Car Light, Car Bright
Purpose:
In this activity, you will use a milk carton & holiday lights to create a
little car!
Your task will be to wire together and position four lights so that:
Both headlights will burn brightly
The taillights will burn with medium brightness.
In addition, your headlights must be wired so that if one of the
headlights is removed the other will stay lit.
Materials:
Teacher Provided Supplies:
4 holiday lights (2 white & 2 colored)
scrap wire
4 brass fasteners
wheel cut-out card
Student Provided Supplies:
small milk carton (like the ones from lunch)
electrical tape
masking tape
D-cell battery (to use to test the car during construction)
scissors
decoration supplies
Procedure:
Part A: Making the Car
1. Cut the four wheels from the wheel cut-out card.
2. Poke a hole through the center of each wheel and push a brass
fastener through the center hole of the wheel. Don’t bend back
the prongs yet.
3. Open the top of the milk carton (the part you drink out of).
4. Cut along one side of the bottom of the milk carton, in order to
create a flap.
5. Cut the four small slits (not holes) on the bottom sides of the milk
carton. Attach the 4 wheels of your car and bend back the prongs
of the fastener.
6. Set your car on the table on its wheels. The top of the milk carton
(the open end) is the front of your car.
7. Look at the diagrams to the right and punch the following holes in
your carton:
• 2 on the “hood” for the head lights
• 2 on the back of milk crate for taillights
• 1 on bottom for “lead” wires to come out of the car
Holes for
headlights
Top of Car
Slits for wheels
Bottom of Car
Holes for
taillights
Hole for
your 2 leads
wires
Cut along
bottom side
Part B: Wiring your Car
1. The headlights are to be made with clear bulbs, and they should both burn brightly when correctly wired.
2. If one headlight is removed, the other should still stay lit.
3. Use 2 of the same color bulbs for the taillights. They should both burn at medium brightness when
correctly wired.
4. There should be only two “lead” wires coming out of the hole on the bottom side of your car. One will go to
the positive terminal of the battery; the other will go to the negative terminal of the battery.
Tips and/or things to try
1. Do not remove the bulbs from their holders during the activity as this may damage the bulbs.
2. Connect the bulbs the way you think they should be connected without putting them into the carton. Then
check to see if they work as they are supposed to when you connect them to the battery. If they light
correctly, carefully take them apart and reassemble them in the carton.
3. Be sure to twist and wrap the non-insulated ends of the wires together very well at each of the
connections. Your bulbs will not light if the wires come loose. This is where the electrical tape will help
secure your connections.
4. Push the lights into the carton from the outside (instead of from the inside.) This makes it fit more snuggly.
5. If the leads from the lights aren’t long enough, you can attach pieces of scrap wire to leads.
Part C: The Finishing Touches
1. Be sure that all wiring is hidden within the car and only 2 “lead” wires are coming out of the car.
2. Ensure that all wire connections are tightly secured with electrical tape and won’t come loose.
3. Close the opening of the carton near the headlights and use tape to keep it closed.
4. Use a small piece of tape to keep the flap near the taillights in place as well.
5. If your bulbs are loose in the holes, secure them with glue or tape.
6. Use construction paper & markers to decorate your car.
7. Put your name & hour on the roof of your car!
Turn in:
•
•
•
•
Miniature car wired correctly.
One piece of paper with circuit diagram on one side and reflection paragraph on the other. Include your
name and hour on the paper.
The circuit diagram of the wiring for your car should be neat and complete. Use circuit symbols and label
the headlights and taillights.
The reflection paragraph should answer these four questions:
° How did you solve this?
Due Date:
° What did you find successful?
° What were some problems?
___________
° What did you like/dislike?
Scoring Guide:
Wiring: (10 points)
All bulbs light........................................................................................................ ____
Headlights burn brightly. ...................................................................................... ____
Taillights burn with medium brightness................................................................. ____
No more than 2 wires exit the car for battery connection...................................... ____
Workmanship: (5 points)
Car displays quality workmanship
° Construction is sturdy and complete with flaps taped down. ................ ____
° Car decorations are neat and attractive. .............................................. ____
° Name and hour are clearly labeled ...................................................... ____
Circuit Diagram: (5 points)
Circuit diagram show correct wiring...................................................................... ____
Circuit diagram uses correct symbols................................................................... ____
Circuit diagram includes labels for headlights and taillights .................................. ____