Science Experiments To Go

Conference were designed for use with your students as well.  (On the Cornerstone Continuous Professional Development Model, the session was designed to answer “What does it feel like”…an adult learning experience.) 

We want you to have the specifics of the experiments so that you can use them in your classrooms during science lessons that are relevant to these. 

 

Using Air to Move Water

MATERIALS
Food coloring
1 large plastic container filled with water
2 clear plastic cups

Concepts to Learn:

  • Air and water cannot be in the same place at the same time.
  • Air may displace water, and water may displace air.

WILF

  1. Fill one cup with water by sinking it into the large plastic container.
  2. Lower the second cup, mouth first, directly into the large plastic container, so that it remains filled with air. You are now going to transfer the air from the air-filled cup to the water-filled cup.
  3. Raise the water-filled cup up so that three fourths of it is out of water.
  4. Move the air-filled cup under the raised water cup and tip the air cup slightly.

(Bubbles of air will leave the tipped cup and enter the water-filled cup. This air will force water out of the water cup. As you continue to tip the air-filled cup, it will fill with water. The bubbles leaving it will collect in the water cup. The use of colored water will make the result more obvious.)

 

Investigating the Poles of a Magnet                                                          

MATERIALS
1 compass, 1 magnet
1 cup of water
Thin piece of Styrofoam
1 iron pin or thin nail

Concepts to Learn:

  • In magnetizing a pin/nail we find that it has two poles. One is called north and the other south.
  • The North Pole always points northward and the South Pole always points southward.

WILF

  1. Rub the pin or nail across the face of a magnet 25 times in one direction. (This will magnetize the pin/nail.)
  2. Test the pin, using a metal object, to be sure it is magnetized.  
  3. Place the pin on the Styrofoam and the Styrofoam in the cup of water.
  4. Observe what happens. (You have made a water compass. The pin will turn until one end faces north and the other south. However, if the pin is near iron, it will be attracted to that and will not point true north-south.)  
  5. To prove, use the compass to demonstrate where north and south are located.             

 

Making a Battery Out of Potatoes                                                           

MATERIALS
3 potatoes
3 silver plated forks
3 steel knives
Wire

Concepts to Learn:

  • A circuit is the path electricity travels from one terminal to the other.
  • Electricity will travel through materials known as conductors. Metals are good conductors. Nonmetals are poor conductors.
  • Some poor conductors are used to insulate metal wires.

WILF

  1. Stick a knife and fork in each potato
  2. Wrap wire around each knife and fork. Connect the ends of the wire together by twisting them. THEN
  3. Connect to the diode. Make sure that wires are well connected in circuit form.
  4. Observe as diode will light up.

 

Shooting a Rocket Into Space                                 

MATERIALS
Structure, taller at one end than the other
4 ft. piece of string, attached to structure
Toilet paper tube (Decorated like rocket)
7” balloon
Drinking straw
Rubber bands

Concepts to Learn:

  • For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
  • The force of air coming out of the balloon is in opposition to the force of gravity.

WILF

  1. Attach balloon to one end of the straw and secure with a rubber band.
  2. Attach straw to ‘rocket’ (toilet paper tube) with a rubber band.
  3. Blow up the balloon by blowing through the straw. Hold your finger over the end of the straw to prevent air from escaping.
  4. Remove the string from the lowest end of the structure. Put the rocket on the string at the lowest end and re-attach the string to the structure.
  5. Remove your finger and observe what happens when the air comes out of the end of the straw.