VanCleave's Science Fun

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

Archives for 2010

Atmosphere

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Question: What is the atmosphere? Answer: Some planets, such as Earth and Venus have a layer of gas surrounding the planet, which is called the atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere reaches out from Earth’s surface for over 350 miles (560 kilometers). The atmosphere diagram (left) represents the density of air in Earth’s atmosphere. The blue dots represent […]

Slime Glossary

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The terms on this page relate to the physical and chemical characteristics of SLIME as well as other fluids with comparable characteristics. Dilatant fluid is rheopectic, which means sudden forces causes an increase in viscosity. Fluid is a term used for anything that can flow; gases, liquids, and non-Newtonian fluids. Newtonian fluid is a fluid […]

Starch Slime

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Slime:Cornstarch and Water. MESSY?? You bet. FUN?? Absolutely 1. Pour 2 cups of corn starch into a large bowl. Tip: It is difficult to give an exact recipe for making cornstarch slime because  humidity can be a factor. So, I have suggested that you start with a 2:1 ratio of corn starch to water. 2. […]

Waxing Moon vs. Waning Moon

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Question: What does waxing and waning mean? Answer: The term waxing means to increase. The term waning means to decrease. Question: When viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, how can you determine if the moon is waxing or waning? The moon phases in the diagram show an increase in the lighted area from day 1 to […]

Glowing Slime

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Fluorescent materials glow only during the time of exposure to ultraviolet light. In the photo, the glowing materials are absorbing ultraviolet light from a black light source. If the black light shining on the slime is shut off, the slime ceases to glow. You can make glowing homemade slime using the liquid in a fluorescent […]

Butterfly Metamorphosis

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Metamorphosis is a series of changes. The metamorphosis of a butterfly (life cycle) can be modeled using a few craft items, including a paper plate, construction paper and other stuff shown in the diagram. Discover for Yourself 1. Draw and cut out a 6-inch circle from construction paper. (Color is optional). 2. Fold the paper […]

The Formation of Acid Rain

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Sulfur oxides are gases released during the eruption of volcanoes as well as when fossil fuels (coal and oil) are burned. Large amounts are released when industries and power plants burn fossil fuels.The diagram shows two sulfur oxides: sulfur dioxide sulfur trioxide Lightning causes nitrogen and oxygen in the air to combine forming nitrogen oxides. […]

Lines of Symmetry

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I love making paper designs by cutting piece out of folded paper. If the paper is folded into equal parts, the design formed is a symmetrical figure, such as the paper cut-out shown. The original piece of paper was folded in half twice. The first fold was from top to bottom and the second fold […]

Scientist: Caroline Lucretia Herschel

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The German astronomer, Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848) was born in Hanover, Germany. At the age of ten, Caroline had typhus, a disease that stunted her growth; she never grew past four foot three inches (1.28 m). Because of her height, Caroline’s father believed that she was not pretty enough for a man to ever want […]