IR Speaker Demonstrator

Materials: You will need a board, solar cell, an amplified speaker, remote control, mini plug, alligator clips, wires, power supply.

Building Instructions: Take two wires and attach a mini plug to one end and alligator clips to the other. Plug this into the amplified speaker and clip to wires on solar cell. Press any button on the remote as you aim at the solar cell and you should hear loud noises.

Function and Use: We use remote control devices all the time, but did you know they operate using Infrared radiation (IR)? We can’t see this type of radiation but you have probably felt it before. When you go to a fast-food restaurant, they often use heat lamps that actually give off IR. If you look at the remote control here as you press the buttons you won’t see anything emitted from the small ‘bulb’ at the front of the device. Now point that bulb at the ‘solar cell’. When it detects IR it changes it to electricity and you can hear this electricity as clicks in the speaker.