Middle School, Electricity & Electronics Science Experiments (Page 4)

Manipulating Magnets to Improve Generator Output

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The electricity you use to power everyday devices is generated by electrical generators. These fascinating and powerful machines rely on magnets to function. Though they might seem extremely complicated, once you finish this science project, you will understand how, why, and when they generate electricity. You will build your own generator, make small changes in how exactly the magnets are placed, and test when moving magnets generate electricity. Read more

Remove Silver Tarnish with a Homemade Battery

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered why silver jewelry that starts out nice and shiny turns brownish-black and dull over time? The brownish-black stuff is called silver tarnish, and it is the result of a chemical reaction on the silver's surface. Luckily, there are many ways to clean tarnished silver and make it shiny again! In this science project, you will explore how to clean tarnished silver using electrochemistry. The electrochemical silver cleaning reaction requires aluminum and a salt solution. Your… Read more

Simple Circuit Logic with Switches: An Electric Puzzle

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Here's a puzzle you may have heard before which you can build as a simple electric circuit. First, the puzzle: a farmer is traveling to market with his cat, a chicken and some corn. He has to cross a river, and the only way to cross is in a small boat which can hold the farmer and just one of the three items he has with him. The problem is, he has to be very careful about what he chooses to leave behind at any time. If the cat and chicken are left alone, the cat will eat the chicken. If… Read more

Build a Haptic Glove with Arduino

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever used a video game or virtual reality (VR) controller that vibrates? The controller might vibrate when your character gets hit or when you crash in a racing game. This vibration provides additional information to your senses to help you understand what is happening in the game. What if you could feel these vibrations at different points on your skin through something you wear, like a glove? In this project, you will learn how to build and program your own customized glove with the… Read more

Build a Magnetic Pet Door

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Does your home have any pet doors or gates for dogs, cats, or other animals? Some automatic pet doors can be set up to allow only certain animals through. These doors can help you control which pets are able to go outside alone or which ones have access to specific food, litter boxes, or toys. But why buy such a door when you can make one? In this project you will build your own automatic pet door that works with a magnetic collar tag. Exactly how you use it is up to you! Read more

Build a Model Mass Driver for Launching Objects into Space

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

A mass driver uses electromagnetics to launch projectiles. In the future, such a device could launch payloads into space without the use of chemical rockets. This could lead to long-term cost savings when launching large amounts of material into space—for example, to construct a space station. In this project you will design and build your own working model mass driver as you learn some of the engineering principles behind how mass drivers operate. Read more

Build a Model Planetary Lander with Arduino

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Imagine that you need to make sure valuable cargo — like a robot or even human astronauts — can land safely on Mars. How would you do it? In this project, you will build your own model planetary lander using an Arduino. It will use a distance sensor and automatically deploy landing gear before impact. Can you avoid a crash landing? Read more

Charge from Change: Make a Coin Battery

STEM Activity

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Have you ever wondered why your phone, computer, or a flashlight works without being plugged into a power outlet? Where does the electrical energy come from that makes all these portable devices function? You probably know the answer: they use batteries! But do you know how these batteries work? Batteries store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy, which means that electrochemical reactions inside the batteries create electricity. It may sound complicated, but it is simpler than you… Read more

Design Your Own Smart LED Lighting System

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever had lights turn on automatically when you walked into a room? Have you turned on a light with your voice instead of a switch? Maybe you have even seen lights that change color depending on temperature, ambient sounds, or how close you are to something. In this project you will design and build your own smart LED lighting system that can change colors and react to various things in the room. The possibilities are endless! Check out this page for more LED science projects. Read more

LED Stickies

STEM Activity

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