Squishy Circuits, Voltaic Piles, Lemon Batteries, and understanding Circuits

AgendaSquishy CircuitsVoltaic Cells “Penny Battery”Lemon BatteriesEKI Circuit Kits

Squishy Circuits

Classroom Guide, http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/PDFs/Squishy%20Circuits%20Classroom%20Guide.pdf

Additional Activities with Clay

Resistance Measurements on Play-Doh, Brian Jones CSU, http://vip.vast.org/WORKSHEE/PLAYDOH/HOME.HTM

Nature of Resistance(Activity #4), Jim Overhiser and Julie Nucci (http://www.cns.cornell.edu/cipt/labs/2010%20labs%20without%20answers/Nature%20of%20Resistance.no%20answers.pdf)

Circuits and Resistivity, Rice University, http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~phys102/Lab/DC_circuits.pdf

Batteries-Voltaic PilesA voltaic pile, the first battery, was invented

about 1800 by Alessandro Volta used the interactions of dissimilar to generate an electrical. Volta’s original voltaic pile used zinc and silver disks and a separator consisting of a porous non-conducting material saturated with sea water (salt water). Over the next 60 years, different combinations of metals and electrolytes were used to make variations of the voltaic pile and were the only practical source of electricity during that time.

Voltaic cells, Penny activities

Batteries, (Activity #1)- David A. Katz, http://www.chymist.com/batteries.pdf

Penny Battery- Julie Yu Exploratorium, http://www.exo.net/~jyu/activities/penny%20battery.pdf

Penny Battery Video- Science Online, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edMN7P5oCaY

Batteries- Lemon CellsBatteries, (Activity #3)- David A. Katz,

http://www.chymist.com/batteries.pdf

Lemon Battery- hilaroad, http://hilaroad.com/camp/projects/lemon/lemon_battery.html

Lemon Battery video- Science Online, http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=AY9qcDCFeVI

EKI Electronic KitsThe Mr. Circuit I - Discover Electronics Lab is

recognized around the world as one of the very best tools for teaching basic electronics in the classroom.  This is because it is hands-on, self paced and easy to use - for both teachers and students.  This lab includes 33 lessons and experiments for learning the basic theory of electronics, the major components used in electronics, and fun and exciting projects that the students build on solderless circuit boards and power with a nine volt battery.  There is no soldering required for this lab.

Additional information for Mr. Circuit1. Read pages 7-9. Take notes, don’t put anything together.

2. Copy Color code chart on page 8 into your notes.

3. Take kit out of boxes do inventory.

4. Does the part have polarity? Examples- IC, LED, Capacitors, …

5. Don’t connect 9 V battery until everything is assembled.

6. Labs- know purpose, schematic, and definitions. (More is Better!) Make sure you look for new schematics in each lab.

7. Don’t do unauthorized labs!!

8. Do labs in order, everyone takes part.

9. If parts are broken or missing, you may have to pay to replace them.

10. If it doesn’t work, unhook the 9V, and check it again before you ask me to help.

Thank you