Neon Firefly

By Thomas O’Neill
o’neill@csvrgs.k12.va.us
C. Shenandoah Valley R. Governor’s School

Objectives:

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of static electricity by constructing a simple discharge bulb.
2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of static electricity by using the Neon glower to categorize the amount of charge from various triboelectric materials.
3. The student will demonstrate knowledge of induction and conduction by using the Neon glower to distinguish between the phenomena.

Virginia Standards of Learning: (revised 1988)

Third grade: 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
Fourth grade: 4.4, 4.7
Sixth grade: 6.2
Eighth grade: 8.1, 8.11
Twelfth grade: 12.1, 12.3, 12.16, 12.17

 

Scope, Sequence and Coordination of Secondary School Science

from The Content Core, Vol. 1 (1993). The National Science Teachers Association. Washington, DC.

Grades 6-8 Electricity and magnetism - static charge (pg. 102 and pg. 107-9)
Grades 9-10 Electricity and magnetism - induction (pg. 102 and pg. 107-9)
Grades 11-12 Electricity and magnetism - Coulomb’s law and Fields (pg. 102-3 and pg. 107-10)

 

Project 2061

from Benchmarks for Science Literacy (1993) American Association for the Advancement of Science. Washington, DC.
The Nature of Science: The Scientific World View (1A pp. 5-7)

Kindergarten through Grade 2
Grades 3 through 5
The Nature of Science: Scientific Inquiry (1B pp. 10-13)
Kindergarten through Grade 2
Grades 3 through 5
Grades 6 through 8
Grades 9

 

The Physical Setting: Forces of Nature (4G pp. 94-97)

Kindergarten through Grade 2
Grades 3 through 5
Grades 6 through 8
Grades 9 through 12

• Fuji clear film canister (free upon request at most photography stores or film development centers)
• We have had success at Sprint Photo, Wal-Mart, and several local photography stores.
• Neon glower (Radio Shack #272-1102 or 272-1101 $0.35)
• Aluminum foil
• Super glue
• Static electricity source (Silk and Teflon rod, Fur and Ebonite, etc)
• Construction of Neon firefly

Using a pencil or any sharp point object, drill two small holes in the film canister. One hole should be in the center of the lid and the other in the center of the bottom. Take the Neon glower and place it in the film canister so that one lead extends approximately 1 cm through the bottom hole. Thread the other lead through the lid and close the film canister. Cut two rectangular pieces of aluminum foil which are 3 cm by 6 cm. Place one piece on the top so that the lead pokes through one half of the foil. Glue the aluminum foil to the lid of the canister. Bend the lead down so that it touches the aluminum foil and fold the aluminum foil over so that the foil covers the lead and the lid. Glue the foil in place. Trim the excess foil from the lid so that a double layer of aluminum foil covers the top. Place the other piece on the bottom so that the lead pokes through one half of the foil. Glue the aluminum foil to the bottom of the canister. Bend the lead down so that it touches the aluminum foil and fold the aluminum foil over so that the foil covers the lead and the bottom. Glue the foil in place. Trim the excess foil from the bottom so that a double layer of aluminum foil covers it.

Activities:

1. Using Teflon and silk, strike the silk with the Teflon rod. Place the silk on one end of the firefly and the Teflon rod on the other end. You should see a quick discharge of the firefly.
2. Walking across a carpet on a dry day, extend the firefly towards metal object such as doorknob or faucet. The firefly will give a rapid flash.
3. Using a static electricity generator such as a Wimshurst machine (or a Van de Graaff generator), place the firefly between, but not touching the electrodes. The firefly should exhibit a steady glow.
4. Using a static electricity generator such as a Wimshurst machine (or a Van de Graaff generator), place the firefly between the electrodes while touching one electrode. The firefly should exhibit a series of flashes, as there is a discharge from electrode to electrode.

Make a series of fireflies and see whether all of them will glow or flash in the setups as in #3 and #4.

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This page was posted on 2/26/99