Cactus Needle Phonograph

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Build a phonograph record player using a cactus needle, a record, LEGOs gear box, and a piece of paper! This activity uses a Pico Cricket to turn the motor. This is an advanced activity and may require previous experience with programming crickets.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - adult
Resource Types:
Activity, Demonstration
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Stiff Cactus Needle
  • 8 1/2 Record
  • paper
  • Pico Cricket
  • LEGOs with motors and gears
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun
  • block of foam

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Computing
      • Computer Science
  • Physical Sciences
    • Electricity and Magnetism
      • Electric Motors
      • Electric Circuits

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Computers
  • Music

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • hear
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, 0087813