Monday, February 27, 2012

~~SOLID, LIQUID & GAS~~

We set a pot of ice cubes over a hot flame to learn about the 
three states of matter...

 
 SOLID...
 LIQUID...

 GAS....


~~Inspired by this free, interactive 
SCHOLASTIC Study Unit: 

We also watched this youtube video:
"Introducing Solid, Liquid and Gas"

~~Snap Circuits~~









Success!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

~~An Explosion Of Color~~

We found this experiment at Steve Spangler Science!
 She used these materials:
Half-n-Half, a dinner plate, food coloring, Dawn & a Q-tip...
 She poured some half-n-half on the plate...
 She dropped green & blue food coloring in random amounts...
 She dipped her Q-tip covered in Dawn into the middle of the mixture....
 At 10 seconds....
 At 30 seconds....
 At one minute....
According to Steve Spangler....
"Milk is mostly water but it also contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, and tiny droplets of fat suspended in solution. Fats and proteins are sensitive to changes in the surrounding solution (the milk).
The secret of the bursting colors is the chemistry of that tiny drop of soap. Dish soap, because of its bipolar characteristics (nonpolar on one end and polar on the other), weakens the chemical bonds that hold the proteins and fats in solution. The soap's polar, or hydrophilic (water-loving), end dissolves in water, and its hydrophobic (water-fearing) end attaches to a fat globule in the milk. This is when the fun begins.
The molecules of fat bend, roll, twist, and contort in all directions as the soap molecules race around to join up with the fat molecules. During all of this fat molecule gymnastics, the food coloring molecules are bumped and shoved everywhere, providing an easy way to observe all the invisible activity. As the soap becomes evenly mixed with the milk, the action slows down and eventually stops."

~~Matter~~

Does matter take up space?  Abi found the answer today...
We put some uncooked lentils in a plastic bowl with a small bouncy ball.
 Abi shook the bowl vigorously --
first with the lid off....
 ...then with the lid on...
 Why does the ball always rise to the top of the lentils?
As Abi shakes the container the lentils move back & forth, getting closer together as they push the ball up. This is SETTLING. "Two pieces of matter cannot occupy the same space at the same time." 

Watch this youtube video on matter from MinutePhysics!
We loved it!

~~Inspired by Janice VanCleave's Chemistry For Every Kid~~

~~Molecular Movement~~

Abi added drops of blue food coloring to glasses of HOT and COLD water....
 
Unfortunately she didn't measure precisely and added more blue to the hot water.
We had a nice discussion about making sure our measurements are exact when doing science.
Water molecules are always vibrating...  
The result: Diffusion!
The atoms & molecules of matter  constantly move.  HOT water molecules diffuse the blue food coloring much faster than the COLD sssssllllllooooowwww-moving water molecules.

~Inspired by Janice VanCleave's book: Chemistry For Every Kid~

Saturday, February 25, 2012

~~Church Talent Show~~

 Aly played a Suzuki song on her violin...
 'Lean On Me' and 'Star Wars' on the piano...
 Abi played The 'Trumpet Concerto'...

Friday, February 24, 2012

~~Water Resource Education Center~~

We're studying the water cycle!
The exhibits are wonderful....
Yay, Homeschool!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

'Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day' at OMSI


 The challenge: Use 5 wires to build the tallest & strongest tower to hold the greatest number of bolts...


 Thumbs up!  They loved that project...


 Chem Lab

 
 Physics Lab...
Gears...
 Arches....
Magnets...
 
 Belts & Pulleys...


 Windmill Design...




 We love OMSI!