Electrical Science Projects for School

Electricity can provide some fascinating science projects for school, but students must be careful what they choose to tamper with when it comes to an electrical current. Without the proper knowledge and handling of electrical devices, such experiments are dangerous. However, there are some options for fun electrical science projects that are perfectly safe for students of all ages.

Electromagnet Strength

• Design a project that will test the strength of different electromagnets based on their design, according to All-Science-Fair-Projects.com.

  An electromagnet can be made easily by using an iron nail or bar wrapped tightly in coated copper wire. The wire should extend beyond each end of the nail and the wire should be applied in the same direction throughout. The ends of the wire must be stripped and connected to the positive and negative terminals on a battery. This will form the magnetic field.

  Complete the experiment by wrapping one bar 100 times with the wire and the next bar 75 times. Use the same material for the rest of the design.

  Use each magnet to try and pick up objects such as a pile of iron filings. Determine which, if either, of the magnets is most powerful by seeing which will hold the most filings.

Franklin's Bells

• Ben Franklin invented a machine known as Franklin's Bells to detect lightning storms many years ago, but you can build a model that works the same way with common household items, according to SciToys.com.

  Gather two empty soda cans, a plastic ballpoint pen, 5 inches of thread, a large square of aluminum foil, clear tape, a television and two coated wires.

  Take the pop-tops off each can and throw one away. Tie the end of the thread through the other one and tie the other end of the thread around the center of a ballpoint pen and tape it to secure it to the pen.

  Turn the soda cans upside down on top of a TV about three inches apart. Place the pen like a bridge between the cans. The pop-top should be dangling between the two cans. Tape the pen in place on the cans.

  Strip the ends of the wires and tape one end of a wire to one can and one end of the other wire to the other can. Turn on the TV and stick the aluminum foil to the screen (yes, it will stay there). Place one of the loose ends of wire under a corner of the foil on the television and grab the other loose end of wire with your bare hand.

  You will ground the wire with your hand, and the electricity used to light up the television screen will send the proper current to the cans. The pop-top will begin to go from can to can and ring the bell as it has detected electricity.

  The project works by sending the high voltage signal from the television to one of the cans. This charge gives one can a lot of free electrons, which attract the positive nuclei in the pop-top. The pop top jumps over to the can where it absorbs the charge until it equalizes with the can, then it falls loose and swings toward the other can. Since the other can is grounded, the charge is neutralized when contact is made and the pop-top pendulum swings back to its beginning positions and the cycle begins again.