Handheld Cooling Fan

Warning!

Adult supervision: (choking hazards)

Not for children under 3 years. Adult supervision required. Follow approved procedures.

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

  • AA Battery Holder
  • 3V Motor
  • Switch
  • 2 AA Batteries
  • Fan Piece
  • Scissors
  • Electrical Tape
  • Double Sided Adhesive

Procedure

  1. Place the AA batteries in the battery holder with the positive and negative terminals oriented correctly. Cut a piece of electrical tape, and use it to secure the batteries.
  2. Attach the fan to the motor—the fan piece press fits onto the shaft of the motor.
  3. Cut a small piece of the double-sided adhesive that is roughly the size of the bottom of the motor. Use it to attach the motor to the wireless end of the battery holder with the fan on the battery side (see video for clarification). Cut a small piece of electrical tape, and use it to secure the motor. Do not cover the metal terminals on the back of the motor.
  4. Cut a small piece of the double-sided adhesive that is roughly the size of one of the long sides of the switch. Use it to attach the switch to the opposite end of the battery holder from the motor (see video for clarification). Cut a small piece of electrical tape to secure the switch.
  5. Ensure that the switch is in the off (O) position.
  6. Attach the exposed part of the negative (black) wire from the battery holder to the exposed part of one of the wires on the switch. Cut a small piece of electrical tape and secure it.
  7. Attach the exposed part of the other wire from the switch to the left terminal on the back of the motor. Secure with electrical tape.
  8. Attach the exposed part of the positive (red) wire from the battery holder to the other terminal on the motor. Secure with electrical tape.
  9. Turn the switch on. If all of the conductors are connected and the circuit is assembled correctly, the fan turns on! What would happen if the wires attached to the terminals on the motor were switched?

 

Science Behind it!

     A circuit is a loop of energy that is continuous, with no spaces. For a circuit to work and be complete, it has to have a power source (battery), a conductor (material which electricity can flow through), and the object that is being powered (motor). Today, the object is a fan. The conductors are the wires that are inside the thread connecting the motor, battery, and switch. We cannot touch the metal that the wires are made of, or what might happen? You might get shocked and become part of the circuit. For safety, the metal wire is wrapped in a rubber coating, which is a terrible conductor of electricity. Have fun cooling down with your own fan!