Electricity

Department H, Division 870

Superintendent:

This department gives 4-H members an opportunity to display their knowledge and skills gained relating to computers, drones, electricity, energy, geospatial, robots, rockets, drones, welding and woodworking. Through participation in this department, 4-H members will present their knowledge in these areas as they relate to STEM.

The name and county of each 4-H should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks so owner of the exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible: 1. Hypothesis 2. Research 3. Experiment 4. Measure 5. Report or Redefine Hypothesis. All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.
Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding the use of copywritten images.
Premier 4-H Science Award is available in this area.
Team Entries: To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair for any team exhibit, the exhibit and all supporting information must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual, and must have at least 50% of all team members enrolled in 4-H. Additionally, all enrolled 4-H members on the team should complete and attach an entry tag to the materials. A supplemental page documenting the individual contributions to the project should be included. The entry will be judged as a team, with all team members receiving the same ribbon placing.
State Fair qualified videos, presentations and other electronic exhibits should be submitted to https://go.unl.edu/2025nesfstem by August 15th, 2025. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing
Posters in this department can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches by 22 inches when fully open for display.
Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24 inches and not exceed 1/4-inch thickness. A height of 24 7/8 inches is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24-inch boards are cut from one end of a 4 foot by 8-foot sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4 inch of the top or bottom of the board. (Example: Woodworking & Electricity.)
1. Fabricated boards such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstration displays.
2. Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.
3. Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
4. Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (1. Hypothesis 2. Research 3. Experiment 4. Measure 5. Report or Redefine Hypothesis). All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
If the project (i.e. picnic tables, wishing wells, swings, chairs, bridges, doghouses, etc.) is designed to be used outside, it will be displayed outside.
All outside projects MUST have entry tag and supporting information placed in a protective bag to prevent damage from weather events such as rain and be ATTACHED to projects with string, zip ties, etc.

For help getting started with this project contact your county Extension office.

Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at http://go.unl.edu/ne4hcomputers

Recommended QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/

Division H870, Electricity

Electricity Unit 1 – Magic of Electricity - County Only

H870100 Unit 1 Bright Lights: Create your own flashlight using items found around your house. Flashlights should be made from items that could be recycled or reused. No kits please.

H870101 Unit 1 Control the Flow: Make a switch. Use the following items: D cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, 2- or 2.5-volt light bulb, bulb holder, paper clip, cardboard, and two brass paper fasteners to create a circuit that you can open and close.

H870102 Unit 1 Conducting Things: Make a circuit with a switch and a light bulb that can be used to test different household items for their ability to act as an insulator or conductor. You must find five items that are conductors and five items that are insulators. Create a table that illustrates your

results.

H870103 Unit 1 Is There a Fork in the Road? Use the following items to construct a parallel and a series circuit display board. Items: D cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, bulb holder and a 2- or 2.5-volt light bulb.

Electricity Unit 2- Investigating Electricity – County Only

H870104 Unit 2 Case of the Switching Circuit: Use the following items: two D cell batteries, two battery holders, light bulb, bulb holder, a 3-inch x 6-inch piece of cardboard, six brass paper fasteners and

approx. two feet of 24 gauge insulated wire to build a three-way switch. Write a short essay or create a poster that illustrates how three-way switches function.

H870105 Unit 2 Rocket Launcher: Construct a rocket launcher out of the following materials: a plastic pencil box that is at least 4inch x 8 inch, single pole switch, single throw switch, normally-open push button switch, 40 feet of 18 or 22 gauge stranded wire, 4 alligator clips, 2x 6 board 6 inch long, 1/8 inch diameter metal rod, rosin core solder, soldering iron or gun, wire stripper, small crescent wrench, pliers, small Phillips and straight blade screwdrivers, drill, 1/8 inch and 3 inch drill bits, rocket engine igniters, additional drill bits matched to holes for two switches. You must successfully build a rocket launcher and light two rocket igniters with your launcher. You DO NOT have to fire a rocket off the launcher. Create a poster using photographs to show the step-by-step process you used to build your launcher.H870106 Unit 2 Stop the Crime: Build an ALARM using the following materials: On-off push button switch, mercury switch, buzzer-vibrating or piezoelectric, 9-volt battery, 9-volt battery holder, 4 inch x4 inch x 1/8 inch Plexiglas board to mount circuit on; rosin core solder, soldering gun/iron, two feet of 22 gauge wire, wire strippers, hot glue sticks, hot glue gun and plastic box with a lid to mount your alarm circuit on. Create a poster using photographs to show the A step by Step process you used to build your alarm.

Electricity - Classses

H870001* Electrical Tool/Supply Kit (SF224) – Create an electrical supply kit to be used for basic electrical repair around the house. Include a brief description of each item and its use. Container should be appropriate to hold items.

H870002* Lighting Comparison (SF225) – Display studying the efficiency of various lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, Light Emitting Diodes, etc.). Exhibit could be a poster display, or an actual item.

H870003* Electrical Display/Item (SF226) – Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Wired for Power project. Examples include: re-wiring or building a lamp, re-wiring or making a heavy-duty extension cord or developing an electrical diagram of a house. Exhibit could be a poster display, or an actual item

H870004* Poster (SF227) – Poster should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Wired for Power Project.

H870005 *- Electrical/Electronic Part Identification - (SF228) - Display different parts used for electrical/electronic work. The exhibit should show the part (either picture or actual item) and give a brief description, including a symbol of each part and its function. Display should include a minimum of 10 different parts. 

H870006* - Electronic Display - (SF229) - Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Entering Electronics project. Examples include: components of an electronic device (refer to p. 35 of the Entering Electronics manual). 

H870007* - Electronic Project - (SF230) - Exhibit an electronic item designed by the 4‑H'er or from a manufactured kit that shows the electronic expertise of the 4‑H’er. Examples include: a radio, a computer, or a voltmeter. 

H870008* - Poster - (SF231) - Poster should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Entering Electronics Project. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches. 

* State Fair Eligible