Daily photo

Frying the Speaker

  • June 5, 2006
HOT Days at Georgia Tech, Day 1

Today Professor Doug Williams brought supplies and led the students (mostly rising 10th and 11th graders) to build handmade speakers out of styrofoam plates and paper. A small coil of wire interacts with a strong magnet just as it does in a manufactured speaker, though with less precision. Dr. Williams connected each student's speaker to a large amp that was playing from his iPod, using a huge 5-ohm resistor to drain much of the power away in order not to overload the tiny wires used on the coil. He explained to the students that he had previous experience with these homemade speakers, and powering one without the resistor led to a loss of magic smoke.

Of course, the students insisted that he prove this, and several students volunteered to have their speakers fried for the sake of science. This is one such speaker, above, which reached the point of creating glowing embers from the paper that held the coil. It's funny how pyrotechnics always overshadow anything educational.

Comments

  • Ariel
  • June 6, 2006
  • 2:22 am
That's totally awesome! How'd it sound?
  • Ethan
  • June 6, 2006
  • 7:26 am
They end up sounding like headphone speakers in terms of amplitude - if you listen up close, the best ones had very good range from good bass to good treble. At any distance, though, the bass fell off pretty quickly and it wasn't very loud.
  • jennifer
  • June 6, 2006
  • 11:06 am
what does HOT stand for?
  • Matt
  • June 6, 2006
  • 4:44 pm
Hopelessly Optimized Toddlers
  • Kyle
  • June 6, 2006
  • 5:10 pm
this picture makes me hungry for some soup
  • Amanda
  • June 6, 2006
  • 8:20 pm
Speaking of pyrotechnics, want to do that mentos thing soon? I've got the bottle of coke.
  • jennifer
  • June 6, 2006
  • 9:40 pm
my guess is "hands on technology"
  • Ethan
  • June 6, 2006
  • 9:45 pm
DING DING DING! Tell her what's she's won, Steve!

1st place contestants receive Deep Sea Fangly Fish. "Steep Prices and Trees!"
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