VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

Archives for 2010

Shapes Cut From Homemade Dough

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One way to introduce different shapes is to cut shapes from dough using cookie-cutters. The shapes shown are cut from a spicy dough made by mixing 1-cup of applesauce, 1-cup of cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of white liquid glue (Elmer’s glue). What to Do 1. Combine the applesauce, cinnamon, and glue in a bowl. Stir […]

Physical Properties of Spicy Christmas Ornaments

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Applesauce and cinnamon are so aromatic, which means they have a very strong smell. Another way to say this is that they have a very distinctive fragrance. The Christmas ornaments shown are made with applesauce, cinnamon, and glue. For detailed instructions, see: Spicy Christmas Ornaments Applesauce and cinnamon also have distinctive tastes. Thus, while using […]

Bird Feeder

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I love to watch the birds flutter and prance around outside my office window. One of my bird feeders looks like a house and has a platform between the two end feeding containers. Every once in a while one of my cats manages to jump onto the platform and crouch down. She gives herself away […]

Jöns Joseph Berzelius

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Jöns Joseph Berzelius Berzelius studied many different branches of chemistry and is credited with originating these chemical terms:  catalysis, polymer, isomer and allotrope. But, his definitions of these terms is very different from that given today. He discovered three chemical elements-cerium, selenium, and thorium-and was the first to isolate the elements  silicon, zirconium, and titanium. […]

Formation of Conjoined Twins

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Conjoined Twins are identical twins formed when the zygote splits but does not fully separate. Conjoined twins are classified according to the place on the body where the twins are connected. The model of the conjoined twins shown has two heads and one body. These twins are classified as dicephalus conjoined twins (twins with two […]

Formation of Identical Twins

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Identical twins form when a zygote (egg/sperm combination) splits into two separate parts. In the diagram, 1n represents half of the chromosomes that you have in each cell. Thus, 2n represents the complete number of chromosomes. You have a total of 46 chromosome. 1n = 23 chromosomes 2n = 46 chromosomes While the two babies […]

Identical Twins: Monozygotic

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The girls in the photo are examples of identical twins. The term identical twins  refers to a type of twinning, and describes how they form, not what they look like. While the girls look identical, they are not clones. They have physical differences, such as their fingerprints, which  may look identical, but the ridges are […]

Balance: Center of Gravity

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Free Shapes for Mobiles from Smart Chick A FREE set of blank shapes that can be used with students to help them to create mobiles. Mobiles can be made with science concepts, vocabulary, etc. They are a lot of fun and a fun way to learn about about science topic! The shapes from Smart Chick […]