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Activity

LEDs Are Diodes

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Cynthia G. Widstrand , Jonathan Breitzer and Arthur B. Ellis

Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

George C. Lisensky

Department of Chemistry, Beloit College, Beloit, WI 53511

S. Michael Condren

Department of Chemistry, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN 38104

J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (12), p 1664A

DOI: 10.1021/ed078p1664A

Publication Date (Web): December 1, 2001

Abstract

In this activity 50-socket strands of incandescent holiday lights are cut to produce 2-socket strands and 6-socket strands. One of the incandescent bulbs can be replaced with a light-emitting diode (LED). Typical LED circuits contain a resistor to limit current flow; in these circuits that function is performed by the remaining incandescent bulb(s). The diode nature of LEDs is demonstrated, as well as the energy associated with different wavelengths of light. The activity illustrates the structure and properties of matter, the interactions of energy and matter, the relationship of energy and color, and the contributions of chemistry to high-tech materials.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Feature):

JCE Classroom Activity

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Atomic Properties / Structure

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History

Received: August 03, 2009

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