Electricity & Electronics Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 9)

How Far Can Sparks Jump?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Piezoelectric barbecue fire starters work by creating a spark that ignites the volatile lighter fluid, which then starts the charcoal burning. They are low current, high voltage devices. How high does the voltage have to get to make a spark in air? This project shows you a way to find out by with an inexpensive experimental setup to measure the distance that the spark can travel between two spherical electrodes. Read more

How Fast Can You Get It Done?

STEM Activity

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15 reviews

Do you hate doing the dishes, folding laundry, or cleaning up your room? Do you wish you could figure out a way to get these tasks done faster? Figure out how as you take on the role of a production engineer in this fun activity! Read more

LED Traffic Glove: Build a Safety Device to Direct Traffic

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

From traffic safety lights to neon signs, lights have a way of getting peoples' attention. So it makes sense that if a person wants to get attention, wearing clothing with built-in lights might help. These types of clothing, called electronic textiles (e-textiles for short), or wearable electronics, already exist. Instead of using hard surfaces for circuits (like inside your computer or cell phone), e-textiles weave electrical parts like batteries, wires, and lights directly into wearable… Read more

Linear vs. Logarithmic Changes: What Works Best for Human Senses?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

If you want to get your friend's attention at a crowded sporting event with lots of people cheering, you need to shout. If you're trying to do the same thing in a quiet library, a whisper works. The detection limit for each of our senses depends on the amount of "background" stimulation that is already present. This project uses an LED control circuit to investigate detection of changes in light levels. Read more

Make a Glitter Surprise Package

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever seen a video of a glitter prank package? They usually show an unsuspecting person opening a package or a gift, only to be sprayed by a shower of glitter. Former NASA engineer Mark Rober got tired of thieves stealing packages off his porch, so he decided to build an elaborate decoy glitter package*, as he shows in this video. Mark's device involves a lot of custom software, electronics, and 3D printing, so might seem a little intimidating if you are new to engineering. The summary… Read more

Make an Adaptive Switch

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

How could you send a text message without using your thumbs? What about typing on a keyboard or using a video game controller without using your fingers? Due to a variety of medical conditions like cerebral palsy or paralysis from an accident, some people might be unable to easily use their hands and fingers to push small buttons or use joysticks. However, they might be able to use their entire hand to push a single larger button or use another part of their body like their foot or even their… Read more

Recording on a Wire

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Today magnetic recording is used in audio and video cassette recorders, and computer disk drives. Did you know that you can also use an electromagnet to record and play back from a steel wire? In fact, this is how magnetic recording got started. This project shows you how to build a simple wire recorder. Read more

Rock On! Recording Digital Data with Magnets

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

This is a straightforward project that shows you how data can be digitized and stored on magnetic recording media. You'll learn how alpha-numeric characters are digitized, and you'll use bar magnets to represent the individual data "bits." You'll also learn about how much information can be stored in a small space (recording density), and how magnetic data can be erased. Read more

Smart Medicine Cabinet: Build a Sensor That Reminds Patients When to Take Medication

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever had to take prescription medicine to get over an illness? To get better, it is important to take the medication in the proper manner and at the proper time. Wouldn't it be cool if there were a tool or piece of automated equipment that held your medicine and reminded you to take it? A tool that would know when you picked up the bottle and took your medicine? Building a smart medicine cabinet is what this science project is all about! Read more

Spice Up the Power of a Microbial Fuel Cell with a Dash of Salt

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Generating power from mud sounds like science fiction, but it is actually real science, and a promising source of alternative energy. Topsoil is packed with bacteria that generate electricity when placed in a microbial fuel cell. Because such bacteria-laden soil is found almost everywhere on Earth, microbial fuel cells can make clean, renewable electricity nearly anyplace around the globe. They are an up-and-coming technology that scientists and engineers are working to make even more… Read more

Electricity & Electronics Projects, Lessons, Activities (117 results)

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