VanCleave's Science Fun

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

Physics: Newton’s Third Law of Motion

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Hero’s Engine Newton’s third law of motion says that for every action there is an equal reaction in the opposite direction. The spinning cup in the diagram is an example of this law. The Action-Gravity forces the water in the cup out of the straws in the cup. The direction of the water is determined […]

Math: Reflection

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When you look in a mirror, you see your reflection, which is a left-to-right reverse image of you. In the photo the baby is pressing his right hand against what appears to be the left hand of his twin. Reflection is a math term that refers to the mirror image of a figure that has […]

Geography: Landforms/Basin

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The term basin is used for many things, one being a wash basin used to hold water. With indoor plumbing, basins were replaced with what is now called sinks. When you think about it, the word sink describes every type of basin in that they all sink down from their top. Other characteristics: basins are […]

Chemistry: Reactions

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Question: Why does Alka-Seltzer fizz in water? Answer: Alka- Seltzer is a combination of dry chemicals: aspirin: citric acid sodium bicarbonate All of the chemicals dissolve in water. When the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate dissolve, they can then react with each other. Citric Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate    -> yields->    water + […]

States of Matter:Enthalpy

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The three states of matter that are most often studied are gas, liquid, and solid. In the diagram is a fourth state of matter, plasma, which is much hotter than the gas it forms from. Notice that that only plasma can only be formed when a gas is ionized (changed into charged particles). To make […]

Chemistry Matters

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Matter is a science term that basically encompasses all the stuff in the universe that has mass and takes up space. Generally, only three forms of matter are studied: solids, liquids, and gases. There is a fourth natural form of matter called plasma. This is not the stuff in your blood, instead it is hot […]

Physics: Series Circuit

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Question: What is a series circuit circuit? Answer: First, let me define a few words: electricity: Electrical energy circuit: Path through which electrical energy passes. series circuit: A circular path through which electricity passes. As defined, a series circuit is one large circle through which electricity passes. Look at the diagram of the series circuit. […]

Soap Bubbles

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Question: Why doesn’t water form bubbles? Answer: Cohesion is the force between molecules that are alike, such as between water molecules. The cohesion between water molecules too strong to allow the water to form bubbles. The bubbles shown in the photo are made with a solution of soap and water. The soap reduces the force […]

Astronaut Waste: Shooting Stars?

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Question: On Earth, gravity causes body waste to be pulled down into the potty. In space, what happens to the body waste of  astronauts? Answer: Urine is collected, recycled and the water extracted is potable, meaning it is drinkable. According to NASA, feces is collected and ejected from the space craft. No! Poop is not […]