Fun Experiments with Electricity: Mini Robots, Micro Lightning Strikes, and More
Safety First Take care and use good sense with these amazing science experiments some are very simple while others are trickier Each project includes a list of everything you will need Most of the items are things you can fi nd around the house or they are things that are readily available and inexpensive to buy Be sure to check out the Amazing Science behind the projects and learn the scientifi c principles involved in each experiment Watch for this sign throughout the book You may need help from an adult to complete these tasks
Contents Contents Electricity Homopolar Motor Brush Bot Mini Lightning Battery Flashlight Electromagnet Telegraph Jumping Toys Bending Water Charge Power LED Light Potato Power Glossary Did You Know Index 6 8 10 13 16 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 30 31 32
Electricity Did you know that even though electricity is one of the basic forces in the universe scientists only really discovered it a few centuries ago And when they did they thought electricity was so amazing that it must be what makes us alive That’s why Frankenstein’s monster was brought to life with a zap of lightning natural electricity Now you can make your very own mini lightning fl ash and ten other fun projects sparked by electricity You’ll see how to turn a toothbrush into a robot how to make a magnet you can switch on and off and how to make a fl ashlight to light your way You’ll even discover how to make your own electricity Prepare to charge You will need Potatoes x3 Balloons Glass jars with plastic lids Strip of cardstock Tissue paper Copper pieces Plastic egg Toothbrush Kitchen foil 6 4 inches 10 cm stiff wire 20-gauge 0 8 mm uncoated brass wire 22-gauge 0 2 mm2 insulated hook-up wire red and black
Circular magnets x3 3-volt button battery AA battery C battery LED light 1 5-volt bulb Pager motor mini vibrating motor Paper clips Thumb tacks Zinc-plated roof nails 1 4 x 1 inch M6 x 25 mm steel or nickel-plated bolt 1 4-inch M6 nut x1 Clothespins Steel or nickel-plated steel 7 8-inch 20 mm washers x3 Coffee stirrer What Tools will I Need 2-inch 50 mm wood scraps Sticky Tack Double-sided sticky foam pads Clear tape Gaffer tape or duct tape Electrical tape Scissors Long-nose pliers Voltage meter available online or at a hardware store White glue Utility knife Junior hacksaw 7
