What are ways to learn/play with electricity at 6 years of age?

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on finding suitable educational resources for a 6-year-old to learn about electricity and electronics in a fun and guided manner. The original poster seeks alternatives to Arduino kits, expressing interest in hands-on kits that include components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Recommendations include using Snap Circuits, which feature rigid conducting bars for easier assembly and understanding of circuits, though adult supervision is advised for safety and guidance. Participants share personal experiences and suggest starting with simple experiments, such as creating electromagnets or using basic components to build circuits. There is a consensus that while some concepts may be too advanced for a child that age, engaging with hands-on activities and visiting science museums can foster curiosity and understanding. Overall, the emphasis is on the importance of guided play and exploration in learning about electricity.
  • #31
fluidistic said:
and a vague notion about complex numbers
Expect a note from the school teacher some day soon about him calling numbers imaginary.
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #32
Mark44 said:
Capacitors are also called condensers, but not "condensators," at least not in English. Back in the days when cars had points ignitions, a condenser was part of the ignition system, along with a coil.
Cars are - correct that - were a good source to learn about stuff - fluid dynamics ( hand out the window feeling the moving air ), sound ( honking the horn when your dad has his head under the hood ), and electricity ( when he got you back by telling you to hold this plug wire and see if it sparks ).
 
  • #33
Mark44 said:
Capacitors are also called condensers, but not "condensators

If, in UK English, one can orientate (instead of orient) oneself, I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
 
  • #34
hutchphd said:
If, in UK English, one can orientate (instead of orient) oneself, I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
I'd judge orientate and condensate (as a verb) as back formations, namely words formed unnecessarily from longer words such as the nouns orientation and condensation.

Condensate, as a noun, is a word, but two online dictionary definitions that I looked at list it only as a noun, not a verb. There is no need for "orientate," since "orient" (verb) has exactly the same meaning and has the advantage of being shorter. Unfortunately, it will probably creep into the language.
 
  • Like
Likes collinsmark
  • #35
hutchphd said:
I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
Two guys named Bose and Einstein? :wink:
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes Tom.G, collinsmark and hutchphd
  • #36
Perhaps something like this. I'm not sure if this would be considered a "snap" circuit, but what is talked about in this video by Steve Mould seems like it might be useful for younger ages.
 
  • Like
Likes haushofer and DrClaude
  • #37
You have a lot of good suggestions in the earlier posts. Do not worry about inductors, and capacitors. A six-year old is not (likely) ready for Ohm's law, impedance, phasors, and differential equations.
 
  • #38
Regarding touching a 9 volt battery to the tongue. This seems harmless and I did it hundreds of times, but when I got older, I used to listen to the radio with a rechargeable 9-volt battery. The instructions on the battery warned, do not carry in your pocket where coins can short the battery and produce burns. I never got burns but they did get uncomfortably warm. I would not want that on my tongue.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
13K
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K