Energy Energy enables something to do work. Nothing happens when energy is stored. Things happen when energy is transferred. Most things that happen involve many different energy transfers. Energy is not used up, instead it is transferred from one form of energy to another. Energy is needed for every motion your body makes, from blinking […]
Physics: Pinhole Camera
I want to introduce you to a really COOL! website: MEET ME AT THE CORNER! The main part of each page is a video. What I like is that a kid is interviewing some professional about a specific topic. Of course, I immediately found all the science topics, which includes pinhole photography. I have always […]
Radiation
Today, while looking for a book, I found a sack of Ultraviolet Detecting Beads.These beads absorb UV radiation and change from white to different colors depending on the dye molecule in the bead. How cool is that? Of course I had to play with the bead to find out what colors I had left in […]
Science Challenge: Free Hanging
Turning Science Upside Down: Gravity
Understandable explanations and fun investigations about Gravity that answer the following:
1. How and by whom was gravity discovered?
2. What causes the force of gravity?
3. What causes the force of gravity to change?
4. How is the force of gravity measured?
5. What is the difference between force of gravity and g-forces?
6. What does Free Fall Mean?
Solar Active
I have found some really cool science stuff that is “Solar Active.” I’ve experimented with solar active beads before, but the Solar Active site has other fun stuff that responds to UV radiation, such as fingernail polish and shoestrings. I don’t care much for paining my nail with UV polish, but my mind is twirling […]
Lightning
Notes from Janice’s Desk Lightning is so awesome, beautiful, but very dangerous. Each year lightning does more damage to property as well as injuries than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. For more awesome photos of lightning, see EXTREME INSTABILITY For a fun activity, see LIGHTNING If your thinking about doing a science project, you […]
World’s Largest Rocket Competition
The annual rocket contest, sponsored by AIA, challenges teams of three to 10 students to design and build a rocket that will climb to 825 feet with a raw egg payload and stay aloft for 40 to 45 seconds. The payload must then return to earth unbroken. The 2010 contest rules and registration information are […]
Science Fair Projects: Physics
Notes from Janice’s Desk Recently, a student asked if I would like to have the science fair project he had constructed while in my science class. I was shocked that he still had the project since he had been my student in 1974. While the project did not win outstanding awards given by the fair, […]
Inertia: Newton’s First Law of Motion
Notes from Janice’s Desk Many think the combination of Physics and Fun is an oxymoron. No doubt there are some complex math problems in advanced physics studies, but elementary physics is easy. YES!! I said Physics is EASY!! Now I guess you want me to support this statement with an easy physics example—No problem. Let’s […]
Dyslexia
Notes from Janice’s Desk Kids with learning disabilities are too often thought to have a low IQ. Not so. While dyslexia might slow down a child’s ability to read, that same child might be a whiz with computer games. This I’ve personally observed. My grandson is dyslexic and before he could read a word he […]