Where to purchase cheap flashlights for electrical conduction experiment?

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Scott Brande

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Jul 7, 2019, 4:43:25 PM7/7/19
to Mineral-ID
The purpose of teaching students how to determine luster is primarily as a tool to separate metallic from non-metallic minerals. Typically this is the first "test" in an ordered sequence during mineral identification.

Many students have a difficult time determining luster because it requires training the eye (and brain) to see differences in the patterns of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. And many minerals in my student kits are sort of crappy (I'm slowly replacing some. And by the way, that's where the value of online video instruction becomes greater.). Check out my comments on this issue. 

I have developed what I think is a better tool to separate metallic from non-metallic minerals, and students think it is a lot of fun, and that makes the activity more engaging and memorable. Check out my write up 

Last summer I discovered $1 flashlights from Walmart, and I bought 12 of them for the 24 students in my lab section. One of the cheapest (and most engaging) activities I've made.

Let me know if you find a cheaper flashlight!


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