Science Fair Projects with Electricity and Electronics

Grade 6-9-A collection of 46 activities, divided into eight subtopics: electromagnetic forces, static electricity, current flow, electromechanical devices and motors, resistance and capacitance, generating electricity, solid-state electronics, and radio-frequency energy. Adult supervision for all of the projects is recommended in the introduction. Each entry has a list of materials needed, procedures, and a brief "Something more..." section designed to guide readers toward developing a science-fair project. Some of the black-and-white illustrations help in the set up of equipment, but others are merely decorative. Although the authors recommend that students make a "schematic diagram" of their projects, a list of symbols for common electronic components appears only at the back of the book and the first example of a schematic diagram is on page 46. No bibliography, list of suggested reading, or sources of materials is given. All of these projects are straightforward demonstrations and are not in themselves suitable for science-fair projects. The book will be most useful to students and teachers seeking hands-on projects to explore electricity and electronics. Robert Gardner's Science Projects About Electricity & Magnets (Enslow, 1994) covers similar ground and offers more challenging projects for middle-grade students interested in developing science-fair projects.
Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4^-8. This practical book offers 46 projects within eight chapters, exploring electromagnetic forces, static electricity, current flow, electromechanical devices and motors, resistance and capacitance, the generation of electricity, solid-state electronics, and radio-frequency energy. Using materials that are relatively easy to find, the activities encourage children to learn about electricity through simple experiments and variations. The large format allows each project to appear on one page or spread, eliminating page flipping. Illustrated with simple line drawings, the book provides a good starting point for classroom learning and science fair demonstrations. Glossary; metric conversion chart. Carolyn Phelan