VanCleave's Science Fun

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

How to Make Paper Bridges

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A bridge is some structure that spans a gap. For example, in the diagram, the ends of the a flat piece of paper are placed on two books. The paper spans the gap between the book. Instruction for making this Simple Paper Bridge are as follows: 1. Lay two equal size books on a table […]

Turkey Wishbone Breaking Tradition

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Thanksgiving is a US holiday originating from the Pilgrims’ giving thanks to God for supplying the resources they needed to survive the long winter in the new world. Among other customs, the pilgrims brought the tradition of the breaking of the wishbone. The basic rules for this event have not changed. Two people, each holding […]

The Fastest Moving Plant

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To date, the fastest moving plant is the White Mulberry (Morus alba). The flower of this mulberry tree shoots pollen at speeds around 200 meters per second. The flower is able to shoot pollen so quickly because its stamens work like medieval catapults. How a Catapult Works A catapult is known as a trebuchet, which […]

Why Liquids are Slippery

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Solids The particles that make up a solid are very ordered, and the forces between the particles are strong, holding the particles in a rigid form. A solid cannot flow (freely move). Gases Gas particles have no regularity in their arrangement. Gases have no restrictions on their movement, and are widely separated. The forces between […]

Why Sunflowers Follow the Sun!

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Sun-tracking or heliotropic flowers face the Sun as it moves across the sky each day. Sunflowers are heliotropic. How do these flowers turn so they face the Sun during the day? Discover for Yourself! Do the stems of twist so that the flowers continue to face the Sun? You can check this out for yourself. […]