13.2 Lighthouse Circuit Instructable

STEP #1: MAKE A LIGHTHOUSE

This can be done with paper maché (as seen below) or any other collection of materials that you see fit. Just make a lighthouse!

STEP #2: MAKE A BOAT

Get a piece of paper and fold it into a paper boat. If unsure of how to create a paper boat, find an instructable that teaches how to create a paper boat.

STEP #3: CREATE A SIMPLE TEST CIRCUIT

Place two strips of copper next to each other. Then place two batteries on each strip of copper. One battery will be face down, on the (+) side, indicating that this is the positive side of the circuit. The other battery will be face up, on the (-) side, indicating that this is the negative side of the circuit. Ensure that the two batteries are touching each other on the same side (as shown below). On the other side of the copper strips, place the LED light so that the longer metal rod touches the copper strip attached to the (+) side battery and the shorter metal rod touches the copper strip attached to the (-) side battery. This will effectively create a simple closed circuit, and your LED should light up.

STEP #4 REPLICATE SIMPLE CIRCUIT USING THE LIGHTHOUSE AND THE BOAT

Using the same principles from your mini test circuit, create another larger scale circuit utilizing the lighthouse and the boat. The only differences is that the LED will connect to the (+) and (-) side copper strips atop the lighthouse, and the boat will act as both the battery and the switch, effectively closing the circuit when both batteries touch (and the boat lands on the copper strip). See photos and video below.