Project Pictures(Dynamo Torch/Water-powered Light

Project Pictures(Potato-powered Clock/Noise-producing Sound Chip)

Dynamo Torch

Steps for Experiments

Water-powered light

Materials needed:3 bottles/cups of water
Light tower with light installed
3 zinc and 3 copper plates
Vinegar

Instructions:1-Fill the bottles with water
2-Add vinegar to the water
3-Connect LED light on the tower to a pair of zinc and copper plates(1 zinc and copper plate in each bottle)
4-Insert the zinc and copper plates into the water bottles/cups . Make sure the plates do not touch each other as this will cause a short circuit and the LED lamp will not light up .

Noise producing sound-chip

Materials needed:2 zinc and copper plates
2 Potatoes
2 wires(positive and negative terminal)
1 coin and sound chip installed

Step 1:

Connect the black wire form the LCD watch which is the negative side to one of the zinc plates by carefully threading the wire's exposed metallic end through the hole on the plate.

Step 2:

Repeat step 1 with the red wire which is the positive side.

Step 3:

Assemble a "connection pair" by connecting the other pair of copper and zinc plates with a connection wire.

Step 4:

Once all the components are connected, pierced the plates into the potatoes. each potato must have a copper and zinc plate.

Theories:-

There are universal standards for positive and negative terminals. the positive terminal is always the red coloured wire whereas the negative terminal is always black. Always connect the negative terminal to the zinc plate which is more reactive than copper and the positive terminal to the copper plate which is less reactive than zinc. it is important that the exposed wire and the plate touch.

Acidic materials are more reactive and are better conductors of electricity than Alkaline materials . They react with the electrons in water and thus the light is able to be operated .

procedures for potato power clock

Materials needed:-

2 potatoes, LCD watch movement with its protective cover, 2 zinc an copper plates, wires

Step 1:

Connect the black wire form the LCD watch which is the negative side to one of the zinc plates by carefully threading the wire's exposed metallic end through the hole on the plate.

Step 2:

Repeat step 1 with the red wire which is the positive side.

Step 3:

Assemble a "connection pair" by connecting the other pair of copper and zinc plates with a connection wire.

Step 4:

Once all the components are connected, pierced the plates into the potatoes. each potato must have a copper and zinc plate.

Theory:-

There are universal standards for positive and negative terminals. the positive terminal is always the red coloured wire whereas the negative terminal is always black. Always connect the negative terminal to the zinc plate which is more reactive than copper and the positive terminal to the copper plate which is less reactive than zinc. it is important that the exposed wire and the plate touch.

Steps taken:

1) Affix the Light Emitting Diode(LED) to the torch casing and gently thread the wires through the holes.

2) Install both gears.

3) Align the two halves of the torch casing and secure with the screws.

4) Attach the crank handle to the torch casing.

5) Connect the wires to the motor.Thread the metal ends of the wires through the holes of metallic plates protruding from the motor. Gently twist the wire ends to secure the connection.

6) Insert the end of the motor to the torch casing.

7) Using two screws, secure the motor by aligning the cover to the base.

8) Cover the LED with the transparent cover. Press gently until it fixes into place.

9) The Dynamo Torch is complete. Turn the crank in a clockwise direction and the torch will light up.

Fun facts:

1) How does a motor work like a generator?
Micheal Faraday is not well-known to a lot of people today, but his work as a scientist in the 1800s was really remarkable. His experiments with electricity and magnets, eventually let him to the invention of the electric motor. He continued his work for many years and began to experiment with the different methods to create electricity. He figured out that by passing a magnet through loops of wire,(or by moving a coil against a magnet) he could generate a current! With a toy motor we used in this kit, wires are coiled around the center axle. There are two magnets placed at the inside wall of the motor casing. When we turn the crank, the center axle spins, and a current is produced, which is strong enough to light up the LED lamp. We refer to this as electromagnetic induction, which is a basis of a generator! While today's generators are much more powerful than those Faraday created, the basic theory is still the same, and the source of power for the Dynamo Torch!

2)Clean Energy!
By using your arm(physically power) to repeatedly turn the handle, you can turn the light on, over and over again. The problem is that your arm would get awfully tired if you had to use it to keep that light lit all night! Most generators today use fossil fuels e.g. petroleum to power a fast spinning turbine to generate electricity. However, the use of fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide which is hazardous to the environment. And they will be used up one day too. That's why scientists across the world are experimenting with different renewable energy sources, like wind, sunshine(solar power), and water(hydropower). The electricity I generated to light our torch is also an example of renewable energy! Renewable energy doesn't run out and it doesn't harm the environment.

Experiment

Dear group members,

Please remember to take a video of the procedures for your experiment and to give an explanation for each procedure.

And also take a photograph of the materials that you all used for your experiment.

There are 4 experiments:
1) using vinegar to light up a bulb
2) using potatoes to operate a digital watch
3) using water and paper clips to operate a sound chip
4) using mechanical energy to light up a bulb