Materials List: Saltwater Circuit

Each group needs:

  • 2 large, wooden Popsicle sticks (available at craft stores)
  • 4 pieces insulated copper wire, each 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long
  • 3 plastic cups, 16 ounce (473 ml) size
  • 2 plastic spoons
  • 9-volt battery
  • battery cap, usually with red and black wire leads (available at hardware stores)
  • 3.7 volt light bulb (available at hardware stores)
  • 1 miniature light bulb socket (available at hardware stores; use with the 3.7 volt light bulb)
  • eye protection (goggles or safety glasses)
  • (optional) multimeter and multimeter leads with alligator clips (available at hardware stores)
  • Reflection Worksheet, one per person
  • Saltwater Cards, one card per group
  • Saltwater Circuit Worksheet (without Multimeter) or Saltwater Circuit Worksheet (with Multimeter), one per group

For the entire class to share:

  • electrical tape
  • salt, one 26 oz (737 g) container is enough for all groups, plus some extra
  • screwdrivers, to tighten wires in light bulb sockets
  • roll of aluminum foil
  • water
  • triple beam or digital scale, to measure grams of salt
  • measuring cups or graduated cylinders, to measure ml of water
  • projector, to show the attached Saltwater Circuit Presentation PowerPoint
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_desal_lesson01_activity1