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Graviton

By Janice VanCleave

Gravity is a force between materials. The greater the mass, the greater the force of gravity, so things that have a lot of mass, such as the planet Earth, pulls things with less mass, such as a chunk of rock, to its surface. As shown in the diagram, the winner of the gravity tug-of-war between […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: graviton, gravity, mass

Stress: Elastic Limit

By Janice VanCleave

Stress is an applied force that causes a material to be deformed (bent out of shape.) Elastic materials are able to return to their original shape after being deformed. For example, when you pull outward on the ends of a rubber band it stretches. When you release the ends, the rubber band returns to its […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: elastic limits

Science Magic: Lifting Coin

By Janice VanCleave

Bernoulli Coin Lift

Challenge : Using only your breath, make a coin sitting near but not over the edge of a table rise and flip without touching it. FYI: I have been successful with a penny. Yes, it can be done and it doesn’t take a hurricane wind. The secret is to blow a fast horizontal stream of […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: Bernoulli's Principle, magic

Bernoulli Principle

By Janice VanCleave

Challenge : Using only your breath, make a coin sitting near but not over the edge of a table rise and flip without touching it. FYI: I have been successful with a penny. Yes, it can be done and it doesn’t take a hurricane wind. The secret is to blow a fast horizontal stream of […]

Filed Under: Physics

Types of Energy

By Janice VanCleave

Energy (E) is defined as the ability to do work (W). This relationship between energy and work can be expressed by this equation:  E = W Work is the force needed to move an object. The amount of work done is equal to the product of the force (F) times the distance (d) the object […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: transfer of energy

Solar Energy

By Janice VanCleave

This diagram shows solar panels on roof receiving solar energy used to heat water.

Passive Solar Heating VS. Active Solar Heating Solar energy is radiant energy from the Sun. This energy travels through space to Earth in the form of electromagnetic waves. In an hour, the Sun sends to the earth’s surface as much or more energy as people use to run factories, machines, and vehicles and to heat […]

Filed Under: Energy Tagged With: active solar heating, infrared, passive solar heating, radiate, solar energy

Sunblock: SPF Ratings

By Janice VanCleave

Question: What effect do SPF numbers on sunblock lotions have on their effectiveness of filtering UV radiation? Answer: You can discover this answer for yourself, but Do not use your skin to test the effectiveness of SPF numbers! Instead, use solar active materials. I have found several materials on the Solar Active website that can […]

Filed Under: Physics, Science Projects Tagged With: energy. electromagnetic energy, SPF, sunblock, UV radiation

UV Detecting Beads

By Janice VanCleave

Beads with a special dye that changes color when exposed to UV light, but reverts back to orgiginal color when UV light is removed.

Pony beads that contain dye molecules that changes from white to a specific color when exposed to ultraviolet light are called UV Bead or photochromic beads.   Ultraviolet radiation (also called UV light) is a type of  light energy also called electromagnetic radiation. The only light energy that can be seen is called “visible light.” […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: Solar Beads, UV radiation

Insulator vs. Conductor

By Janice VanCleave

Insulator: A material that does not easily allow energy, such as heat, electricity, light, or sound to pass through it. FYI: A material that does not transmit heat easily will not easily transmit other types of energy. For example: Since wood does not easily transmit heat, wood is used for cooking utensils. You can hold […]

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: conductor, Energy, heat

Volume: Water Displacement

By Janice VanCleave

Buoyancy is an upward force on an object that is floating or submerged in a fluid (liquid or gas). The upward force of buoyancy on the boat in the picture is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the boat. WOW!! That sounds complicated, but it isn’t. In the diagram below, there are […]

Filed Under: Chemistry, Physics

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Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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