VanCleave's Science Fun

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

Edison’s Light Bulb

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Thomas Edison had seen great changes in the world in his lifetime, and he was responsible for many of them. When he was born in 1847 there was no electricity in homes. In 1878 he formed the Edison Light Company, with the financial support of some of New York’s richest businessmen, to research the electric […]

Buoyancy

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Archimedes discovered that fluids, such as air or water, apply an upward force on objects that are partially or totally submerged in the fluids. Such object are said to have buoyancy (the tendency to float when placed in a fluid). The upward force of fluids is called a buoyant force. A buoyant force is equal […]

Strength of Shapes

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Testing the Strength of an Egg Shell Eggs break easily when you hit them against a hard surface. But it’s difficult to break an egg just by squeezing it length-wise in your hands. This is because of the dome shape of the eggshell. The force applied by your hand spreads over the eggshell. The diagram […]

Electric Circuit: Parallel

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Question: What is a parallel 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. parallel circuit: A circuit with branched paths through which electricity passes. A parallel circuit is made of 2 or more connecting circles. […]

Sun Blockers

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Natures Natural Sunblockers Some of the organisms in the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean have a natural sun-blocker. What is this substance? Answer: Pigments (coloring substances) in living organisms, such as melanin in human skin, can also protect them from UVL. The young girl on the left in the picture above has very little […]

Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Question: What is electromagnetic spectrum? Answer: Radiation is a type of energy that moves in the form of waves or particles. This energy is emitted by one body, travels through a substance or space, reflected by some bodies, and ultimately is absorbed by a body. There are different kinds of radiation that differ from each […]

Measurements: Mass vs. Weight

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I am helping a first year teacher who is teaching science to children who are not fluent in English. 1. How does one explain that mass and weight are not interchangeable terms when  the same instrument, such as a  bathroom scale, can be used to measure both mass and weight? 2. How does one explain […]

Types of Ultraviolet Radiation

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What is the difference between UVA, UVB, and UVC? Answer: UV-A= Aging. This UV radiation can penetrate and damage the cell. About 98% of the UV radiation reaching Earth’s surface is UV-A. UV-B= Burning. This UV radiation is mainly what causes sunburns. Most of the radiation is absorbed in by the ozone layer in Earth’s […]

States of Matter: Solid

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Matter exists naturally in four states. These states in order of energy from least energy to greatest energy are: Solid Liquid Gas Plasma A SOLID is the state of mater with the least amount of energy and the most structure. Solids exits in two basic forms: 1. Crystalline solids are those in which the particles […]

How to Date Eggs

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The older an egg is the more buoyant it is in water. Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid (liquid or gas). For example, helium balloons are buoyant in air and boats are buoyant in water. To test the freshness of an egg, fill a bowl with water. Then place […]