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DISCLAIMER: The creators of this web page are not liable for damage, injury, or death to people, pets, or property as a result of the material on this page. Science, like dating, can be very dangerous to your health if not treated with care. The following links are to be used at your own risk. Anything you do from there on is your own business.
Nicola Tesla was one of the early developers of three phase electrical systems. He also developed a high frequency, high voltage device appropriately called the "Tesla Coil" Tesla actually knew his physics. Some who idolize him do not. Avoid pages which refer to free energy.
- The Tesla Coil Mailing list and information cite is a must for anyone who is interested in Tesla Coils.
- Nikola Tesla Page A large index of tesla coil links. Info on how to build, manage, and repair old or new tesla coils.
- TESLA-2 is a mailing list for those who are beginners.
- Here is another Tesla coil builder's page. Actually, his experiments with electromagnetic disk launchers and can crushers will give you a chuckle. (We suggest that you do not try these at home.)
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If you read Dutch, this site has great plans and explanations for both a Van de Graaf Generator and a Wimshurst machine
- For theoretical background information go here
- Information on making a Van de Graaf Generator By Bill Beaty. This is a top notch location! Bill Beaty's mirror site for Van de Graaf Generators
- Van de Graaf generators are simple in theory but not so simple in practice. However patience and persistance can win out as seen here..
- Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz is a professor in Brazil. He has an interest in static electrictity and has built and repaired numerous machines. Make sure to see his page
- If you thought that Van de Graaf Generators and Wimshurst machines are the only static electrical machines around think again and see this site.
- Real information about real lightning.
More commonly known as Sterling Cycle heat engines. They are slow and not very powerful. But they do not need gas, steam, or gravity in order to run. A.simple description of how a sterling engine works can be found here.
This is just one of many sterling cycle engines described at Koichi Hirata's site
Sources for Plans
- Plans and description for the construction of a relatively simple low temperature engine can be found at SESUSA web
- More plans can be found here it Koishi Hirata's site. They include a simple tin can engine.
Also known as spud g.uns or potato c.annons (we inserted the periods to get around the fire wall)
- One of the oldest pneumatic web pages This page designed by Bill Mills gives a very straight forward description of how sprinkler valves can incorporated into such a machine.
- This page has a lot of good information. Make sure to visit the pictures page.
Radio Controlled fun. With a little bit of ingenuity you can build just about anything;
Kites for the kid in us all
Ornithopters are flying machines which actually flap their wings. Their history dates back to da Vinci.
- Another source of information
Indoor Airplanes
If you have a lot of patience and a reasonable amount of fine motor coordination you can have a lot of fun with these. This is not for your average teenager.
- If you are interested in very light indoor flight planes, a good place to start is at Don Slusarczyk's web page.
Basic formula for making thin films.
- 9 parts Randolph's Nitrate Dope, Clear, Regular
- 2 parts Butyl Acetate
- 2 parts Acetone
- Here is a good place to look if you want plans for a simple rubberband powered plane. It is called the Pennyplane. It is by John Barker
Paper Airplanes
- Plans for paper airplanes like the one below can be found at Flights of Fancy. There are great photos showing step by step how to put together each of these planes as well as many more. It is well worth visiting.
Lava Lamps:
They are simple devices that you can make if you have access to the school's chemical supply room.
- This page is a must included is information on how to build a Trebuchet (a catapult), jet powered race cars, pneumatic cannons, matchstick rockets and many other things.
- UFO Fire Balloons these are very easy to build but appear to be somewhat dangerous
- The ultimate science fair resource has a lot of interesting projects
- So you have nothing better to do? Perhaps you are having problems with crowd control. How about building your very own water cannon. It is portable. It is unique. And it fires water over 75 feet. What can we say?
Still looking for a project idea? Check out this cool projects page.
- Bill Beaty's page is the place to start. He has a wonderful collection of interesting stuff, fun projects, and science explanations.
Final Note: Things to stay very far away from include iodine crystals and ammonia. Do not play with, unless you are looking to percipatate something highly unstable. (Mr. Stimson agrees!)
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