Film Science
Video Questions for Christmas Vacation

1. In the opening cartoon sequence, why did the figure get a shock from the bulb on the chimney?

2. The Griswalds' perfect tree is found in sparsely populated countryside. People living in rural areas may have what concerns about their electric power?

3. What voltage powers the lighting of the Griswald car and the pickup truck?

4. What type of lamp is often used in street lighting fixtures like those outside the Griswald home?

5. What are the purposes of street lighting?

6. From the color of the light, what type of lamps are in the fixtures around the Griswald living room?

7. What makes the lamps glow on the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree?

8. In the department store, what electrified decorations and toys do you notice?

9. What type of lamp is commonly used in gift display fixtures in stores?

10. What Left Hand Rule operates the doorbell?

11. a) Clark wants Rusty to check each lamp in the large balled up string of Christmas lights. Does this tell us what type of circuit the lamps are in?
b) Would the series or parallel circuit design be less annoying with tree lights?

12. What is perhaps unsafe in the way Clark attaches the lights to the roof edge?

13. How would water have played a part in the destruction of the neighbours' stereo components?

14. Clark attached how many lamps to his house?

15. If each lamp is 7 W, what is the total wattage of all the lamps?

16. On the lawn, ready to light up his home, is the type of "switch" Clark uses safe?

17. When the demonstration fizzles, Clark's father says one dead lamp will put them all out. What type of circuit does this indicate the lights are in?

18. What Left Hand Rule powers the projector motor?

19. a) Ten 1200 lamps are connected in series to a 120 V power supply. Find the current through each lamp, the voltage drop across each lamp and the power rating of each lamp.
b) Redo if the lamps are in a ten branch parallel circuit.

20. Comment on the wiring "octopus" in the outlet in Clark's garage.

21. a) Why did the city dim when Clark's lighting extravaganza came to life?
b) How did the Power Company respond?
c) Explain the behavior of the Griswald's Power Meter.

22. What is a primary safety concern when combining lights and Christmas trees?

23. How do lighting needs around the office differ from those in the home?

24. At dinner, we see some sparkles from the tree. How do twinkling lights work?

25. How could a GFI circuit breaker have protected the cat chewing on the string of tree lights?

26. Do flashing police car lights work the same way as blinking Christmas tree lights?