Description
Electronics (see the word “electron” in there?) is essentially the science of manipulating electrical energy. And that’s where this book begins. These activities have been crafted to give everyone—from the tech-savvy to the tech-wary—a way to start exploring the skills and materials that are at the heart of the world of electronics.
The projects in this book introduce you to some simple, fun ways to brighten your life. With these activities, you can light up the night with LED balloons, make a glow-in-the-dark fashion statement (for you and your pet!), and create lightning in your living room. Try making soda-bottle ghosts with glowing eyes, crafting light-up holiday cards, and bringing a well-loved stuffie to life.
It’s Not Just Cool… It’s Science
Everything in the world—including you—is made from zillions of tiny particles called atoms. No matter how nearsighted you are, you can’t actually see them, so don’t bother trying. But by using special microscopes, scientists can see that they’re there.
Moreover, each atom is made up of even tinier bits and pieces called protons, neutrons, and electrons. Put those pieces together in different ways, and you get all the different elements in the universe—from the carbon in your pencil lead to the calcium in your bones. They’re all made out of atoms.
You can think of an atom as a little clump of protons and neutrons surrounded by a swarm of electrons madly zipping around it. The way those electrons behave is what we’ll be exploring in this book. By manipulating them with magnets and batteries, and moving them through wires, threads, and tapes, we’re going to make the world glow.
This is not a technical treatise. You don’t have to know anything about electricity to create these projects. You don’t need to be an electronics wiz or a computer geek. In fact, you don’t even need a computer. You just need to be willing to play around with stuff you may never have explored before.
Be sure to gather the tools and materials for each project before you begin. You should be able to find everything you need online or at stores that sell crafts and party supplies, hardware, and electronics. We’ve tried to help out by including photos of some of the most important materials in each activity so you can identify components, even if they’re unfamiliar.
You can do the activities in any order, but we recommend beginning with chapter 1, which introduces some basic ideas and techniques. Some projects are more challenging than others, so we’ve also included a handy skill-level guide, which you can find on page 133.
That said, these projects do require a few basic skills and techniques:
Chapters 1 and 2 introduce easy activities for lighting things up by using LEDs and batteries, and you’ll make simple switches. No special skills are needed, though parental guidance may be a good idea for children who have not had practice with hot-glue guns or craft knives.
Chapters 3 and 4 introduce new tools and more-advanced techniques. Household tools such as wire strippers, needle-nose pliers, and screwdrivers are occasionally needed. Several activities require sewing and soldering. If you’ve never used a needle and thread or handled a soldering iron, be sure to have an experienced Maker with you who can show you the ropes—or do your homework to learn how to use these tools yourself, so you don’t get hurt!