Dizzy Doodler

 

Warning! Adult supervision required: some small parts

 Please read the procedure before beginning! After reading, please watch the video. Some activities require more time and cleanup than others. You also have the choice of performing these activities in a way that suits your needs.

 

Materials

  • 8oz. Jar with a hole in the Lid
  • AA Battery Housing
  • Motor
  • Switch
  • Mini Masking Tape
  • Electrical Tape
  • 1/2 Hot glue Stick with 2 premade holes
  • 3 Markers
  • AA Battery
  • 2 Googly Eyes

 

Procedure

1. Tape the battery housing to the underside of the lid. Pull the wires through the hole.

2. Attach the motor and the switch to the top of the lid using tape.

3. Connect the black wires from the battery housing and switch to the copper terminals on the motor. Twist the wire ends together and cover the exposed areas with electrical tape.

4. Complete the same action with the red wires, connecting them together and covering the exposed areas with electrical tape.

5. Place the 1/2 glue stick to the motor shaft using one of the premade holes (see video for clarification).

6. To the jar, tape the markers at the same height level, but different distances vertically around the jar.

7. Place the battery into the housing and secure your lid onto the jar.

8. Place your googly eyes on the side of the jar.

9. Place your sheet of paper on a flat surface.

10. Remove the marker lids and place the Dizzy Doodler on your paper.

11. Flip the switch! What happens when you attach the glue stick on using the middle hole? What happens if you use the off-center hole?

12. What do you notice if you place different objects inside the jar? How does this change how your Dizzy Doodler move?

 

Science Behind It!

Circuits are electronic components that when connected together can transfer energy, in the form of electricity, from one place to another. The components that are included in this circuit are a power source—the battery, a load—the thing that we want to turn on like the motor, and lastly the conductor—the item that carries the energy through our other components, in this case our wires.

Circuits require energy that flows from positive to negative in a closed path. By placing a switch between the power source and the load, we can open the circuit and disrupt the flow of energy which turns off the device! What other things use a switch to turn devices on and off?