CSUMB UB 2025

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Module 4: Illuminated Landings – Engineering Challenge

CSUMB UB 2025 Module 4: Illuminated Landings – Engineering Challenge

Part 1: Paper Circuits – Light Up a Message! 

Your Goal: Complete the template with a working LED light.

Materials:

  • Cardstock/paper
  • Copper tape
  • LEDs
  • 3V coin cell battery (e.g., CR2032)
  • Clear tape, scissors, decorating supplies

Let’s Build:

  1. Plan Circuit:
    • Battery: + and – sides. LED: long leg (+) & short leg (-).
  2. Construct:
    • Stick copper tape firmly along your planned paths.
    • Attach LED: Bend legs flat. Place longer (+) leg on the positive path, shorter (-) leg on the negative path. Secure legs with more copper tape.
    • Add Battery: Ensure correct sides touch the copper tape paths. A small paper flap or tape can hold it.
  3. Test & Fix: Light on? Great! No light?
    • Battery direction? LED legs correct? All tape connections tight?
  4. Decorate & Share! Add your artistic touches.
Use this link to learn how to take your card to the next level by integrating a switch, just like those cards that light up or make noise when opened

Part 2: Illuminated Landings Paper Circuits💡

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand basic principles of a simple circuit.
  • Design and build a light-up landing pad.

    Materials You’ll Need:

    • Cardstock (for your landing pad base)
    • Copper tape (this will be your “wires”)
    • 1 LED (your landing light)
    • 1 3V coin cell battery (your power source)
    • Scissors
    • Tape (regular tape, like scotch tape)
    • Pencils or markers (for sketching your design)

Sketch Your Landing Pad:

    • How big will it be? What shape? Where will the LED go?
    • Crucial Design Element: How will your landing pad “switch” on? You need a way to complete the circuit so the LED lights up.
      • Idea 1 (Pressure Switch): Could a small flap with copper tape on its underside press down onto another piece of copper tape to complete the circuit when something “lands”?
      • Idea 2 (Manual Connection): Maybe one part of the copper tape pathway is left open, and you manually press it closed to light the LED.
      • Your Own Idea? Think creatively!

  2. Build It!

    • Cut or tape together your cardstock to the desired shape for your landing pad.
    • Lay down your copper tape pathways according to your design. Remember, you need two separate pathways leading from where your battery will be to where your LED will be.
      • Tip: Make sure the copper tape is pressed down firmly and that pieces overlap slightly if you need to connect them to ensure a good connection.
    • Connecting the LED:
      • Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) legs of your LED.
      • Secure one leg of the LED to one copper tape path and the other leg to the second copper tape path using clear tape or by carefully folding the copper tape over the legs. Ensure good metal-to-metal contact.
    • Adding the Battery & Switch:
      • Place your battery so that one side touches one of your copper tape pathways.
      • Arrange your “switch” mechanism so that when it’s activated (e.g., pressed down), it connects the other side of the battery to the second copper tape pathway, completing the circuit and lighting up your LED!
      • You might need to create a small fold or flap with copper tape for the battery to sit securely and make good contact.

  3. Test and Troubleshoot:

    • Doesn’t light up? Don’t worry! Engineers troubleshoot all the time.
      • Check all your connections: Is the copper tape making good contact everywhere?
      • Is the LED oriented correctly (positive to positive, negative to negative)?
      • Is the battery making good contact with the copper tape?
      • Is your “switch” closing the circuit properly?

Think Like an Engineer 🤔

  • What was the trickiest part of this challenge? How did you solve it?
  • How could you make your landing pad even better? (e.g., brighter, multiple lights, different switch?)
  • Where are light-up signals like this used in the real world? (Think airports, helipads, emergency vehicles, or even electronics you use every day!)
  • What kind of careers might involve designing circuits or systems like this? (Electrical Engineers, Aerospace Engineers, Robotics Engineers, etc.)

Showcase Your Landing! ✨

Once your illuminated landing pad is working, be ready to show it off and explain how your design works, especially your switch mechanism!

Made with Padlet
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