What is the longest loom band that you’ve been able to make? Perhaps you managed to make one long enough to skip with, but have you ever wondered about the world’s longest loom band?
What is it REALLY Like to Grow Up on a Farm
If you are growing up in a city or town, you may have sometimes wondered what it is like to grow up in the countryside. Clio lives on a farm in England and agreed to tell us what it is really like to grow up on a farm
Who Invented the First Electric Battery?
When we talk about electric batteries, we often talk about voltage. But did you know that this word is named after the person who invented the first electric battery? First, let’s take a look at what a volt is, and then we’ll find out more about the guy who gave the ‘volt’ its name.
What is a Volt?
A volt is defined as a unit of electric potential and electromotive force, and voltage refers to the number of those units. That sounds a lot more complicated than it is! If you think of the water in a tap being like the electricity running through a wire, the voltage means the amount of pressure. This video is quite long but explains it very well.
Why are Volts Called Volts?
Alessandro Volta
The term actually comes from a name. It was coined in honour of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who is recognised as the inventor of the first electric battery. During the 1790s, Volta worked on the theories of electricity of the day.
Volta disagreed with the theory proposed by fellow Italian scientist Galvani that electricity was generated by animal tissue. Instead of experimenting on frogs or other animals, Volta did experiment after experiment with metals.
His persistence paid off, and in 1800, he invented the world’s first battery, known as the ‘voltaic pile’.
The Voltaic Pile
This voltaic pile was simple but ingenious. It consisted of a pile of zinc and silver discs. But alternating between them was a piece of cardboard, or a piece of cloth, that had been soaked in saltwater.
There was a wire that connected the zinc disc on the bottom to the silver disc on the top, and this wire was capable of producing sparks.
What else Did Volta Invent?
The invention of the first electric battery brought Volta the most fame and recognition, but he also made other discoveries. He invented the electrophorus, a device that could transfer an electrical charge to other objects, as well as an electrical condensor, and the voltaic cell.
He is also known for having discovered and isolated methane gas. After his death, the volt and voltage were named in his memory.
What about Galvani?
Luigi Galvani
Yet there is one more twist to the tale. Volta’s longstanding colleague Galvani of the animal electricity theory also left his name in our language. When we say ‘galvanise’ or ‘galvanism’, that is where it comes from.
Despite their differing theories, there was no rivalry between the two scientists. They were both more concerned with the pursuit of knowledge than with whose theory would prove to be right, and it was Volta who first coined the word ‘galvanismo’ in Italian.
Featured Image by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash
A Day in the Life of… a Structural Engineer
You might be starting to think about which subjects you want to study at school, perhaps you have even had a talk about careers.
One thing that is quite tricky to assess is what a job is REALLY like. Some jobs are quite easy to imagine, such as working as a teacher, because we see the work that teachers do every day. Some jobs are a bit of a mystery. What does an engineer actually DO? And what do you have to study, to become one?
Today we are introducing a new series of articles, which will show you the typical working life of people in many different professions. If you know someone who has an interesting or unusual career, ask them if they would agree to a short interview with us to show kids a day in their life.
We were lucky enough to interview Tasha Scott, who was happy to explain to us her studies and career as a Structural Engineer.
The Necklace – A Shooting Star Story – Written By You
When I first saw the silver sparkling necklace in the jewellers shop window, I thought it was just an ordinary diamond necklace. However, the twinkling diamond at the centre of the polished masterpiece held an emotional attraction for me, as it reminded me of a similar diamond on my grandmother’s ring, so I went in to inquire its price.