Summary
Areas of Science
Difficulty
Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Credits
Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies
*Note:
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Abstract
Have you ever seen a video of a glitter prank package? They usually show an unsuspecting person opening a package or a gift, only to be sprayed by a shower of glitter. Former NASA engineer Mark Rober got tired of thieves stealing packages off his porch, so he decided to build an elaborate decoy glitter package*, as he shows in this video. Mark's device involves a lot of custom software, electronics, and 3D printing, so might seem a little intimidating if you are new to engineering. This video shows you how to build a much simpler surprise glitter package, using a basic circuit with no programming required:
Can you turn this glitter prank package into an engineering project? For example, how can you ensure that the device isn't set off prematurely? Can you modify the design to spread glitter over a larger area? Can you make it easier to re-use? What about a human behavior science project—how do people react to opening the box? (remember that you need to follow all your science fair's rules about working with human subjects!).
*Note: Mark's original video refers to the device as a "glitter bomb." We do not recommend using the word "bomb" to refer to anything you build for a school project.
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Related Links
- Science Fair Project Guide
- Other Ideas Like This
- Electricity & Electronics Project Ideas
- My Favorites
Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Finio, Ben.
"Make a Glitter Surprise Package." Science Buddies,
29 Apr. 2023,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Elec_p089/electricity-electronics/diy-glitter-surprise-package.
Accessed 3 May 2024.
APA Style
Finio, B.
(2023, April 29).
Make a Glitter Surprise Package.
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Elec_p089/electricity-electronics/diy-glitter-surprise-package
Last edit date: 2023-04-29
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