Open Evening Idea: ‘Steady Eddie’

Science Open Evening Ideas: Steady Hand Buzzer Game

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Are you in search of innovative and inspiring ideas to demonstrate at your school's science open evening? The 'Steady Eddie' buzzer game is a great way to engage parents and future pupils and is simple to set up.

The game demonstrates the ideas of open and closed circuits in simple electronics, the aim of the game is to NOT make the buzzer sound!

This engaging activity not only demonstrates scientific principles but also fosters hands-on learning and fun – perfect for open evenings!

Remember, safety is paramount during these experiments, so always ensure that pupils are supervised, hands are dry, and be cautious of sharp wire ends.

Equipment:

Copper wire (thin enough to bend into shape*). Two lengths will be needed: one long enough to make your desired shape and a second shorter piece to make the ‘wand’
Wire wool
Battery holder and batteries (Zn/C or Zn/Cl). A D cell holder and battery will be sufficient
Buzzer (check if you need to connect it only one way round)
Connecting wires and crocodile clips (optional)
Drinking straw or insulating tape

*When choosing wire, the SWG number relates to thickness. As the SWG number increases, the wire thickness decreases (20 SWG is thicker than 30 SWG).

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Method:

Clean the copper wire with wire wool to make it shiny (this will help it to conduct better).
Make a loop at the end of the shorter wire, big enough to go over the longer piece of copper wire, without touching it (this is the wand you will use to follow the wire pattern).
Place the straight part of the wand into the straw and secure it. This will be your insulated handle. Connect the bottom of the wand to a connecting lead.
Attach the other end of the lead to a terminal of the battery holder.
Bend the longer piece of copper wire into a continuous shape.
Connect one end of this wire to the battery holder, and the other to a (2nd) connecting lead.
Attach the other end of the connecting lead to the other side of the battery holder.
Add the loop to the wire shape.
You can attach the free end of the copper shape to a stand to keep it upright and secure.
Add the battery into the battery holder and touch the loop of the wand to the shape to check the buzzer sounds. If it doesn’t try connecting the buzzer the other way around (you can swap out the buzzer for a bulb if you prefer).

How to play:

Holding the copper wand by the insulating handle, start at one end of the wire shape and carefully move the loop all the way to the other end.
If you make the buzzer sound you have lost! Return the wand to the start and have another go.

The science bit...

This is a simple circuit with a ‘switch.’ The ‘switch’ is the copper loop contacting (or not) the copper shape.
If the copper loop touches the copper shape, the circuit is closed and is complete via the touching copper wires. This means that charge can flow, and the buzzer will sound.
If the copper loop never touches the wire shape, the circuit will never be completed (the ‘switch’ will never close) and charge won’t be able to flow around the circuit.
This activity can be pre-prepared for younger children at open evening, or you can have older children make their own ‘steady eddies’ to take home with them.
- Children should be supervised throughout this activity
- Hands should be dry
- Wire ends will be sharp