For Families


A battery's current flows in one direction. Clever arrangement of switches can reverse that direction. Construct a controller with a battery, motor and ultralight buggy which can go forward or backward. Learn wiring logic, precision, and trouble shooting.
Parts

Push the motor through the motor-hole in the chassis.

Push the electric motor's drive shaft into the drive wheel's center hole. Using your thumbs, press only on the motor. Push hard to make sure the pin goes all the way in.


Run the axle through the rear hole and use two rubber o-rings to keep it in place. Use the remaining four o-rings to hold the wheels in place at the far ends of the axle. A wider wheel base leads to greater stability.


Run the wires along the top of the chassis and pin them in place with the little man. Don't forget his "seat belt!" Wrapping the wire once or twice around the figure will help keep your wire in place.


Tack one end of the metal strip in the punched hole and wrap tightly around the controller block. Tack the second end in place, and trim off any excess.



Place the battery in its slot. If it is too loose, you may need to hold it in place with sticker tape. Run the screw-eye through the controller arm and tighten it in place.

Thoroughly color the top with a dark marker.

Swipe the control lever across the battery bump two or three times. This will leave a faint line showing where to place more thumb tacks.


Press two tacks part way along the marked line.

Thread the control wire through the screw eye, leaving an excess at the end. Wrap once or twice around the screw-eye. If the wire slips it may be easier to thread it through the eye rather than wrapping.



Use the tips of your fingers to shape simple hooks into the exposed wires. Wrap the hooks over the top of the control lever and push the tacks in tightly over the metal hooks, making sure they do not touch each-other.

Try it out!


Expand the lesson with PhET, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena from the PhET project at the University of Colorado. The Circuit Construction Kit coupled with Philip Kukulski's DC Circuit Challenge provide an excellent lesson on electrical basics.

Reversing Switch & Buggy

Reversing Switch & Buggy

Reversing Switch & Buggy

Reversing Switch & Buggy

Reversing Switch & Buggy 03-06

Reversing Switch & Buggy 03-06

Finished Buggy

Finished Buggy