Physics Guitar Project

Why?

• Second Semester Culminating Project-

– Authentic product, life skills

– Lots of physics topics

• Tension, Electric circuits, Vibration, Sound, Magnetism, Induction …

Similar Projects • MIT Guitar Building

– Simple, cheap, but not “real”

• Louisiana Tech - Building a Guitar to Showcase High School Mathematics and Physics – Lots of skills, not “real”

• STEM Guitar Building – High quality, lots of skills

– High cost or full shop of equipment

How the project was done

• Students performed a variety of activities that lead to building a guitar

• Content and skill activities were designed

– Potentiometer protractor activity

– Drawing circuits soldering activities

– String Tension/frequency

– Pickup placement

Project Plan

• Physics centered activities

• Simple functional “real” electric guitar

• Safest shop skills

• Lowest cost

Benefits

• Complex build integrates a variety of new skills –

– Few physics students have used drills, chisels, soldering iron

• Lasting, real world application of physics

Costs

• Wood for bodies 2x10’s

• Necks

• Hardware parts

• Tools

• < $50

Activities for future development

• Hall effect sensor magnetometer

• Piezo pickup

• How Guitar “mods” work

– Treble bleed, etc.

• Other instruments:

– cajon/electric drums, etc.

– Thumb piano

A faster, cheaper or less complex way?

• Kits –All hardware together

–Major cutting done

– Easy to end up with a good looking guitar

Online resources

• https://physicsguitar.wordpress.com/physics-guitar-project/

– Pdf sample handouts

– Resource pages