Electrical Inventions by Taylor

Each school day, I arrange a specific list of assignments to be accomplished by the kids.  Tuesdays and Thursdays Taylor has Science, which he absolutely loves.  He was to complete lesson 6, which consisted of arranging multiple batteries, a light bulb and foil strips in order to figure out which connections worked and which do not.  In addition, he was to collect various items to determine whether they are conductive or not.

Apparently...  Instead of completing his assignment, he chose to be an inventor.  I should be upset, but how could I be?!  He came up with an invention that REALLY exists!!!


This is what he came up with:

(Notice how the clothespin is in its closed position.)

(And now it's being squeezed into its open position.)

It works...  IT REALLY WORKS!!!  And he came up with it all on his own.  Apparently this is called a "dead-man's switch".  Here is some information that I found on Wikipedia:

A dead man's switch is a switch that is automatically operated in case the human operator becomes incapacitated, such as through death or loss of consciousness.

The switch usually stops a machine, and is a form of fail-safe. They are commonly used in locomotives, aircraft refueling, freight elevators, lawn mowers, tractors, personal watercraft, outboard motors, chainsaws, snowblowers, tread machines, snowmobiles, and many medical imaging devices. The Special Weapons Emergency Separation System is an application of a dead man's switch in the field of nuclear weapons.

A dead man's switch may also be used to activate a harmful device, such as a bomb or IED. The user holds down a switch of some sort in their hand which arms the device. When the switch is released, the device will activate, so that if the user is killed while holding the switch, the switch will be released and the bomb will detonate (ie Fail-deadly).

There are a myriad of uses still in place today; look here to read all about this amazing invention.

I am super proud of my son for his creativity and curiosity!!!  Not bad for an almost 10 year old, if I do say so myself!  By the way...  The original assignment was completed after the celebration of his discovery.  Just a little detour to the original destination.  A detour that I think will be the first of many during this incredible homeschooling adventure!