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Learning How A Shake Flashlight Work

The Eternity batteryless flashlight, also known as a shake flashlight, will add freshness and arouse curiosity in any learning activity.

The students will want to know how the batteryless shake flashlight generates its own power.

Learn by comparing components of a shake flashlight with a battery-powered flashlight

Start the activity by passing a battery-powered flashlight and asking them for its parts or components followed by a shake flashlight.

Certain basic components of the traditional flashlight are similar to the shake flashlight.  The traditional flashlight is made up of the following parts:-

• Bulb or LED (light emitting diode),

• Batteries,

• The switch is used to control the closing and opening of the circuit.  When it is pushed into the ON position, the circuit is complete thus allowing the flow of electricity and hence activating the bulb or LED (light emitting diode).  Conversely, by pushing the switch to the OFF position, the circuit is broken thereby switching off the flashlight.

• The reflector is a parabolic piece of shiny aluminium-coated plastic that rests around the light bulb. It collects and reflects the focused light rays from the bulb or LED to provide a steady beam of light.

• Lens cover that protects the bulb,

• Contact spring or strip made of copper or brass that is located along the length of the flashlight and is used to complete the electrical circuit between the batteries, the bulb and the switch.
  The batteries and the bulb, and

• The housing that holds all the above parts together.

Learning Activity 1 - Components of a Batteryless Shake Flashlight

Introduce the batteryless shake flashlights and pass the shake flashlight around.  Get each student to name the components of the shake flashlight..

• A strong magnet;

• A copper coil;

• A rectifier to convert the alternating current generated into direct current;

• A capacitor to store the direct current.

The switch of the shake flashlight, which is attached to the capacitor, will connect the capacitor and the LED when it is pushed to the ON position thus lighting up the LED.

Learning Activity 2 - Compare and Contrast with a shake flashlight

Main Differences between a shake flashlight and a traditional one

Get the students to recognize the differences between a battery-powered and a shake flashlight.  Use the following words to elicit responses:-

• Electrical power source of the shake flashlight

• The construction and materials of the housing

• Total weight of working shake flashlight

• Highlight why the shake flashlight is waterproof

• Explain why the shake flashlight can float on water

• Elicit response on how the shake flashlight focuses and reflects its light effectively to provide bright light

Variations in Common Parts between a shake flashlight and a traditional flashlight

While the shake flashlights share similar components with the traditional flashlights, there exist some variations in design in the following parts:-

• The housing of the shake flashlights,

• How the switch connects; magnetic switches in shake flashlights,

• Shape of the lens cover, and

• Shape and material of the reflector of the shake flashlight,

• The presence or absence of a contact strip.

Learning Activity 3 - Batteryless shake flashlight and the Environment

If time permits, you may elicit some response on the effect of batteries on the environment.  As a shake flashlight that does not use batteries, it is an environmentally friendly tool that uses clean energy besides giving substantial savings on batteries.

Learning Activity 4 - Incandescent Bulbs and LEDs shake flashlight

The light bulb is the traditional light source of most flashlights.  It contains a thin tungsten filament that glows when a current flows through it, thus producing visible light.

Since incandescent bulbs have high-energy consumption, LEDs, which require low-energy to power and produce bright light, is now the preferred light source for most flashlights.

The shake flashlights use a single LED for lighting.  For more information on LEDs, go HERE.

Learning Activity 5 - Shake flashlights use Faraday's Principle of Induction

As an experiment, get the students to make their own shake flashlight using Faraday's Principle of Induction.  More on Faraday's Principle of Induction.

Learn more about the Physics of Batteryless Shake Flashlights

If you want to learn more about the workings of a Faraday induction shake flashlight, get a copy of this informative Physics Guide.  It is a 20-page comprehensive tutorial on the science and engineering of the NightStar shake flashlight. An ideal information manual for those fascinated by the operation of a NightStar batteryless shake flashlight. Contains numerous equations and diagrams to help explain the nature of magnetism, electronics and optics.  Written for grades 8 and up.

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Shake Flashlights that use Faraday's Principle of Induction make excellent Learning Aid