VIRTUALEXPERIMENT

IDEAS

How to Make ElectricityPARENTS’ GUIDE

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3SHALL WE TALK ABOUTELECTRICITY?

COILS & MAGNETS

LAB 2HYDROELECTRICGENERATORLAB 3THERMAL POWER GENERATOR

LAB 4SOLAR PANEL

DIY PROJECTSFOR KIDS

LAB 1BATTERY

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ELECTRICITY?SHALL WE TALK ABOUT

Electricity is all around us. It can be both tremendously useful and deathly dangerous. Everyone has some idea of what electricity

is, where it comes from, and how it works. Teaching kids about electricity is not as difficult as it may seem. Once a child’s

imagination and curiosity is brought into play, great results can be achieved.

For example, a fairytale about tiny little bees buzzing around inside the wire and stinging anyone who dares to

bother them will be enough to ignite the imagination of younger kids. Another suitable approach for

youngsters involves a story about tiny invisible particles called electrons, followed by an

explanation of how they travel through metal wires and jump into our appliances.

You might consider using our narration template and reference materials to

convey your own story.

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Utilize your child’s curiosity to draw his or her attention towards the interaction using scientific models, experiments, or by participating in DIY projects. For instance, a homemade battery project is a great way to start exploring electricity with children.

The app ‘How to Make Electricity’ is more than just an experience to play with generators and electric circuits. In the science view mode you can observe electrons flowing inside wires and appliances. These animated and interactive visual aids are the perfect addition to your narration. You can also use our simulations to verify yours and your child’s hypothesis.

Electrons are tiny particles that live inside metal wires. They are invisible to the naked eye. If no one pokes electrons they stay in their place.

When we connect a wire to both sides of a power source, such as battery, electrons rush in a certain direction. The flow of electrons running through the wire is called an electric current.

The battery accepts electrons on one side, gives them power to run further, and then pushes them out the opposite side. That is why we call batteries an electric power source.

We use wires to connect appliances to the power source. This is how the electric current enters and powers our appliances.

Make your own story

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• Vintage educational video How Electricity Works • Electricity for Kids

Wires are made of metal. However, all wires are covered with isolation material. Switches, power outlets, and plugs are usually made of plastic. Do you know why?

Imagine what could happen in the world if electricity suddenly disappeared. Would you be able to live without it? Which activities would you have to give up? How would it impact your everyday life?

You should never touch wires with wet hands. Can you explain why?

How many appliances are there in your household? Pick the five you use most frequently and explain why electricity is needed for them to operate.

Engage in debate games with your child. Such games promote cognitive development, and teach your kid to be a good listener.

Praise your child’s creativeness, even in the case when answers and assumptions are incorrect.

See also:

Tips

Questions & Discussion Topics

I like how you think!

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BATTERYLAB 1

In our everyday lives we use electrical power produced by various types of batteries without knowing much about how they work. In the first lab, you can explore the structure of the simplest kind of battery, called voltaic or galvanic cell. The core principle defining how batteries work is quite simple. In certain conditions we can detect an electric current between two plates made of different metals while immersed in a special fluid. The plates are called electrodes, while the fluid is called an electrolyte. However, you may wonder what makes electrons travel through a wire from one electrode to another? The explanation is in the difference of electron affinities of metals. One metal appears to be a better home for the electrons from the other metal. This takes place when both metals are immersed in an

Electrolytic Cell

electrolyte. The circuit connected to the battery works as a long bridge for electrons to flow from one electrode to another, forming the electric current.

When electrodes are immersed in the electrolyte, a chemical reaction starts. Due to this reaction, one electrode becomes a birthplace for electrons. At the same time, the opposite electrode also reacts with the electrolyte and becomes a very attractive

destination for our newly born electrons.Voltage is an important property of any battery. Voltage reflects the level of electrons’ desire to move from one electrode to another. Different electrolytes and electrode metals provide different voltages for the battery.

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The First Battery

1 ElementCopperZinc

Electrolyte

The voltaic pile was the first electrical battery that could continuously provide an electrical current to a circuit.

The battery consisted of pairs of copper and zinc disks piled on top of each other, separated by a layer of cloth or cardboard soaked in brine.

See also:• Penny battery • Coin Battery Project

Alessandro Volta was an Italian scientist. In 1800, Volta discovered the phenomenon of contact electricity between two metals, what led him to the invention of the early electrical battery called Voltaic pile. Ever since Volta’s invention, mankind has been developing batteries with better properties. Even modern scientists struggle to create an ideal battery. Why don’t you give it a try yourself in our virtual lab?

Alessandro Volta

The electrochemical series help us discover which combination of metals provides a higher urge for electrons to migrate. In other words, we discover higher voltage. The wider the gap between the two metals in the series, the higher the voltage they can provide for the battery.

Lithium Magnesium Aluminum IronZinc Copper Silver Gold

Electrochemical Series

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In lab 1 you will find a beaker with an electrolyte. Use two crocodile connectors fixed above the beaker to connect items made of various metals. You can choose between an aluminum fork, an iron nail, and a copper key. Once the electrodes are put into place you can switch to science view by using the button in the upper-left corner to observe the flow of electrons. The electric current will only run in certain conditions (which you’ve yet to discover).Keep your eyes on the voltmeter. The voltmeter is an instrument we use to measure voltage. Its blue pointer moves left or right depending on the direction of the electric current.

Experiments

Choose the best combination of metals to provide the highest voltage.

Locate the combination in the electrochemical series and try to explain why the selected combination is the most efficient.

Do you prefer water or coke?

What do you think is the difference between them? Is there any water in your coke?

Which electrolyte produces higher voltages?

Salt helps water conduct a better electric current. In other words, salt force electrons to swim faster through water.

Try sprinkling some salt into coke or water. Does it make the battery work differently?

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In labs 2 and 3, we can set up a number of experiments to explore various ways of generating electricity using a magnet and wire coil.

A magnet is surrounded by an invisible magnetic field. If you place a metal wire near the magnet, its field can make electrons in the wire move by pushing and pulling them. If the coil is placed near the fixed magnet with the unchanging magnetic field, nothing happens. However, if you try moving the magnet back and forth, or if you try spinning it,

the magnetic field near the wire begins changing. The changing magnetic field produces an electric current by making

electrons in the wire move.

This phenomenon is called electromagnetic induction. Michael Faraday discovered it in 1831. That is why we also call it Faraday’s law of induction. The majority of

electric generators operate on the basis of Faraday’s law.

Go ahead and build your own electrical generators applying Faraday’s law of induction.

COILS & MAGNETSLABS 2 & 3

Hydroelectric GeneratorThermal Power Generator

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Marian Scott. This Is Our Strength, Electric Power, c. 1939-1945

Hydroelectric power is produced by water flowing through a turbine and spinning it. This in turn activates an electric generator comprised of coils and magnets.

Hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy. It is produced in 150 countries. The largest hydroelectric power station in the world is the Three Gorges Dam in China.

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

HYDROELECTRICGENERATOR

LAB 2

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First, touch the faucet to let the water flow down. Adjust the gear so that running water can easily rotate it. Lastly, attach the magnet to the gear. The magnet will start rotating with the gear, creating a changing magnetic field. The changing magnetic field induces current in the coil.

We can build a prototype of a hydroelectric power plant. In lab 2 locate the four parts we need.

Experiments

You can attach the magnet to a gear and make it spin. We have two gears in our hands.

How should we position these gears to maximize power?

Try tapping the faucet knob to adjust the force of water flow.

Can you describe the relationship between the strength of water flow and the amount of electricity generated?

Tap the coil button to mount a different coil, the one with a doubled number of loops.

What is the effect of increasing the number of loops? Try to explain the changes observed.

COIL MAGNET

FAUCET GEAR

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THERMAL POWERGENERATOR

LAB 3

THERMOELECTRIC POWERIn order to generate thermoelectric power we need to burn something and transform the heat released into mechanical force. The mechanical force is then applied to activate an electric generator comprised of magnets and coils.

For instance, on a thermal power station the coal is burnt to heat water. Water turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. This is how we generate large amounts of electricity for big cities.

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We can build a simple prototype of a thermoelectric power plant operating on the heat from a laboratory burner. Below are the parts we need for our thermoelectric generator to work.

Experiments

Adjust the flame strength by dragging the knob on the burner.

How does the fires intensity affects the amount of electricity?

Move the burner and the pinwheel with the magnet attached closer to the coil.

Does it help generate more electricity?

Tap the coil button several times to mount a coil with larger loops.

How does the increased size of loops affect the efficiency of the generator?

COIL MAGNET

BURNER PINWHEEL

Lets start by tapping the burner button. Do you see the steam coming out of the flask? Position the pinwheel somewhere above the flask so that the steam jet could rotate it. All you need to do now is to attach the magnet to the pinwheel. The rotating magnet induces an electric current in the coil. And this is how the heat from a burner is being turned into electricity.

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LAB 4

Have you ever seen a solar panel installed on someone’s roof? Do you know that these panels are used to turn sunlight into electricity? In our third lab you can find solar panels installed for you to have fun experimenting with it.

Solar power technology is nothing new; in fact, it dates back to the mid 1800s. More precisely, the history of solar panels began with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect. In 1839 Alexandre Edmond Becquerel found that when light struck certain metals, the surface of the metal emitted electrons, and the flow of electrons formed an electric current. This discovery helped other scientists develop the idea of modern day solar power systems.

SOLAR PANEL

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See also:• How Do Solar Systems Produce Energy?

• Solar energy / Solar photovoltaics / Photovoltaic effect (3D animation)

How can we make solar panels more efficient?

A panel’s positioning angle is very important, in order to maximize sunlight absorption. Instead of adjusting the orientation of the solar panels in our lab, you can simply move the sun to find the optimal time for harvesting solar energy.

Strike a pose

High temperatures can severely reduce the panel’s efficiency. For instance, on a hot summer day the performance can be reduced by up to 25%. Therefore, engineers are using different approaches to keep solar panels cool. They seek out cooler locations, provide good air circulation, and use light-colored materials.

Keep it cool

Shade is the enemy of solar power. Solar power systems are designed in a way that a little patch of shade on just one panel can shut down electricity generation in all the adjacent panels. To maximize efficiency, homeowners may trim trees, clean dirt or bird droppings with water, and perform other types of maintenance.

Don’t be shady

Experiments

Tap and shake the sun well to make it emit more light.

How does the flow of electrons change?

Drag a cloud or two into the sky.

Explain how cloudy weather affects the solar power.

Make the wind blow by dragging its icon onto the solar panel. Increase the wind if you want and keep an eye on the thermometer.

How does cooling panels affect their efficiency?

Bring down the birds. Drag a few of them onto the panel and guess what may happen.

How does it affect the amount of electricity?

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DIYPROJECTS

How to Make Electricityon the App Store

Contact Us

Kids love getting their hands on DIY science projects. You can easily turn your kitchen into a science lab.Consider spending enough time on research and preparation.

Lemon Battery

Cola Can Battery

Simple Cardboard Magnet Generator

Project for Kids: Power from Water

Solar Powered Cockroach Toy

Do you have ideas or thoughts to share?Did you find a mistake?