Physics experiments powered by a universal serial bus (USB) connection are becoming increasingly common. With teachers going through so many batteries each year, USB-powered physics provides an economical and environmentally friendly alternative. In this article, the authors discuss several ways that USB power can provide a convenient way to do physics labs. USB power not only provides an alternative to batteries, but also hand-crank generators, power supplies, and even more exotic demonstration equipment such as Tesla coils. Cell phone chargers, including wireless chargers, are also investigated with these tools. The ubiquity of USB justifies that students receive at least some laboratory exposure to them and how they work.
References
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See, for example,
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There are even solar-powered USB charge banks.
3.
4.
James
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,” Phys. Teach.
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(Jan.
2018
).© 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2020
American Association of Physics Teachers
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