Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I was given a project by the physics teacher from this site to make a dimmer switch circuit. I know how to do everything but the teacher said it must not be a circuit exactly like the one on the site, it must be something creative. We have to put the circuit somewhere like in a model house or something of the like. Do you have any suggestions about what I can apply this circuit to? My project is due in 17th february and I only did the research till now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If I understand you correctly, the creative part applies just to the application of the dimmer switch, not the circuit itself?

one question, are we talking about the newer style of dimmer switches? the ones that use thyristors ( a TRIAC and DIAC) or is this an old term for the classic variable resistor?

If it is the Triac/diac method, then that works by "chopping" the sinusiodal wavefrom into pulses, this circuit is fairly simple, but for the average person, finding parts might be a challange. however, this style of dimmer is very lightwieght and compact, and is the most common configuration nowdays in homes, this can only be used however for incandecent bulbs (or special fluorecent that were designed to this) since fluorecent bulbs use a ballast, and this modified waveform present in the line can effect the ballasts functionality.