How to make a Styrofoam Cutter electricity experiment!

This is a drawing of a styrofoam cutter.

This makes a great example of a circuit that shows electricity can make heat. More fun than lighting a light bulb and just as easy.

Things You'll Need

• nickel chromium wire
• 2 popsicle sticks
• aluminum foil
• D cell battery

Instructions

1. First take the two popsicle sticks and cover them with aluminum foil. It doesn't have to be pretty for the Styrofoam cutter to work.

2. Take about 12 inches of the nickel chromium wire ( 26 gauge works best) and coil about 4 inches on the top 2 inches of one popsicle stick. Try to no overlap the coils.

3. leave a gap of about 3 inches and then coil the wire down the top 2 inches of the other popsicle stick. You now have a Styrofoam cutter!

4. Take the D cell battery and place it between the two popsicle sticks toward the bottom. The wire at the top will immediately heat up.

5. Grab a Styrofoam plate or the packing material for vegetables the hot wire will melt through the Styrofoam.

Tips & Warnings

• If it isn't working make sure the button of the D battery is on one stick and the negative side is touching the other. Make sure your coils aren't overlapping.

• If it is hard to hold Tape it in place with masking tape.

• The wire will be HOT!