B Barber
Science Coordinator

Science

"Middle School Science Shows" (Grade 3-4)
Return to Science Shows
Program: Sandra Brady (St John's).

Presentation:

Equipment:

Electricity:

• 10 torches; A4 paper; Al foil; corks; "D" size batteries; short wires.
• Van der Graff generator, wand, plastic bucket, pieces of paper, aluminium plates.
• Two wires (with alligator clips?); one lemon; a piece of copper metal;a piece of zinc metal.
• A range of different material (cloth; cotton; wool; polyester; plastic rods; carbon rods, bits of paper; aluminium foil etc).
• Electroscopes, rods, wool, cotton cloths.

Theory: Electrical energy can be stored in a car or alkaline battery. Chemical reactions inside the battery automatically occur when you connect a wire from the positive to the negative terminals. If there are circuit components connected between these wires the electricity passes through them also transferring their electrical energy to these components. Light bulbs can glow, radio speakers can deliver sound and electric motors can operate. We use a large amount of electrical energy every day in many appliances we use.

Physics In Motion - Rockets:

• Rocket kit: 2 rockets, 2 sulphur motors, 6V large battery, 2 x 5m wires, 4 x alligatored wires (both ends), very thin metal guide rod, retort stand base
• 40 film cannisters, Blue tack, Alkasalsa tablets, water and 10 beakers (for water).
• Vacuum cleaner (backwards - blow outwards); rubber stopper and funnel; polystyrene ball; rubber stopper and narrow pipe.
• Pump rockets from Australian Geographic.
• Masking tape, balloons, straws, nylon thread; scissors;
• 2 retort stands, string and 2 small ring weights.
• 2 sets of string-weight-string-weight.

Task	Method	Equipment	Concepts
Rocket Kits	Using the rocket kits and launch from the centre of the oval.	Rocket kit: 2 rockets, 2 sulphur motors, 6V large battery, 2 x 5m wires, 4 x alligatored wires (both ends), very thin metal guide rod, retort stand base	Talk about flight.
Rocket Kits	Stick an Alka Salza tablet to the inside cap of a film canister using Bluetack. Half fill the canister and place the cap on turn upside down onto concrete! The small explosion will propel the canister about 2 metres upwards.	40 film cannisters, Blue tack, Alka Salsa tablets, water and 10 beakers (for water).	Talk about flight.
Bernoulli's Principle	Connect the vacuum so that it blows outwards with (a) the pipe nossle blowing the air upwards to the polystyrene ball; or (b) with the funnel blowing the ball upwards or downwards.	Vacuum cleaner (backwards - blow outwards); rubber stopper and funnel; polystyrene ball; rubber stopper and narrow pipe.	Fast air means low air pressure and this explains why the ball falls into the funnel and remains there. It also explains the other one.
Pump Rockets	Use the pump rockets to launch rockets.	Pump rockets from Australian Geographic.	-
Balloon rockets	Rockets made from balloons and straws masking taped on top of them	Masking tape, balloons, straws, nylon thread; scissors;	Talk about flight.
Movement energy	Standing: Standing still, marching or jogging on the spot. Anything that moves has movement energy.	3 students	Chemical energy (food) to movement energy
Movement energy	Coupled pendulum: String with 2 pendulum suspended of it.	2 retort stands, string and 2 small ring weights	Movement energy to stored energy
Movement energy	Which will break? 2 sets of weights held together with strings and pulled slowly and then fast. Which will break	2 sets of string-weight-string-weight	Inertia

Theory: Kinetic energy is the energy on object has because of its movement. Some things have very large amounts of kinetic energy as in the case of a rapidly moving train. This can cause a lot of damage if it collides. The amount of kinetic energy it has will be converted to the target it hits.

Light:

• Torch;
• Torches; lenses; mirrors.
• Laser, plane mirrors, chalk and duster.

Theory: Another name for light is electromagnetic waves. Only a small amount of the electromagnetic spectrum can be seen by the human eye: this part is called the visible spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum has many purposes: laser beams, communication, TV and radio, x-rays, microwaves and infra red.

Solids, Liquids & Gases:

• 3 syringes with sand, water and air.
• 3 measuring cylinders, 3 ball bearings, oil, water.
• Bubble liquid & loop;
• Measuring cylinder, large rock, 1 large and small beakers, and measuring cups.
• measuring cylinder or beaker with water in it.
• basin, water, detergent, cardboard boat, eye dropper.
• Kettle, water, thermometer.
• Can of soft drink, towel and paper towel.
• Plastic drink bottle, boiling water and balloon.
• 2 straws, string, 2 balloons, pin.
• 3 aluminium cans, water, 3 lamps, 2 insulating materials.
• 3-4 identical volume cubes: wood, aluminium and brass, electronic scales
• 3-4 identical volume cubes: wood, aluminium and brass in hot water.
• 3 spring balances, 3 beakers of oil, water and air. 1 weight
• dry ice, paper towel.
• White Wings Corn Flour and water; ice cream container.