Science

Leyden jars are containers meant to hold and store electrical energy. In the 18th century, scientists called them condensers because electricity was believed to be a fluid, tangible substance....

Solar cells harness the sun's energy and convert it into usable electricity through the photovoltaic process. Although the design of solar cells can vary substantially, you can construct a simple...

There is no chemical name for pewter; it is an alloy of four metals smelted together, each of which lends its individual properties. The quality of pewter depends on the percent of each metal.

When it comes to choosing the right rod for tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding of brass, you have two options: either shear off a long strip from the brass piece you're welding or buy a special...

Phosphoric acid is found naturally in various produce such as tomatoes, lemons and potatoes. It reacts with both zinc and copper to create excess electrons. These electrons flow between the two...

Copper is the most widely used electrical conductor because it is inexpensive and second only to silver in electrical conduction. Although low, copper does provide some resistance to current that...

If you've ever seen the Statue of Liberty, you may have wondered why the statue is green. The statue was a gift from the French in 1886, commemorating the century that passed since the American...

Before a metal can be electroplated with copper (referred to as the "target metal"), it must be cleaned of grease, oxides and dried-on film. A mechanical abrasive (e.g., a circular or linear...

There are multiple ways of creating a printed circuit board (PCB) for your electronics needs. One that's gaining widespread use is photo etching, which is the process of exposing laminate copper...

Who knew that fruit could generate power? A battery created from a simple, everyday lemon illustrates quite well how electricity works. The lemon battery is a favorite of science fair participants...

Electromagnets are an integral part of many electronic devices, from speakers to televisions. Creating a homemade electromagnet has been a traditional high school science project, but stepping it...

Copper is used for electrical wiring, for plumbing, for the manufacture of alloys, in fungicides and in insecticides. It is also used in art and in coinage. Copper is recyclable. Freshly...

By using a simple metal object such as a paper clip or steel-coated nail along with a copper penny and wires, you can make your own lemon battery. The reaction between the lemon and the copper is...

You may remember a science experiment from your youth where fruit is used to light up a small light bulb. This type of experiment is as appealing to kids today as it was in the past, and it's a...

Making a home electro-magnet is a fun way to teach kids about the principles of magnetism in an easy to make experiment. Step One: Wrap the copper wire from one end to the other around the nail...

Stun guns are an excellent way to protect yourself. Just the sight of a stun gun is enough to send some attackers running. These are potentially life-saving devices, but they often come with a...

Harnessing the photovoltaic effect that turns sunlight into electricity can be done in any kitchen or workshop with a gas burner with only a few basic materials and the right tools, and with...

In order to make a battery you will need to place 2 dissimilar metals into an acidic solution. Lemon juice can act as this needed solution. A copper penny and a galvanized nail can serve as the...

When teaching kids about science, don't just lecture at them. Science becomes even more exciting when it's taught through a game.

Photovoltaics (PVs) are devices that take natural light and convert it to energy. One of the most popular PV devices, solar cells, are the basic building unit of solar modules and solar panels,...

Copper is an element with an atomic number of 29. It weighs about 63.55 atomic mass units and is classified by scientists as a transition metal. Copper has been used for more than 11,000 years....

Like all materials made from copper, pennies are subject to corrosion. Though copper is resistant to most types of materials, it tends to corrode when exposed to oxygen, sulfur or ammonia. This...

You can produce electricity from vegetables and fruits as a science experiment or just for fun. Potatoes are most commonly used, but apples, lemons and other vegetables can be used too. You will...

Chemical reactions, by definition, create new products from the initial reactants. This process can be exciting; heat, bubbling and color change are all possible signs of a chemical reaction....

The common pennies corrode because they are surrounded by a light layer of copper with a zinc core. Copper oxidizes and produces a green layer that can eventually wear away, sometimes leaving the...

Solar panels are used to convert light into electricity and get most of their energy from the sun. A solar panel is made out of a collection of solar cells, which are spread over a large area to...

A passive solar panel is a device which collects sunlight and turns it into electricity. Although industrially manufactured solar panels are much more efficient than home made ones, they are also...

The photovoltaic effect is the reaction certain substances have when they are struck by sunlight, resulting in an electric current. It is not widely known that not all solar panels use the...

Circuit boards were invented in the mid-1930s and are used for radios, mobile phones, radars and computer systems. They are also known as printed circuit boards (PCBs) and are usually made with...

A light bulb does not need to be installed into a wall or lamp in order to make it light up. Light bulbs can be attached to light switches and run by battery. This is especially useful in basement...

Electricity and magnetism are two closely related forces that make up the larger force of electromagnetism. You can use electricity to create a magnetic field and you can use a magnetic field to...

Electroplating metal can improve durability and appearance by applying a thin coat of a more desirable metal onto a metal object. The most common example is copper, which is frequently applied to...

Nothing's worse than a drawer full of batteries, none of which you can be sure still works. Banish this situation by building a simple circuit that conclusively demonstrates the validity and...

It's easy to make your own solar panel. While a home-made version doesn't have the power of a commercially manufactured one, it will generate enough electricity to be measured by a microammeter--a...

Making a battery-powered clock from a lemon is an old hat science project. Building a homemade solar cell than can run a small light bulb has a lot more panache. Following this guide will show you...

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) allow engineers to create permanent electrical circuits that consist of multiple components and are capable of complex functions. Each board starts as a thin sheet of...

Electricity is generated by introducing conducting wire, usually copper or aluminum, to a magnetic field. Learn more about how electricity is generated from a math and science teacher in this free...

Solar energy is actually surprisingly easy to produce, so long as the electrical demand is not too high. A crude but workable cell can be made in any kitchen. This makes a homemade solar cell a...

The photovoltaic reaction of solar panels serve as a renewable and clean source of electricity. Most conventional panels are fashioned from cells made out of silicates, but there is a way to make...

The solar cells used in photovoltaic solar panels are made out of silicates, but a cruder solar cell can be made in any kitchen. All that is necessary is a trip to the hardware store. The power...

A solenoid works by having electricity flow through its copper wire that is provided by a power supply and a switch. Discover how a solenoid becomes a magnet when electricity is supplied to it...

An electromagnet is a surprisingly simple device to build. Rather than a naturally magnetized material, an electromagnet artificially aligns the polarity of a metal object, temporarily magnetizing...

The term "mining" indicates excavation or extraction of a substance from the soil, rock or from a location inside the earth. It is found during the copper, lead, zinc and gold refining process. It...

Make your own printed circuit board (PCB) to your exact specifications. The process carries you from the layout and design phase to the soldering phase of circuit board design using simple tools....

Millions of pennies are circulating at any given time throughout the United States. As the pennies circulate, they begin to lose their shine. This is largely due to the way metals react with air....

With the price of energy these days, solar energy is becoming a more and more viable source of power. To best grasp the concept of solar energy, it helps to make your own version of a simple solar...

First, the etcher designs a circuit board image. This is done for free by a hobbyist using a program like Eagle at Cadsoft Online (see Resources below) or a program like Microsoft Paint.

You can demonstrate the principle of semiconductivity for a science fair by creating your own solar cell panel. While this might not do much to light a light bulb, it will produce measurable...

Ever want to do your own science experiments at home? You can demonstrate the principle of semiconductivity by creating your own solar cell panel. While this might not do much to light a...

You can build a solar cell out of nothing more than copper metal and household items. It may not light up the house---or even a light bulb---but it will produce a measurable amount of current....