Dance Dance Re-Volt-ution Project
In this project we work in a group to create our own dance pads that light up when you step on them just like the game 'Dance Dance Revolution'. We also create our own dance routine to go with a song we choose, which a teacher of our choice will have to perform at our Dance Dance Re-Volt-ution competition. My group is, Aidan, Jake and Khalid. In order to do this project we had to learn a lot about circuits, conducting electricity and switches. Once we knew what we we're doing and how to make a bulb light we started prototyping. Our prototype was just a simple rectangle folded in half, two square flaps, made out of cardboard. It was pretty sloppy, we just wanted to make sure we could make the bulb light successfully which we did and from there we started creating a plan of how to create our finals dance pads. Common supplies we used were, tin foil, batteries, wires, cardboard, toilet paper rolls and a light bulb.
The first thing we did for this project was actually learn about circuits. Without learning about circuits we would have never had the knowledge of how to make the bulb light. A simple circuit is actually quite simple. It's basically a closed loop that allows the flow of energy or electrons to travel through. Lets use a light bulb for example. Believe it or not but we can make a light bulb shine with just a battery and a wire. In order to make a circuit we need to establish an electrical current. In order to do that we need to make a closed loop that goes from the positive side of the battery to the negative side. This does not mean put one end of the wire on the positive side and put the other end on the negative side of the battery. We are missing a big part in that circuit, the light bulb. There are multiple ways we can set up the circuit, with the light bulb included in the loop. Here are some examples below.
The first thing we did for this project was actually learn about circuits. Without learning about circuits we would have never had the knowledge of how to make the bulb light. A simple circuit is actually quite simple. It's basically a closed loop that allows the flow of energy or electrons to travel through. Lets use a light bulb for example. Believe it or not but we can make a light bulb shine with just a battery and a wire. In order to make a circuit we need to establish an electrical current. In order to do that we need to make a closed loop that goes from the positive side of the battery to the negative side. This does not mean put one end of the wire on the positive side and put the other end on the negative side of the battery. We are missing a big part in that circuit, the light bulb. There are multiple ways we can set up the circuit, with the light bulb included in the loop. Here are some examples below.
As you can see in the example the first set up, it allow's energy to flow in through the negative side up to the positive to the light bulb, then back around to the negative side making that constant cycle allowing the light bulb to stay lit as long as all points stay in contact. The other examples have the same idea they're just set up differently.
Along with learning about circuits we learned about conductors and insulators. A conductor is a material that when inserted into a circuit keep the flow if energy moving. Some examples of conductors are, paperclips, coins, tin foil and any metallic material. An insulator is a material that when inserted into a circuit will cut off or stop the flow of energy. Some examples of insulators are, shells, erasers and any plastic materials.
My group for the Dance Dance Re-Volt-ution Project is, Aidan, Jake and Khalid. Our final dance pads look a lot different than our prototype. For our final dance pads we used cardboard, but to make them look more professional and clean we wrapped them in wrapping paper. Instead of the standard square shape we did oval flaps, more to the size of a foot and stuck the light bulb through the cardboard so its visible to the dancer. We covered the bottom oval flap that lies on the floor in tin foil. On the top flap there's a toilet paper roll covered in tin foil as well. Tucked inside the toilet paper roll are 2 batteries in a battery holder. The battery holder has 2 wires, one wire is connected to the toilet paper roll covered in tin foil. The other wire is connected to another wire and that wire is connected to the light bulb which is in a holder. On the other end of the light bulb holder there is another wire and that wire is connected to the bottom oval flap that lies on the floor. When the top flap gets pushed down to the bottom flap, which lies on the floor, the toilet paper roll and bottom touch and since they're both covered in tin foil, which is a conductor, it closes the circuit and lights the light bulb. So when you step down it acts as a switch to start the circuit and when you lift your foot off the dance pad it turns the circuit off because the toilet paper roll and bottom are no longer touching.
Along with learning about circuits we learned about conductors and insulators. A conductor is a material that when inserted into a circuit keep the flow if energy moving. Some examples of conductors are, paperclips, coins, tin foil and any metallic material. An insulator is a material that when inserted into a circuit will cut off or stop the flow of energy. Some examples of insulators are, shells, erasers and any plastic materials.
My group for the Dance Dance Re-Volt-ution Project is, Aidan, Jake and Khalid. Our final dance pads look a lot different than our prototype. For our final dance pads we used cardboard, but to make them look more professional and clean we wrapped them in wrapping paper. Instead of the standard square shape we did oval flaps, more to the size of a foot and stuck the light bulb through the cardboard so its visible to the dancer. We covered the bottom oval flap that lies on the floor in tin foil. On the top flap there's a toilet paper roll covered in tin foil as well. Tucked inside the toilet paper roll are 2 batteries in a battery holder. The battery holder has 2 wires, one wire is connected to the toilet paper roll covered in tin foil. The other wire is connected to another wire and that wire is connected to the light bulb which is in a holder. On the other end of the light bulb holder there is another wire and that wire is connected to the bottom oval flap that lies on the floor. When the top flap gets pushed down to the bottom flap, which lies on the floor, the toilet paper roll and bottom touch and since they're both covered in tin foil, which is a conductor, it closes the circuit and lights the light bulb. So when you step down it acts as a switch to start the circuit and when you lift your foot off the dance pad it turns the circuit off because the toilet paper roll and bottom are no longer touching.
The Competition
I felt the competition went really well, even though we did not have a teacher to dance for us. Our teacher dancer was Colleen and she was unavailable the day of the competition. Thankfully Aidan stepped up and said he would do it in Colleens place and it went really well. He did really good and even thought last minute he was told he had to do it, he went up confident and represented us well. Our dance pads ran smoothly and worked successfully.