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    Home » Easy Play Dough Circuits

    Easy Play Dough Circuits

    February 12, 2015 By Emma Vanstone 9 Comments

    Did you know play dough conducts electricity and can be used to make play dough circuits?

    Using play-dough is a fun and very low cost way to learn about circuits and electricity.  In our circuit we use a component called a Light Emitting Diode (LED).  These are very easy and inexpensive to purchase from online stores or electronics shops.  Light emitting diodes light up when electricity flows through them (like light bulbs).  They only let electricity flow through them in one direction, so if you put them in the wrong way round, they won’t light up.

    Our little experiments show how you can make circuits of any shape you want using play dough.

    conductive play dough with LEDs inside

    Easy play dough circuits

    Materials

    Play Dough

    Battery Pack:

    UK: http://amzn.to/2dS9vCj

    US: http://amzn.to/2dSberc

    LEDs

    Insulating play dough – make your own

    Instructions

    • First make your play dough. For the insulating dough we used this recipe from Squishy Circuits.
    • For the conductive dough we used a standard play dough recipe with salt.
    • The next task is to test your doughs,  set up a simple circuit like the one below and check the LED only lights up with the conductive play dough.
    conductive play dough

    Then you can get a bit more adventurous.

    You can see in this circuit the gaps in the conducting play dough are completed by the LEDs.

    Remember current can only go through an LED one way….

    Series Circuit

    In this circuit below the LEDs are arranged in series.  The positive leg of the LED is nearest the positive terminal of the battery (red lead).  A battery pushes electricity around the circuit.  It can only go through the LED one way (through the long leg and out the short leg) and we bridge the gaps with the LED.  It then goes through the play dough to the next LED, again it has to be the right way round.

    In a series circuit the electricity can only flow one way around the circuit.

    play dough series circuit
    Play Dough Series Circuit

    Parallel circuit

    In the circuit below the LEDs are arranged in parallel.  Electricity flows again through each of the LEDs completing the circuit.  In a real circuit with more efficient wiring (play dough, while amazing is probably not the best way to carry electricity) you can see differences in how LEDs light up when comparing them in series and in parallel.

    In a parallel circuit the electricity splits up and travels through the different branches of the circuit.

    parallel circuit
    Play dough parallel circuit

    Fun shapes and play dough circuits

    Next we experiment with different shapes.  The 2 LEDs which make a circuit through the play dough. The middle layer in each of the shapes below is insulating dough which you need to allow the electricity to flow correctly around the circuit.

    Conductive playdough

    Another shape we made with our “sandwich” circuit.

    play dough circuits

    This video shows how we made our sandwich circuits.  We had to use a layer to insulate one of the legs from the other in the LED.  This is a little bit like how the circuits in your electronic toys work, we call them circuit boards.

    We’d love to see what shapes you can make!

    More Play Dough Circuit Ideas

    This light up play dough snowman is super cute!

    I love this light up rainbow from Lemon Lime Adventures too!

    Why does play dough conduct electricity?

    Play-dough contains salt dissolved in water, which conducts electricity.

    The insulating dough contains sugar which does not conduct electricity.

    Thanks to squishy circuits for the inspiration

    Play Dough Circuits

    Contains affiliate links

    Last Updated on March 7, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Trisha

      March 20, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Very cool, Emma! What was the voltage on your battery pack?

      Reply
    2. Stu Edwards

      May 05, 2015 at 7:01 am

      Ha! The things you learn about play dough… It’s probably good that I didn’t know this when I was growing up 🙂

      Reply
      • brion

        February 01, 2017 at 1:44 pm

        fuck ye all ye fools

        Reply
    3. anus burger

      November 28, 2016 at 10:04 am

      ur shit

      Reply
    4. brion

      February 01, 2017 at 1:45 pm

      add me on psn cregan99

      Reply

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