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.

Electrical Circuit Science Projects

Electrical circuits make interesting science projects. They can be very basic, involving only a few elements, or more complicated and ambitious. Electrical circuits can be used to explore different aspects of science such as electromagnetism, the generation of power, solar energy and electrochemistry. You can build your circuits from scratch using separate elements, or you can find electrical circuit kits that you can put together in different ways.

Basic Electrical Circuit

• A basic electrical circuit consists of a power source, usually a low-voltage battery; conductive wires; and something to show that current is flowing, such as a flashlight bulb in a holder. One conductor is attached to one terminal of the battery, the other conductor to the other terminal. The ends of the conductors are attached to the terminals of the bulb holder. Using a paperclip and two thumbtacks stuck in a piece of corrugated cardboard, you can make a simple switch to turn the current on and off.

Fruit and Vegetable Batteries

• You can use lemons, potatoes and other fruits or vegetables to generate small amounts of electric current. You will need two metal electrodes. A copper coin and a strip of zinc are commonly used: the greater the surface area of the electrode, the better. The acidic juice inside the lemon forms an electrolyte --- a liquid through which electricity can pass. Electrons move from one electrode to the other, producing a current. To make a circuit, you'll need to attach wires to the electrodes. Use the current from the lemon battery to power an electrical device; you can use a flashlight bulb for this, but since the current may be too small to light it, a small clock with an LCD display might be better. Connect several fruit or vegetable batteries together for a larger current.

Electromagnet

• A basic electromagnet is easy to build. Simply take a piece of ferrous metal, such as an iron nail, and wrap wire around it in coils. When you connect the ends of the wire to a power supply, such as a battery, the coiled wire induces an electromagnetic field in the metal core and it becomes a temporary magnet. The more coils, the stronger the magnet.

Electric Motor

• You can build your own direct current electric motor very easily. You'll need a permanent magnet, a battery, some copper wire, and two angled pieces of conductive metal with holes punched in them large enough for the wire to pass through easily. You'll need to make a coil of wire with the two ends sticking out from it. Set the angled strips of metal like bookends with the wire coil positioned in the middle so it hangs over the permanent magnet. Connect each of the battery terminals to one of the strips of metal. You should see the coil of wire spin around, as the electromagnetic field induced within the coils is repelled by the permanent magnet.

Solar Power

• You can obtain photovoltaic cells and small solar panels very cheaply. These can be used to power a number of devices, such as an electric radio. You can also use solar panels in experiments to demonstrate how the angle of the sun affects the amount of light falling on the panel, or how the current produced by the panel varies with the intensity of the light falling on it.

How EMF filters can protect your home

Electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, are emitted by all electronic devices. This means that EMFs are in your home, in your office, and even outside! Unfortunately, few people are aware of the dangers of overexposure to EMFs and even fewer know how to prevent it. EMF filters are a great way to keep your home safe and reduce the EMF exposure of your family.

Because information about EMFs can become highly technical, many people don't bother to read up on them, as they don't understand the information they find online. If you are in this camp, don't worry! Below are the answers to some common questions concerning EMFs and EMF filter use.

Electromagnetic Field FAQs

Q.:Why are EMFs dangerous?

A.:EMFs can be harmful because they can interfere with the delicate electrical system of your body. When this happens, a variety of health problems, ranging from trouble sleeping to the development of cancer, can take place. Additionally, people have reported fatigue, stress, irregular sensations in their skin, pains, muscle aches, burning eyes, difficulty thinking, digestive disorders, and infertility.

Q.:How can you reduce the EMFs in your home?

A.:Besides following tips to reduce EMF exposure, such as unplugging appliances when not in use and minimizing time spend on the computer and cell phone, EMF filters have been developed to reduce the amount of exposure you experience in your home. Electricity exists at several different frequencies, and the harmful frequencies are often called Dirty Electricity. EMF filters remove the Dirty Electricity from electrical lines, reducing the risk that you will be affected by it.

Q.:Do you need EMF filters in your house?

A.:No, however it is wise if you have electrical devices. Electronic devices could be leaking harmful EMFs into your home. Instead of living in fear of EMF exposure, you can use EMF filters to cut down the amount of radiation.

Q.:Do you need more than one EMF filter?

A.:Yes. Normally, 20 EMF filters are used in the average home; however, you can determine if you need more or less based upon the number of electronic devices that you have plugged into your outlets.

Q.:How long will my filters last?

A.:Because EMF filters are not like other commonly used filters, such as those in your car, they do not need to be replaced. Your EMF filters should last quite some time and only need repairs or replacement if they are damaged.

EMF Filter Expectations

Most people who use EMF filters report that they feel much better after the Dirty Electricity has been cleaned from their home. When using EMF filters, it is important for you to understand exactly what to expect. You will need to buy around 20 filters for them to be effective. Additionally, the filters may spark when you first plug them in. However, they should not make noise and should not have to be replaced unless they are somehow broken (i.e., stepped on).

The benefits of having EMF filters in your home are great, as you will be able to live free from the fear of overexposure to EMFs. Your health, sleep, and overall wellbeing may improve with the use of these filters. It is recommended that you consult with professionals before installing your EMF filters to ensure that you are using the right product in the right places. Once your filters start working, you may quickly notice the improvement!

With Electrical Stimulation to the Spinal Cord, Paralyzed Man Walks Again

Electrical impulses sent to a paralyzed man’s spinal cord allow him to walk again, researchers say. Rob Summers, 25, can voluntarily move his feet and hips and walk on a treadmill with support , in what could be a major breakthrough for the treatment of paralysis.

The research team, led by Dr. Susan Harkema of the University of Louisville, Ky., stressed that the treatment is not a cure for paralysis and that it worked with just one patient in one trial. But researchers not involved in the study say it is promising — one UK doctor told the BBC it was “mind-blowing.”

The findings appear to show that the legs and spinal cord, not the brain, are in control of movement. That means interruption of messages from the brain may not preclude paralyzed patients from walking again — they would just need new electrical signals to stimulate the spinal cord.

Summers appeared in various media outlets Friday to discuss the research.

Weeks after winning the College World Series with Oregon State University in 2006, Summers was hit by a drunk driver, suffering spinal cord damage that paralyzed him from the chest down. Neuroscientists implanted 16 electrodes in his spine, and sent electrical impulses to his lower spinal cord, mimicking the signals normally sent by the brain to initiate movement. Summers was suspended over a treadmill while the signals were transmitted to his spine. Writing in the British medical journal The Lancet , researchers say the spinal cord’s own neural network, combined with sensory information from his legs, is able to to control muscle and joint movement.

Summers trained for two years with a treadmill and physical therapists moving his legs to help him stand and walk.

V. Reggie Edgerton of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said sensory information is sent via neural networks in the legs directly to the spinal cord. The sensory feedback allows Summers to balance himself, bear his own weight and take steps over various speeds and directions, Edgerton said in a news release .

In a statement, Summers said the treatment has changed his life.

“For someone who for four years was unable to even move a toe, to have the freedom and ability to stand on my own is the most amazing feeling,” he said.

He was left with some sensation below the chest, so it’s not clear whether the treatment would work for spinal cord injury patients who experience no sensation. What’s more, Summers was an athlete in excellent physical condition before his injury, which could have helped his rehabilitation.

Still, his doctors hope that someday, patients with spinal cord injuries could use a portable electrical stimulation unit to move independently once again.

The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

The Strongest Electrical Current in the Universe Spotted, 2 Billion Light Years From Here

Galaxy 3C303, Keeping Current Generated from a Very Large Array image, this image shows the huge jet of current stretching for 150,000 light years across galaxy 3C303. Philipp P. Kronberg, Richard V.E. Lovelace, Giovanni Lapenta, Stirling A. Colgate via arXiv

Looking for a source of renewable electricity? Researchers at the University of Toronto have found some serious current emanating from a huge cosmic jet 2 billion light years from Earth. At 1018 amps, the current is the strongest current ever seen, equalling something like a trillion bolts of lightning.

The awesome current was found around the galaxy 3C303, whose core is the origin of a massive matter jet. While measuring the alignment of radio waves around 3C303, the researchers noticed a swift and sudden shift in the alignment of those radio waves, the telltale sign of an electrical current.

Why exactly this is happening is unclear, but the researchers speculate that the black hole at the galaxy’s heart plays a role, its magnetic fields generating this current that is so strong that it lights up the matter jet and helps to drive it outward. Way outward. The jet reaches out some 150,000 light years into interstellar space--farther than the estimated diameter of the Milky Way.

What Does a Electrical Engineer Do?

An electrical engineer has many potential job functions but most work on designing products that are powered by or produce electricity. Sometimes, an electrical engineer will dedicate his or her time to a single electrical product. While there are millions of potential products an electrical engineer may work on, some examples include medical technology, cellular phones, handheld gaming systems, and airline navigation systems.

When beginning a project, an electrical engineer usually starts by figuring out the purpose of the product. He or she will then plan the circuitry and wiring of the electronic components. A prototype is generally built on which extensive tests are conducted in order to make sure the plans work as designed, and that all of the components work well together. An electrical engineer might also test broken products in order to find out where they went wrong and how the design can be altered to prevent its recurrence. He or she might be responsible for examining existing products that have no known or significant problems simply to uncover whether they can be improved.

Often working in a group with other engineers, an electrical engineer must be proficient in the use of a wide array of engineering and design software and a variety of laboratory equipment. He or she must also be able to provide detailed instructions for the manufacture and use of the final product. The engineer is often responsible for overseeing the installation of the product to ensure it is installed properly and safely.

In order to become an electrical engineer, one must have a thorough knowledge of engineering and technological concepts. He or she must be experienced in the use of computers and electronics, as well as have a strong background in mathematics, physics, design, production, and processing. The effective electrical engineer must also be able to troubleshoot problems, be effective at adapting to new situations as they arise, think critically about potential solutions to problems, and show great attention to detail.

In the United States, a bachelor's degree is usually the minimum education required for entering this field, but many electrical engineers also have master's or doctoral degrees. These degrees are typically in the fields of engineering, applied science, technology, science, or engineering management. Either degree must be accompanied by professional certification prior to practicing as an electrical engineer in the United States or Canada.

Electrical Formulas

The most common used electrical formulas - Ohms Law and combinations

Common electrical units used in formulas and equations are:

Volt - unit of electrical potential or motive force - potential is required to send one ampere of current through one ohm of resistance
Ohm - unit of resistance - one ohm is the resistance offered to the passage of one ampere when impelled by one volt
Ampere - units of current - one ampere is the current which one volt can send through a resistance of one ohm
Watt - unit of electrical energy or power - one watt is the product of one ampere and one volt - one ampere of current flowing under the force of one volt gives one watt of energy
Volt Ampere - product of volts and amperes as shown by a voltmeter and ammeter - in direct current systems the volt ampere is the same as watts or the energy delivered - in alternating current systems - the volts and amperes may or may not be 100% synchronous - when synchronous the volt amperes equals the watts on a wattmeter - when not synchronous volt amperes exceed watts - reactive power
Kilovolt Ampere - one kilovolt ampere - KVA - is equal to 1,000 volt amperes
Power Factor - ratio of watts to volt amperes
Electric Power Formulas
W = E I (1a)

W = R I2 (1b)

W = E2/ R (1c)

where

W = power (Watts)

E = voltage (Volts)

I = current (Amperes)

R = resistance (Ohms)

Electric Current Formulas
I = E / R (2a)

I = W / E (2b)

I = (W / R)1/2 (2c)

Electric Resistance Formulas
R = E / I (3a)

R = E2/ W (3b)

R = W / I2 (3c)

Electrical Potential Formulas - Ohms Law
Ohms law can be expressed as:

E = R I (4a)

E = W / I (4b)

E = (W R)1/2 (4c)

Example - Ohm's law
A 12 volt battery supplies power to a resistance of 18 ohms.

I = (12 Volts) / (18 ohms)

= 0.67 Ampere

Electrical Motor Formulas
Electrical Motor Efficiency
μ = 746 Php / Winput (5)

where

μ = efficiency

Php = output horsepower (hp)

Winput = input electrical power (Watts)

or alternatively

μ = 746 Php / (1.732 E I PF) (5b)

Electrical Motor - Power
W3-phase = (E I PF 1.732) / 1,000 (6)

where

W3-phase = electrical power 3-phase motor (kW)

PF = power factor electrical motor

Electrical Motor - Amps
I3-phase = (746 Php) / (1.732 E μ PF) (7)

where

I3-phase = electrical current 3-phase motor (Amps)

PF = power factor electrical motor

BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FORMULA RESOURCES PDF AND DOWNLOAD LINKS

BASIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FORMULA TUTORIALS
Links on Basic Electrical Engineering Formulas

Electronics is an engineering discipline that involves the design and analysis of electronic circuits. Originally, this subject was referred to as radio engineering. An electronic circuit is a collection of components through which electrical current can flow or which use electromagnetic fields in their operation.

The electronic circuit design and analysis rests primarily on two Kirchoff's laws in conjunction with Ohm's law modified for AC circuits and power relationships. There are also a number of network theorems and methods (such as Thevenin, Norton, Superposition, Y-Delta transform) that are consequences of these three laws.

In order to simplify calculations in AC circuits, sinusoidal voltage and current are usually represented as complex-valued functions called phasors. Practical circuit design and analysis also requires a comprehensive understanding of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits and magnetics. Read more...



I = current(amps.), V = voltage(volts), R = resistance(ohms), P = power(watts)
CURRENT:
I = V/R or I = P/V
VOLTAGE:
V= P/I or V = IR
POWER:
I2R or VI
RESISTANCE:
R = V/I
ALTERNATING CURRENT(AC):
Il = line current(amps.), Ip = phase current(amps.), Vp = phase voltage(volts), Vl = line voltage(volts), Z = impedance(ohms), P = power(watts), f = power factor(angle), VA = volt ampers

CURRENT(single phase):
I = P/(Vp cos(f) Read more...


Common electrical units used in formulas and equations are:

Volt - unit of electrical potential or motive force - potential is required to send one ampere of current through one ohm of resistance
Ohm - unit of resistance - one ohm is the resistance offered to the passage of one ampere when impelled by one volt
Ampere - units of current - one ampere is the current which one volt can send through a resistance of one ohm
Watt - unit of electrical energy or power - one watt is the product of one ampere and one volt - one ampere of current flowing under the force of one volt gives one watt of energy
Volt Ampere - product of volts and amperes as shown by a voltmeter and ammeter - in direct current systems the volt ampere is the same as watts or the energy delivered - in alternating current systems - the volts and amperes may or may not be 100% synchronous - when synchronous the volt amperes equals the watts on a wattmeter - when not synchronous volt amperes exceed watts - reactive power
Kilovolt Ampere - one kilovolt ampere - KVA - is equal to 1,000 volt amperes
Power Factor - ratio of watts to volt amperes
Electric Power Formulas
W = E I (1a)

W = R I2 (1b)

W = E2/ R (1c)

where

W = power (Watts)

E = voltage (Volts)

I = current (Amperes)

R = resistance (Ohms)

Electric Current Formulas
I = E / R (2a)

I = W / E (2b)

I = (W / R)1/2 (2c)

Electric Resistance Formulas
R = E / I (3a)

R = E2/ W (3b)

R = W / I2 (3c)

Electrical Potential Formulas - Ohms Law
Ohms law can be expressed as:

E = R I (4a)

E = W / I (4b)

E = (W R)1/2 (4c)

Example - Ohm's law
A 12 volt battery supplies power to a resistance of 18 ohms.

I = (12 Volts) / (18 ohms)

= 0.67 Ampere

Electrical Motor Formulas
Electrical Motor Efficiency

μ = 746 Php / Winput (5)

where

μ = efficiency

Php = output horsepower (hp)

Winput = input electrical power (Watts)

or alternatively

μ = 746 Php / (1.732 E I PF) (5b)

Electrical Motor - Power

W3-phase = (E I PF 1.732) / 1,000 (6)

where

W3-phase = electrical power 3-phase motor (kW)

PF = power factor electrical motor

3 Famous Engineers From Aerospace, Chemical And Electrical Engineering Backgrounds

Aeronautical Engineering is focused only on Aircrafts that do not leave the Earth's atmosphere whereas Astronautical Engineering is focused on Aircrafts that are able to leave the Earth's atmosphere. Initially this industry was focused on Aeroplanes and flight technology but it has expanded to also run the operation of outer space aircrafts. Some of the issues that Aerospace Engineers have to deal with include temperature change and control, atmospheric pressure and flight planning. They deal with these issues by using technologies such as aerodynamics, avionics, propulsion and material science.

Wernher von Braun

Wernher von Braun made a significant impact in the development and advancement of rocket technology in America and Germany. However, some found his work very controversial because he did some work on a Nazi rocket programme and there was even a song written about him! Wernher had an interest in space and astronomy from a very early age and his mother supported his interest by buying him a telescope.

Wernher went to the Berlin Institute of Technology where he became a prominent member of the Spaceflight Society. A few years later he earned a doctorate in physics and received a research grant to work on a rocket test site.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineers work to combine both Chemistry and Engineering in an intelligent way in order to closely study the production of chemicals.

Henry Bessemer

Bessemer was an English Engineer born in 1813. He is best known for his division of the Bessemer process which was used in the manufacture of steel. This was a very well known process that was implemented worldwide and was very important to the industry at the time. It resulted in steel dropping significantly in price and being used for a huge variety of things for the first time. Bessemer invented another very important process, the decarbonisation of cast iron. He also invented a great deal of other things and coming up with revolutionary ideas was his passion.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering is centred around the study of electricity. However, what many people don't realise is that it covers a variety of subjects and industries such as electromagnetism, control systems, telecommunications and power.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was an American businessman who also spent a great deal of his time attempting to come up with new inventions. Consequently he invented a wide range of useful ideas and devices. He was most famous for using the principles of mass production to enhance the process of invention. Thomas Edison came up with so many ideas that he ended up obtaining 1,093 patents for his vast array of inventions.

Career Options in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering or electronic engineering is a professional engineering discipline which involves the study of electricity, as well as the application of electricity, electronics and related topics. Being a one of the oldest and basic branch of engineering, consists of concepts of electricity transmission and distribution with theoretical and practical knowledge of subjects like wireless systems, quantum electronics, modern optics, solid state materials and devices, power electronics, control theory, data compression and communications etc. The area first started to be noticed as a concrete profession towards the end of the 19th century with the advent of the electric telegraph and power supply. Today the field has advanced to a great extent, spanning diverse areas within the field like digital electronics, artificial intelligence, signal processing etc.

Electrical engineers are in charge of a diverse array of technological applications, such as the designing, development, execution and supervision of the operation of electrical structures and gadgets.

Electrical engineers may be involved in the functioning of electric power stations, the development of telecommunication structures etc. Careers in electrical engineering are as diverse as the area itself, they may be found in a laboratory of a fabrication plant, or even on site in a mining area. A person who chooses Electrical Engineering as a career can work as Project Engineer, Supervisor, Consultant, Purchase Electrical Engineer in various Domestic and International Companies. Because of developing power & real estate sector there are numerous opportunities in Electrical Engineering field.

Career Options in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering or electronic engineering is a professional engineering discipline which involves the study of electricity, as well as the application of electricity, electronics and related topics. Being a one of the oldest and basic branch of engineering, consists of concepts of electricity transmission and distribution with theoretical and practical knowledge of subjects like wireless systems, quantum electronics, modern optics, solid state materials and devices, power electronics, control theory, data compression and communications etc. The area first started to be noticed as a concrete profession towards the end of the 19th century with the advent of the electric telegraph and power supply. Today the field has advanced to a great extent, spanning diverse areas within the field like digital electronics, artificial intelligence, signal processing etc.

Electrical engineers are in charge of a diverse array of technological applications, such as the designing, development, execution and supervision of the operation of electrical structures and gadgets.

Electrical engineers may be involved in the functioning of electric power stations, the development of telecommunication structures etc. Careers in electrical engineering are as diverse as the area itself, they may be found in a laboratory of a fabrication plant, or even on site in a mining area. A person who chooses Electrical Engineering as a career can work as Project Engineer, Supervisor, Consultant, Purchase Electrical Engineer in various Domestic and International Companies. Because of developing power & real estate sector there are numerous opportunities in Electrical Engineering field.