First Session

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 Battery tower (bank) (made by the club leader)

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:

1. Battery drill
2. Screw drivers
3. Hammers
4. jig saw
5. sheet metal snips
6. Digital multimeter
7. Alligator clips
8. magnetic compass with a needle.

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 23:23.

Further reading:

Wikipedia: Samuel Morse and the Telegraph.