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DIY: The sound of snacking: How to turn potato chips into a speaker in 10 minutes

May 27, 2016

What sound does a potato chip make? Pop? Crunch? The Beatles greatest hits?

What sound does a potato chip make? Pop? Crunch? The Beatles greatest hits? If you turn that potato chip into a speaker, it can make any sound you want. All you need for this weekend DIY project is magnet wire, magnets, particleboard, a dowel and, of course, potato chips.

According to Popular Science: "In 1921, two scientists made the first modern loudspeaker out of magnets, wire, and paper. Now manufacturers use synthetic fibers and even ferrofluid. Why stop there? Your kitchen contains plenty of materials to build a functional woofer. A potato chip works as a sound-emitting diaphragm here, but other rigid foods work just as well."

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

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