While we were on vacation at the beach recently, Killian picked up a book from the science center we visited called "The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists" by Sean Connelly. Killian loves all things science, and Matthew had just been talking a few days before about wanting to find a book like this with experiments that they could do together. So it was the perfect find for both of them! The book is really neat, and has all sorts of intriguing sounding experiments; turning milk to stone, cola geysers, burning ice, homemade lightening and much more. Killian barely put the book down the rest of the vacation, and couldn't wait to get home to start working our way through it.
Our first experiment was called "Tea bag hot air balloon". We needed the following supplies:
1) Tea bag (the kind with a string)
2) Small plate
3) Matches
The first step is to remove the staple and the string from the tea bag, and empty it of its contents. Next, stand the tea bag; which is now shaped like a cylinder, onto the plate. Light the top of the tea bag on fire, and as the flame burns down the tea bag will start to shake and then float into the air. The science behind this is that "hot air rises". The fire causes the air around the tea bag to get hotter and hotter, and because the bag is burning it is losing mass, or weight. The two factors converge, eventually reaching a point where the air is warm enough - and the the tea bag light enough - to produce liftoff.
The experiment was a total hit with the kids. The book says to do it inside because the slightest puff of wind could disrupt the 'delicate' experiment. Not knowing what to expect, or how high the tea bag would fly up we chose to do it in the garage. We set the bag on the cement floor and didn't bother with the plate. We all took turns lighting tea bags on fire and watching them float up to the ceiling. I shot this video the wrong way and cant get it to turn, but if you tilt your head (or your laptop) just the right way, you get the idea!
A few days later we did a second experiment, this one called "Sandwich in a jar". We needed the following supplies:
1) 3 tablespoons water
2) 3 tablespoons cooking oil
3) 3 tablespoons honey
4) Glass jar with a lid
There were just two steps; pour the contents into the jar, and watch them 'magically' separate. The science behind it is all about density, or the amount that something weighs in a particular volume. The volume (3 tablespoons) remains the same in this experiment, so the densest liquid (the honey) settles at the bottom. The oil is denser than water, so it settles in the middle, leaving the clear water layer at the top. At least, thats what the book said, but looking at our pictures it appears that the water layer was in the middle, with the honey on the bottom and the oil on top. Hmmmm.
The liquids separated pretty much on contact, so make sure to be watching right away. Killian thought this experiment was a little anti-climatic, but he did like how the liquids all repelled each other and went their separate ways.
A closer look at the contents:
We are planning on working our way through the book in the next couple months, so I will highlight some of our favorites here. I think we are going to have a lot of fun with this and learn a thing or two at the same time!
Our first experiment was called "Tea bag hot air balloon". We needed the following supplies:
1) Tea bag (the kind with a string)
2) Small plate
3) Matches
The first step is to remove the staple and the string from the tea bag, and empty it of its contents. Next, stand the tea bag; which is now shaped like a cylinder, onto the plate. Light the top of the tea bag on fire, and as the flame burns down the tea bag will start to shake and then float into the air. The science behind this is that "hot air rises". The fire causes the air around the tea bag to get hotter and hotter, and because the bag is burning it is losing mass, or weight. The two factors converge, eventually reaching a point where the air is warm enough - and the the tea bag light enough - to produce liftoff.
The experiment was a total hit with the kids. The book says to do it inside because the slightest puff of wind could disrupt the 'delicate' experiment. Not knowing what to expect, or how high the tea bag would fly up we chose to do it in the garage. We set the bag on the cement floor and didn't bother with the plate. We all took turns lighting tea bags on fire and watching them float up to the ceiling. I shot this video the wrong way and cant get it to turn, but if you tilt your head (or your laptop) just the right way, you get the idea!
A few days later we did a second experiment, this one called "Sandwich in a jar". We needed the following supplies:
1) 3 tablespoons water
2) 3 tablespoons cooking oil
3) 3 tablespoons honey
4) Glass jar with a lid
There were just two steps; pour the contents into the jar, and watch them 'magically' separate. The science behind it is all about density, or the amount that something weighs in a particular volume. The volume (3 tablespoons) remains the same in this experiment, so the densest liquid (the honey) settles at the bottom. The oil is denser than water, so it settles in the middle, leaving the clear water layer at the top. At least, thats what the book said, but looking at our pictures it appears that the water layer was in the middle, with the honey on the bottom and the oil on top. Hmmmm.
The liquids separated pretty much on contact, so make sure to be watching right away. Killian thought this experiment was a little anti-climatic, but he did like how the liquids all repelled each other and went their separate ways.
A closer look at the contents:
We are planning on working our way through the book in the next couple months, so I will highlight some of our favorites here. I think we are going to have a lot of fun with this and learn a thing or two at the same time!