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Make a paper airplane that lights depending on its orientation!
Make a paper airplane that lights depending on its orientation!
Electricity is dangerous! Read this caution.
Materials: One airplane template, transparent tape, copper tape or aluminum foil, one LED, one tilt sensor (also called a ball switch), one paperclip, and one 3V watch battery.
Fold Your Plane! Directions can be found on this page.
Note: Complete the Glowing Paper Airplane activity before attempting this project.
Add the three copper tape "wires" being careful to not rip or crinkle the tape. It's okay if your wires aren't exactly in the lines (like those pictured) but make sure they don't overlap.
Secure the tilt sensor to the plane with transparent tape by placing one lead on each side of the copper wire gap.
Caution: As you secure the lead near the battery, make sure your transparent tape doesn't cover the wire to the battery.
Secure the LED to the the copper tape wires using transparent tape.
Secure the battery with a paperclip and enjoy! As you tilt the plane in your hand (or throw it), you'll notice that the light will turn on and off.
Troubleshooting. If your LED doesn't light:
Try Reversing the battery.
Press the tape securing the tilt sensor and LED leads to the copper. Make sure they are touching.
Make sure the negative wire or battery side is not touching the positive wire or lead.
Gently wiggle your plane.
Click to Read What's Happening
Click to Read What's Happening
Remember that a complete circuit sends electricity from the power source (the battery) through the wires and components and back to the power source again. If there is a gap anywhere in the circuit, electricity will not flow and the circuit is called an open circuit. Closing the gap will close the circuit and allow electricity to flow. Switches and buttons are components that allows circuits to open and close. The tilt sensor (also known as a ball switch) is a special kind of switch. The inside of the tilt sensor is hollow. This hollow space provides a gap in the circuit. However, inside the space is also a small metal ball. When the ball rests at the bottom of the component, it fills the gap, closes the circuit, and allows electricity to flow. Motion causes the ball to move inside the gap. This movement opens the circuit.
Challenge
Challenge
The tilt sensor is a great component for adding a switch to systems that are not easily accessible. Try adding the tilt sensor to the cube light project so that the cube will light up when positioned one way and turn off when positioned another!
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