Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hello there..
im assisting my son with his science project that is due this comming tuesday.. he has chosen the shak a gen.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ?from=Home

we have followed the instructions to a T and have even tried this several diffrrent times.. the 1st we purchased insulated copper wire from Lowes, that did not work.. so we were able to find some 26 gage copper wire from a arts and crafts store.. this as well did not work. we have tried with several batteries.. up to 6 at a time.. and then down to 1 but this does not seem to be the issue either.. we are using a LED light purchased from radio shack.. but we dont know what the deal is.. according to the instructions and since we have done all according to.. it should work.. anyone out there know of what else we can do???!!?

HELP PLEASE.

thank you.

we are using 120 feet of 26 gage copper wire.. just incase that was a question..

annie wrote:we are using 120 feet of 26 gage copper wire.. just incase that was a question..

Just to clarify- in your previous post you say you used several batteries. You mean magnets, correct? If you have wired the LED up to batteries it is possible to blow it out unless you have a resistor in the circuit. You may wish to buy a new LED if you have connected it to a battery. The LEDs come with different power requirements- pick the one with the lowest to make things easier (probably a red one).

In the shake light experiment, no batteries are used- you generate electricity by passing a magnet through the coil of copper wire. The copper should be insulate (which you say the first batch was, but double check that the art store wire is). Make sure the ends with the LED connections have the insulation removed. Lastly, try rocking the tube for some time. It is best not to shake it, but rather tilt it back and forth so the magnet passes back and forth through the coil. It may take sometime to get it to turn on. I would try for a minute or two. This is a long time, but you don't have to tilt quickly, just steadily.

Louise

yes, sorry.. i ment magnets. we will try rocking it back in forth..

thank you.