The Creator Club
Semester 1, Session 4
Title: Motors as generators
Summary: To begin to learn how motors function as generators, and how light bulbs and other resistance load devices work. To begin to gain a better understanding of electric current and how it relates to voltage and resistance.
In this session we will use our generator to make electricity to turn on light bulbs. We will study what is going on inside a light bulb.
We will study high resistance wire (for example, wire taken from an electric toaster) and from hand held hair dryers.
We will introduce the boys to
We will examine parts and components that are used in modern electrical equipment today. (connectors, ball bearings, ribbon cables, circuit boards, integrated circuits (chips).
This will be the last session to focus on the design and function of basic electromagnetic devices. In it we will have many discussions on related subjects:
Where and how we get electricity to our homes
Places where the many devices we have studied are employed.
Recent developments in these devices and the current technology.
Supplies needed:
1. Light bulbs and light bulb holders
2. Batteries
3. Hook up wire
4. The wooden project board with the motor that boys made mounted on it.
Equipment needed:
1. Analog volt meters
2. Digital volt meters
3. Alligator clips.
4. Hand tools
Equipment needed for illustration:
Servo motors, drives, relays, circuit breakers, fuses, connectors, computers, power supplies.
History: Discussion of how mankind has discovered what the Creator designed and allowed us to use our intelligence to figure out and design.
The laws and dependability of them to operate the same throughout history.
Electricity in our own bodies.
History: Thomas Edison, the home educated inventor who perfected the light bulb filament through his studies in materials and chemistry.
The Creator Club
Semester 1, Session 3
Title: Making a motor that that can do real work.
Goals of this session: To help the boys make a working motor that has enough power to actually do something.
In this session the boys will use all of the tools more extensively to build a real working three pole armature motor. The club leader will show them a two pole armature and demonstrate it in his working motor project. The boys will observe its shortcomings and then build a motor that is much more practical.
Each boy will cut parts from wood, sheet metal and other materials and assemble his own motor that we will later use in projects that do work.
If we have time, we will make wooden pulleys to show the relationship between speed and torque, and power.
Supplies needed:
1. 24 gauge magnet wire
2. wooden spools for commutators
3. Ceramic Permanent arc motor magnets
4. brass sheet metal
5. ¼” steel rod
6. steel laminations cut by laser cutter
7. electrical tape
8. wooden project platform and misc. wood for parts.
9. brass tubing
10. Nylon for bushings
11. copper or aluminum tape
Equipment needed:
1. Scroll saw
2.
3. Screw drivers
4. Marking pens and pencils
5. Rulers/straight edges
6. glue
Equipment needed for illustration:
1. Burned out servo motor
The Creator Club
First Semester, Second Session
Title: Electric Motors and how they work
Goals of second session:
Summary: Gain a better understanding of electromagnetism and how it can be used to make motors which do work.
In this lesson we will use iron filings to show the magnetic lines of force generated by an electromagnetic coil. We will then use some magnetite powder that the club leader smashed from rocks containing iron ore the old iron mine that is located on our property and show the boys how iron comes from the earth.
Then we will show how putting a steel nail inside a coil can change these magnetic force lines, and how a magnetic compass can be used to show the polarity of a magnet.
We will show how magnetic forces can pass through other materials and talk about these characteristics make so many interesting possibilities for creative projects. Discussions will be held about how the Creator made this whole earth a magnet and how that helps us in our lives.
Then we will make a very simple “half motor” using the coil we make. Each boy will be taught the names of the basic components of every DC motor: Armature, Field, and commutator. The terms stator and rotator will also be explained. Each boy will be able to take his simple motor home and run it for his family.
Then I will show the boys the plans I have for a better motor and introduce them to the parts we will use in the next week’s project.
Supplies needed:
Tools and equipment needed:
1.
2. Alligator clips
3. Magnetic Compass
4. Iron Filings
5. Magnetite filings from the rocks containing iron ore.
6. Sand paper
7. Knives
8. long nose pliers
9. hand tools, battery drills
Misc. equipment needed for illustration:
Various types of electric motors:
History:
The first commutator-type direct current electric motor capable of turning machinery was invented by the British scientist William Sturgeon in 1832.
Sturgeon was born in Whittington, Lancashire and apprenticed to a shoemaker. He joined the army in 1802 and taught himselfmathematics and physics. In 1824 he became lecturer in science at the East India Company College at Addiscombe, Surrey and in the following year he exhibited his first electromagnet.[2] He displayed its power by lifting nine pounds with a seven-ounce piece of iron wrapped with wire through which a current from a single battery was sent. In 1828 he put into practice Ampere's idea of a solenoid. (From Wikipedia)
The Creator Club
First Semester, first Session:
Title: Electromagnetism and its uses:
Pre-requisites: It would be helpful if the boys know how to measure something using a 12 inch ruler, and be able to make marks on paper down to ¼” inches or better.
Goals of first lesson:
Summary: Begin to explain what electricity is, and how it can be used. Make three projects showing how we can use it.
Use the battery tower (bank) to show how individual battery cells can be stacked to generate higher electronic pressures called voltage. Discuss what electrical energy is, and how the Creator designed our bodies to be both electrical and chemical devices. Measure the voltages on the battery bank with a digital meter.
Demonstrate a simple circuit to show how electron flow can be illustrated by a pencil drawing using electrical symbols.
Make a coil and an electromagnet using a nail and a wound coil of wire using our hands and a battery operated hand drill.
Construct an actual device from a circuit drawn on paper using a handmade switch, and the electromagnet made by each boy. Make a simple telegraph transmitter using the electromagnet. Show how electric current can be sent through the ground, and make the telegraph operate a remote telegraph receiver.
Ad another contact to the telegraph electromagnet and make it into a buzzer. Show some buzzers that can be bought and used to get people’s attention.
Using a simple step up transformer and a D cell flashlight battery (1 1/2 volts), I will show the boys some of the dangers of Electricity by generating a mild shock for them to sample. Then we will talk about safety, electricity and the need to only use 12 volts or less for our projects, NEVER power available from wall outlets in our homes.
Talk about things the boys could make using what they have learned. Suggestions—water level sensor or a door alarm.
Supplies needed:
1
2 Telegraph project wooden base
3 Nails, drywall screws, washers.
4 Magnet wire
5 Brass sheet stock
6 Roll of insulated wire
7 Stakes in the ground
8 50’ of 20 gauge wire for the telegraph
9 Paper patterns for hole drilling.
10 Large paper clips
11 Super glue
12 Electrical tape
Equipment needed:
Misc. equipment needed for illustration:
1 Relay
2 2 different types of buzzers
3 electric motors
4 transformer
5 Drawings on graph paper of motor armature, and other projects
Project to take home:
Each boy will be able to take home his own telegraph transmitter/relay/buzzer to show his family how it works.
Bible Verse:
Exodus 31:3. Where can we get help in being creative?
History:
Samuel Morse, artist and inventor. Explain the history of the history of the invention of the telegraph in 1844. “What hath God wrought?” Numbers
Further reading:
Wikipedia: Samuel Morse and the Telegraph.
