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Learn to solder – build a circuit kit – STEM skills

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Learn to solder to be able to build electric circuit projects. With adult supervision, this project can be successfully done by sixth graders and up. Modern electronics involve printed circuit boards and components such as LEDs, resistors, and capacitors. Solder is a soft metal alloy that is melted to make joints to connect metal pieces. For safety, you should use a lead-free solder. The one we are using here is tin and copper. This project helps you learn to solder, how to identify resistors, and end up with a fun toy you built yourself!Learn to solder activity for practicing engineering electronics skill for a blinking robot circuit board with LEDs, resistors, and capacitors.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. High heat is used. Eye protection, long pants or apron, and closed toe shoes should be worn. Good ventilation is required. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for learn to solder

You may want to use a plywood board or very heavy cardboard to protect your work surface. The soldering iron gets very hot and should not be brought into contact with skin or flammable materials. Organize your work area so that the soldering iron electrical cord is safely connected to the wall plug. Use the instructions and diagrams included in the LED Robot Blinker Kit to assemble the kit.solder-kit

To learn to solder, you may want to strip a few wires and practice soldering and desoldering on a prototype circuit board before working on your kit.

  • Lay out the components for the LED Robot Blinker Kit and identify them. Use the resistor values chart to read the color bands on the resistors to find their values. Bend the wire legs and insert in the correct openings on the robot.
  • Heat the soldering iron and apply a small amount of solder to the tip (this is called tinning). With the wrong side of the board facing you (green lines and metallic circles), hold the tip of the iron to one side of the resistor wire and heat for a few seconds. Hold the solder to the other side of the wire to melt and flow around the connection.solder-apply-heat
  • Inspect the two capacitors and find the negative side (with the short leg). Place them in the circuit so the positive leg is in the positive hole. Solder in place.
  • Inspect the transistors and find the flat side. Bend the wire legs as shown in the instruction book and place in the circuit so that flat side is lined up with the diagram. Solder in place.
  • Inspect the 4 LEDs. Carefully notice the short leg and the flat side of the LED. Place the LEDs in the circuit board lined up with the diagram. Solder in place.
  • Find the two loose wires, 4 inches long. Use the wire strippers to strip ½ inch of insulation off both ends of both wires. (You may need a screwdriver to set the wire stripper to the right wire size. It might help to practice stripping on another piece of wire first.) Solder one wire end to the center of the switch, another to the end of the switch, and the other ends to the holes on the circuit board.solder-wire-stripping
  • Place the red wire of the battery snap in the + hole and solder. Solder the black wire to the – hole.
  • Snap in a battery and play with your creation!Learn to solder activity for practicing engineering electronics skill for a blinking robot circuit board with LEDs, resistors, and capacitors.

The instruction manual has troubleshooting steps if the LEDs do not light or blink.

Supplies

  • Soldering starter tool kit
    • Soldering iron, 25 Watt
    • Holder for soldering iron
    • Lead-free solder
    • Wire strippers and cutter
    • Desolder pump or wick
  • Wall plug
  • Safety glasses
  • Elenco LED robot blinker kit
  • 9V battery
  • Stainless steel pot scrubber or damp sponge
  • Helping hands with magnifying glass (optional)
  • Hook up wire #22 gauge
  • Printed circuit boards for practicing (optional)
  • Paper or notebook for recording results

plumeria bar
What is the science?

Content: electricity, electric circuits, LED, resistors, capacitors, transistors, electrical current

The LED (light emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that gives off light when a current passes through it. The brightness of the light depends on the amount of current. The resistors limit current (V=IR). The transistors can amplify the current and control it. The capacitors can store charges and can release them when needed. Soldering makes a connection between the wire of a component and the copper foil on a circuit board. A switch is used to complete the circuit with the battery. The time the capacitors charge up determines the blink rate of the LEDs. This kit is a parallel circuit.

Resource links

plumeria barLet’s talk story

I did not learn to solder until I was an adult. My mentor, Dr. John C. Park, taught me how in a workshop. I made bracelets out of telephone wire for practice and I was so proud! I had a strong commitment to soldering with the teachers and children in my workshops and camps. It’s a basic skill for electrical engineers and it’s not often taught in school. I love how it opens up the world of electrical device design!

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] casabouquet[dot]com.plumeria bar

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Related posts

Solar energy activity Snap circuits green energy kit Solar robot activity

Rubber band car – 6 STEM design ideas

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Making a rubber band car is fun for experiments and learning about potential and kinetic energy. It’s fun and easy to build a rubber band car. It’s a great opportunity to try some engineering design.6 rubber band car designs use a body, axle, and wheels to teach potential and kinetic energy. Legos, cardboard, and other household items are used. Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. These experiments use rubber bands under tension and sharp skewers. Eye protection should be used. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

The basic setup is a lightweight body for the car, wheels, axles, and a rubber band to provide energy for motion. Some designs use cardboard for wheels, some use CDs. These rubber band car designs encourage children to ask questions about transfer of energy, observe, analyze, and share their findings.

  1. PBS Kids Design Squad Build Rubber Band Car
  2. Inspiration Laboratories Make a Vehicle
  3. Frugal Fun for Boys & Girls Two Ways to Build a Rubber Band Lego Car
  4. Your Modern Dad DIY Rubber Band Racer
  5. Education.com How to Make a Rubber Band Car
  6. Crafts by Amanda How to Make a Rubber Band Car

You will need to make a catch to hold the rubber band on the rear axle. You will need putty or clay to make sure the wheels are firmly attached to the axles, not spinning. Your car needs to be designed so that you have a way to wind up the rubber band and it can freely unwind when you let the car go.

When trying the rubber band car activity, I always encourage children to make it into an experiment. There are several areas where variables can be changed.6 rubber band car designs use a body, axle, and wheels to teach potential and kinetic energy. Legos, cardboard, and other household items are used. Wheels: Try cutting cardboard circles or use CDs. What other objects could be used for wheels?

Car body: Use corrugated cardboard (the channels are a good size for skewer axles.) Try an empty water bottle or a small cereal box. What other objects would make a good body? Is it better to have a light body or a heavy body?

Axles: You can use skewers or pencils. Would straws work? What other objects could be used for the axles?

Rubber band: Rubber bands come in different lengths and different thicknesses. Is it better to use a large heavy rubber band or connect little rubber bands together (such as Rainbow Loom bands)?

What is the science?

Content: potential energy, kinetic energy, transfer of energy, rolling, friction, forces

The rubber band has potential energy when stretched or wound around an axle. When the rubber band is let go, it returns to its original size, releasing energy. You can see the energy in the spinning of the axle and wheels. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. In order to move, the car has to have friction with the floor. If the car had no wheels, all of the body would be on the floor which would have a lot of friction. With wheels, there should be friction where the wheels touch the floor.

rubber-band-car - 2Resource links for rubber band car

Let’s talk story

My friend Jen and I found that middle school and other age children are very interested in cars. There is so much STEM in how cars work. This is the first in a series of science ideas for a car theme. Some car inspiration: Cars 1, 2, and 3; Fast and Furious; Smokey and the Bandit; Speed Racer, Talladega Nights; Days of Thunder; Speedway.

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

7 electric motor activities for kids – STEM labs

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Electric motor activities are good for introducing electricity and magnetism to children. These topics are not always taught in depth because of their difficulty. These 7 fun and easy motor activities will make the concepts concrete and hands-on!7 electric motor activities use current and magnets to teach energy and electromagnetism. Simple and homopolar motors included.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. These experiments use batteries and magnets. Eye protection should be used. The magnets should not be swallowed (highly dangerous!). Wires can get hot during motor operation. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

The basic setup for electric motor activities is a battery to provide power, a magnet, and wire formed in a loop. The current through the wire loop becomes an electromagnet and the fixed magnet makes the wire loop turn. These 7 electric motor activities for kids encourage children to ask questions about electricity and magnetism, collect data, analyze, and share their findings.

  1. exploratorium-motor-effectThe Motor Effect from the Exploratorium
  2. crystalandcompMotorized coloring robot from Crystal and Company
  3. exploratoriumSimple mini-motor from the Exploratorium
  4. educom-motorSimple electric motor from education.com
  5. maker-dadHow to build a motor from Maker Dad
  6. arborsciHomopolar motor from Arbor Scientific
  7. babble-dabble-doTiny dancers homopolar motor from Babble Dabble Do

When trying an electric motor activity, I always encourage children to make it into an experiment. There are several areas where variables can be changed.

  • Change the number of loops of wire to see if the strength of the electromagnet changes.
  • Experiment with the insulation on the arms of the wire loop. Try all insulated, no insulation, and half insulated. How do these affect the motor operation?
  • Change the number of batteries.
  • Change the number of fixed magnets.

simple-motor-partsWhat is the science?

Content: electricity, magnetism, motors, batteries, electric circuits, energy transfer, electromagnet

Electric current will flow from the battery through your circuit to the wire coil. The coil becomes an electromagnet with a north and south pole. The magnet in your motor will attract one side of the coil and repel the other. The motor is changing electrical energy to mechanical energy. With a big enough electric motor, the spinning can be used to power something, like turn a wheel.

Resource links for electric motor activities

7 electric motor activities use current and magnets to teach energy and electromagnetism. Simple and homopolar motors included.I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa[at]thecasabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria

Affiliate links:  if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Shoe friction experiment

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The shoe friction experiment helps children do an activity that has a practical application. You can measure the friction for various types and sizes of shoes with equipment or estimate it by using a board at an incline.Learn about forces with the shoe friction experiment. How does friction affect basketball, skateboarding, salsa dancing? Compare friction of different shoes!

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for shoe friction experiment

  • Attach a short piece of rope to one side of an S hook. You will use the other side of the hook to hook the shoes.friction-rope-hook
  • Lay the board flat on a table or floor and place a shoe at one end. Slowly begin pulling the shoe until it moves at a steady speed. What do you observe about how hard you have to pull to get the shoe moving and the pull once the shoe is moving?friction-pull-shoe
  • If using the Dual Range Force sensor, attach the utility handle to one end and set the range to 10N. Attach the force sensor or spring scale to the rope. Repeat the shoe-pulling and record the results. Make a chart in your notebook to record your findings.
  • Next, place the shoe at one end of the board. Slowly raise the end of the board until the shoe slides down the ramp. Measure the height and the angle.
  • Try setting up the board and an angle and the shoe with the force sensor or spring scale. Measure the force to pull the shoe down the ramp. How does this compare with pulling the shoe when the board is flat?friction-shoe-ramp

Does the weight of the shoe make a difference? Does it make a difference if the sole is wet or dry? Do different shoes move down the incline at different angles?

Why do you need special shoes for different activities? How does friction affect basketball, skateboarding, salsa dancing?

Supplies

  • Board
  • Books or blocks to use for incline
  • Meter stick, protractor
  • Assorted shoes
  • Heavy string or rope
  • S hook or large heavy paperclip
  • Vernier Dual Range Force Sensor OR
  • handheld spring scale
  • paper or notebook for recording results, pen

friction-pull-crocWhat is the science?

Content: force, friction, coefficient of friction, motion, Newton’s Laws

A force that opposes motion is friction. Two surfaces rubbing against each other will have some amount of friction. You can have situations with where you might not think about friction, such as sliding across ice (low friction) or wheels rolling on a street (high friction), but there is still friction. To calculate friction, the equation is f = ? x N (friction force equals the coefficient of friction times the Normal force (weight in Newtons if object is perpendicular to the earth’s surface)).

Here is a typical physics force diagram for a block on an inclined plane:incline-plane-diagram

Resource links

friction-inclined-planeLet’s talk story

The classic experiment in physics used a wood block with 4 surfaces (such as different sandpapers) to slide on the board. A group of us were teaching college physics to non-majors (sometimes known as physics for poets). We changed the lab to shoe friction experiment and found a big difference in student interest in the experiment. I worked with a group of middle school teachers and introduced this lab. One teacher was the school basketball coach. He had the kids test different shoes, from discount to high-end. The results showed they could get good friction from an economical shoe!

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria

Affiliate links:  if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Episode 7 Podcast: The Tattooed Physicist

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The Tattooed Physicist is a podcast hosted by Rosa Wallace, a physics student at University of Colorado Denver. This episode: Libby Talks Leadershipthe tattooed physicist podcast

Episode 7 features Libby Booton, who is a senior student leader, a runner and cheerleader, and an all around physics superwoman at the Colorado School of Mines. Libby’s graduating soon, so Rosa wanted to have her on the podcast before she gets too famous. She has a lot of insight on how to make things work in student organizations, and I know you all will find the interview illuminating and inspiring!

Rosa and Libby discuss:

  • Libby finds physics at Mines
  • Internships at Northrop Grumman & Lockheed Martin
  • Moon buggy adventures at NASA!
  • Engineering Physics vs. Pure Physics
  • Libby’s vast leadership experience
  • Society of Physics Students
  • Women in Physics (started with CUWiP)
  • Equality Through Awareness
  • The challenges of a multi-branch Women in Physics group
  • “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg
  • Rethinking officer structure to accommodate organizational/community needs
  • Organizational focus and how to target students that will benefit
  • Organizational splits, restructuring, and the good things that can come from going in a new direction
  • Good or bad, your leadership experiences at school will help in your professional life!

Rosa Wallace The Tattooed PhysicistFrom Rosa: “This podcast series is intended to provide an inclusive view of the profession and practice of science (with a physics focus). Here, science is for everyone, regardless of background or identity, and the podcast will hopefully provide a good-humored but realistic view of the current state of the field. It is my wish that the experiences and views expressed will help inform and guide others taking this path, enlighten those that simply take an interest, and entertain everyone else.”

We will post these podcasts as they come online as a lagniappe for science-minded folks. When you visit the link, push the Play button under the title to hear the podcast.

http://tattooedphysicist.podbean.com/e/episode-7-libby-talks-leadership/