Ghost Booby Trap
WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?
A spooky electronic ghost decoration!
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
You will learn to build a simple circuit with pressure plate switch, that is activated whenever someone steps on your pressure plate
STEPS
STEP 1
Prepare the Cardboard for the Pressure Plate
- Make sure the three pieces of cardboard are the same size.
- Cut the center out from one piece leaving at least a one inch border.
- Line one side of another piece with aluminum foil and use the masking tape to secure it to the cardboard.
- Repeat the previous step by lining the remaining piece of cardboard with foil.
- Sandwich the three pieces together so that the cut piece is between the two sides with foil.
STEP 2
Add the Wires
- Before securing the three pieces of cardboard together, cut two ten inch pieces of hook-up wire and strip one inch of insulation off all four ends.
- Tape one wire to one side of cardboard that has foil on it so that the exposed wire is making contact with the foil.
- Repeat this step with the other wire and the other piece of cardboard that has foil.
- Now secure all three pieces of cardboard together with tape.
STEP 3
Build your Circuit
- Take one of the wires that you just attached and secure the other end to the negative pin on an LED using electric tape.
- Now stack the coin cell batteries so that the positive end touches the negative end. Tape the positive pin on the LED to the positive side of the battery stack.
- Complete the circuit by attaching the remaining pressure plate wire to the negative side of the battery stack. Secure everything with tape.
STEP 4
Test your Pressure Plate!
Press down onto the cardboard to make the two aluminum foil sides make contact and complete your circuit! The LED should light up when you press down.
STEP 5
Ghost: Create the Shape
- Using the craft knife, cut a small hole into the ping pong ball. An LED should be able to fit inside the hole.
- Next, wrap the tissue paper around the ghost leaving the hole still exposed.
- Loosely secure the tissue paper to the ping pong ball using the rubber band.
STEP 6
Finish your Ghost!
- Give your ghost a face and then test it out with your new pressure plate.
- Place the LED inside the hole that you cut into the ping pong ball and light up your ghost!
STEP 7
Suspend the Ghost
- Measure out enough hook-up wire to span from floor to ceiling, then double it and cut it. Repeat this step with a second piece of wire.
- Connect the two wires to the two pins on the LED. Remember which wire is on the negative pin and which is on the positive pin!
- Now use the wires to suspend the ghost from the ceiling and run the remaining wire down the doorframe and to the pressure plate on the floor
STEP 8
Connect the Ghost to the Pressure Plate
- Connect the wire that is attached to the negative pin on the LED to one of the wires sticking out of the pressure plate.
- Connect the other wire that is sticking out of the pressure plate to the negative end of the battery stack.
- Connect the wire that is attached to the positive pin on the LED to the positive side of the battery stack.
- Tightly secure everything with electric tape.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
A pressure switch is a simple electromechanical device that is triggered by pressure to turn an electrical circuit on or off. The pressure point that activates the switch is called its set point, and the pressure threshold that deactivates the switch is called the cut out point.
Materials:
- 3 Pieces of Cardboard
- Aluminum Foil
- Masking Tape
- Insulated hook-up Wire
- Wire Strippers
- 2 Coin Cell BAtteries
- LED
- Ping Pong Ball
- Craft Knife
- Tissue Paper
- Rubber Band
- Marker
Please Note
Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Make Community, LLC, disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.
Maker Camp Project Standards
Based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
National Core Arts Standards
The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. These standards provide goals for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art. The Anchor Standards include:- Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
- Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
- Refine and complete artistic work.
- Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
- Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
- Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
- Perceive and analyze artistic work.
- Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
- Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
- Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
- Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards. Learn more.Forces and Motion
- 3-PS2-3. Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.
- HS-PS4-5. Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
NGSS K-2 Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
- K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
- K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
NGSS 3-5.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
- 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
NGSS MS.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
- MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
- MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
NGSS HS.Engineering Design
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.- HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
- HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
- HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
- HS-ETS1-4. Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem.
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