How to Make a Circular Bubble Level
Circular bubble levels are not only fun, they are useful, too. Making your own bubble level from materials around the house is a great way to demonstrate a simple scientific principle to kids, and they will be fascinated by the innovative use of ordinary items. Use your homemade bubble level to decorate another craft project, or put it to work in your household toolbox---it will indicate a level line just like a hardware store model.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Food coloring
- Old clear plastic disposable ballpoint pen
- Marker
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue stick
- Wooden board or ruler (optional)
- Pliers or butter knife
Instructions
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1
Clear a large table for working. Since glue and water will be involved, put down newspapers or an old tablecloth to make clean-up easier.
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2
Disassemble the ballpoint pen. Pry the base of the pen off with a pair of pliers or a butter knife. Do not allow children to complete this step---it requires a bit of coordination, and the ink may spill if the pen is not completely dry.
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3
Remove the flexible ink tube from the interior of the pen casing. The tube may fall out on its own after removal of the pen's base---if not, press on the tip as though writing, and it will loosen. Throw the ink tube away immediately: the change in air pressure may cause any remaining ink to leak.
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4
Replace the base on the empty pen casing, and fill the cylinder with a water-and-food-coloring mixture.
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5
Seal the open tip of the pen with hot glue, and prop it upright while it dries. Seal the base of the pen with hot glue as well.
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6
Lay the pen on its side and draw two marks exactly in the center of the pen, one on each side of the bubble. These marks will indicate a level line: when the bubble is centered between the marks, the pen will be level.
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7
Attach your bubble level to a wooden ruler or board, using more hot glue. As long as the pen is attached flush against the wooden support, the entire structure will act as a level---when the marks on the pen casing are aligned with the air bubble, the board or ruler will be level.
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Tips & Warnings
Never allow children to operate hot glue guns. Never leave a glue gun unattended while it is plugged in or hot.
