R08e(PikoPiko )

PikoPiko (An ammeter that indicates electric current by the movement of a light spot)

PURPOSE:

PikoPiko is effective when teaching the concept of electric current.

TARGET:

Elementary school students (3rd grade and 4th grade)

CATEGORY:

Physics,

OUTLINE:

There is no numeric display on this ammeter. By the velocity of a moving light spot, this device indicates the magnitude of the current. So PikoPiko gives learners the strong impression that electricity is something flowing. Fig.2 is circuit diagram of this device.

HOW TO USE:

When you turn on PikoPiko,

a single LED lights.

And this light spot moves depending on the current through PikoPiko.

The (direction and speed) of the light spot indicate the (direction and magnitude) of the current flowing through the ammeter.

REFERENCES

Since 1998, it has been sold from Narika Corporation.

http://www.rika.com/product/prod_detail1.php?catalog_no=A05-7018

For details see

Masahiro Kamata and Chiho Hara "An ammeter that indicates electric current by themovement of a light spot, and voltage by the colour", PHYSICS EDUCATION 40, pp. 155～159 (2005)

Masahiro Kamata et al. "An ammeter that indicates electric current by the movementof a spot of light", PHYSICS EDUCATION 36, pp. 243～249 (2001)