Teach your child about circuits by using this fun and easy aluminum foil circuit activity.
Materials:
- Aluminum Foil
- Light bulb
- Batteries
- Paper
- Pencil
Instructions:
1) Design your circuit (Note: avoid crossing the circuit unless you plan to make it three dimensional – always a plus for the higher level students)
2) Make wires out of foil
3) Connect the light bulb to the foil (make sure to connect the foil in the correct areas. For incandescent light bulbs, connect one wire to the threads of the bulb and the other wire to the nub).
4) Attach batteries (for LED lights, the current has to flow in the correct direction. The shorter end of the LED is the negative side)
5) Light up! The light should light up.
Troubleshooting
1) Check the connections. A loose or broken wire might be the culprit. Make sure you’re connected to where you need to be.
2) Check the material. Does the battery work in something else? What about the light?
3) Check for short circuits. If a wire on one side is touching the wire on the other side, you could be short circuiting your circuit. This essentially means that the electricity has found an easier, faster way to go in a circuit and will no longer flow through the light.
4) Check the voltage. Do you have the necessary number of volts to light up the light? Too little will not turn the light on. Too much can cause an overload.
Safety
1) Make sure to have dry hands and a clean work environment.
2) DO NOT leave the circuit connected. When you are done, disconnect as this can overheat the batteries and present a fire hazard.
3) Use items that have a low voltage requirement (higher voltages present higher risks).
4) Avoid using too many volts as that can damage the electronic component and you!
5) Parental Supervision is advised.