Tag Archives: circuits

How do Touchscreens work?

Touchscreens are a common feature of our daily lives. We use them on devices like smartphones, ATM displays, and car consoles. 

micro:bit How to make an electric circuit

This video walks you through a project to set up a circuit using a micro:bit. Use it for an enrichment activity to go along with a science class on Energy or Electricity, or to illustrate the Science and Engineering Practice of Planning and Carrying out an Investigation.

Paper Circuits: Alternatives to copper tape

Copper tape is the go-to tool for making paper circuits. There are alternatives to it though. Here are two that can be used to circuits on paper:   Circuit Scribe Pen This pen is filled with conductive silver ink. It has a rollerball tip that dispenses the ink smoothly. You can draw the circuits and attach LEDs just like you would on copper tape. Bare Conductive Paint Pen You can apply this conductive paint much as you would glue. Create...

Tips for sewing a circuit with conductive thread

If you want to learn about electricity, try sewing a circuit. The only special tools you need are stainless steel thread, a sewable coin cell battery holder, a coin cell battery, and a few LEDs. A pair of needle nose pliers is handy but not necessary. Sewing a circuit is way more user-friendly than using wire and a soldering iron. Even if you are prone to jabbing yourself with the needle, sewing is not nearly as scary as molten lead. There...

How to Make Folds with Copper Tape

This post is a follow up to an earlier post on How to Make Curves with Copper Tape. The video below shows how to make corners with copper tape. Here are the written directions: To make a corner, place the tape along a straight line up to the outer edge of the location of your corner. Fold the tape so the adhesive side is on top and the tape is at a 90 degree angle to the tape you have...

How to Make Curves with Copper Tape

If you are starting to explore paper circuits as part of crafting with paper, you need to learn how to make curves with the copper tape. It is easy to do, but it takes a little practice. To make the tape look like a curve, start attaching the tape making frequent tiny folds to create the curve. Press each fold lightly to stick the tape to your surface. When you have the tape in place, it will have a lot...