Electricity
Electrons move!
This is a fun little experiment to show students that electrons can move! In this demo it demonstrates how electrons can move along the surface of your body and flow from one person to the next when a circuit is completed. It's kind of fun to see how many students can circle up and still get the ball to light up!
Concepts:
Electrons move, bonding & grounding, protons, neutrons
Safety:
Equipment:
Preparation:
None
Demonstration Instructions
Circle up about 10 students
Have them all hold hands
YOU hold the energy ball in one hand and push on one electrode with your index finger, other hand is held by student in the circle.
Then to complete the circle the student next to you touches the other electrode and the ball should light up and make sound
Have the students across from you let go of their hands (Just one connection)
The ball should stop, circuit is broken
Have one student then put their hand up like a High Five and the other student taps it with a finger, the ball lights each time it is touched.
You can put on a nitrile glove and then hold hands and it will not light up, as you hand is insulted from the electrons passing along the skin surface.
Observations:
Ball will light up when the circuit is complete
Learning Outcomes:
This demonstrates the need for bonding and grounding
You can talk about the nucleus with protons and neutrons that are not supposed to move and if they do we now have radioactive material.
Chemical Disposal:
None
Additional Information:
Experiment #2
Oudin Coil
spark igniting methanol
lets take energy to the next level
Concepts:
Electricity ignites fuels
Safety:
Follow all safety rules with the Oduin Coil, it can zap you! Do not touch anything past the black housing!
Blast shield
Away from fire sprinklers or overhead items that may get damaged
Fire extinguisher
Equipment:
Oudin Coil another source is from Amazon Flinn
1 gal plastic water bottle with cork that fits the top
Corks can be bought a home depot in the hardware section, in the drawers. Take the bottle with you.
Also pick up 2 x 3" screws
Preparation:
Put the screws in the bottle facing each other at about 1.5" above the bottom. The screws will almost be touching inside the bottle.
Stage fire extinguisher, CO2 is usually best as its not messy.
Demonstration Instructions
Pour about 5-7 ml. (1 x pipette) of methanol in the jug.
Cork the jug snugly.
Shake the jug back and forth to atomize the methanol.
Located in a safe area with with a non-combustible surface.
Turn on the Oduin Coil and touch the exterior of the screw, KBOOM
Observations:
This can be loud but not loud enough for earplugs. Just warn the students.
You will see a quick flash of blue and the cork takes off like a rocket. Watch out for cork deflection.
Learning Outcomes:
Control our electricity at scene!
Activation energy can be minimal to ignite flammable liquids.
Bonding and grounding
Chemical Disposal:
None, all of the methanol is used in demo.
Additional Information:
Keep an eye out for stress fractures in the 1 gal. container. Replace frequently.