How to Make a Generator for a Science Project
An electric generator converts mechanical energy into electricity. A simple electrical generator can be crafted from household items and a wiring purchased at a hardware store. According to Bill Beatty, of Amateur Science, these simple items can be used to make a basic alternating current electric generator that creates enough electricity to light a tiny bulb.
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Things You'll Need
- Four 1 by 2 by 5 cm ceramic magnets
- 200 feet of #30 magnet wire
- 1.5V miniature light bulb
- 8 cm by 30.4 cm strip of a cardboard box
- 8 cm long nail (large)
- Sandpaper
- Tape (strong enough for wire)
- Hand drill
- Straight edge
Instructions
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1
Create a small hollow ended cardboard box with these measurements along its width: 8 cm (back), 3.5 cm, 8 cm (front), 3.2 cm (side), 7.7 cm (flap inside back). Cut the length of the box to 8 cm.
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2
Cut the cardboard piece out so that it forms a long rectangle.
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3
Crease the box along the lines that you have traced. Fold the box at the creases so that the short flap is on the inside of the box. Test your magnet width to ensure it fits the box between the front and back side. Adjust box fold until magnet fits.
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4
Draw an "X" on the front of the box from each top corner to opposite bottom corner to find the center of the box. Poke the nail all the way through center of the box keeping the nail perpendicular to the box.
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5
Place the magnets around the nail, two on either side, and spin the nail to test that the magnets spin with enough room around them. They should not touch the inside of the cardboard box.
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6
Wind the magnet wire around the width of the box avoiding the hole to leave space for the nail. Do not wrap the wire too tightly around the box.
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7
At the end of your wire leave two pieces to be attached to the bulb. This wire should be cleaned of any plastic. Use sandpaper to scrape the plastic off till the wires are a true copper color.
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8
Twist the scraped end of each generator wire securely around the wires of the small light bulb.
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9
Spin the nail and watch the small incandescent light bulb light up.
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Tips & Warnings
Bill Beatty of Amateur Science tapes his wire to the inside edge of the box prior to wrapping the wire around the width of the box. This secures the wire so that it wraps more easily around the box.
This may require multiple testing. If the magnets scrape the cardboard, the bulb will not light. Resize your box if necessary.
References
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Comments
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what will it turn out to look like.
