The Science Place

6^th Six Weeks Project

(110 Possible Points)

I. Electric Theater – Choose 5 topics from the following list and write a brief description of each. Each topic is worth 9 points for a total of up to 45 points.

A. Thales’ discovery of magnetism and static electricity

B. Van Guericke’s static generating experiments

C. The invention of the Van de Graaf generator

D. Volta’s direct current battery

E. Ampere’s electromagnetic coil

F. Faraday’s alternating current generator

G. Henry’s step-down and step-up transformers

H. Nikolai Tesla’s high voltage, high frequency lightning machine

II. Hands-On Physics Gallery Scavenger Hunt – Follow the instructions completely for a total of up to 45 points. (3 points each)

A. Identify and locate the exhibits referred to in the attached questions

B. Complete the questions either from information provided at the exhibits, your own physics knowledge, or by searching your text/notes

C. Read the information and directions provided on the following pages for each assigned exhibit before you begin the interactive component of “pushing buttons” or “spinning wheels”. Pay special attention to the information posted at each of the exhibits.

D. Working together is helpful and more fun! Please be courteous to other visitors.

III. Lucent Technologies Laser Lab – Write a paragraph about the exhibit that includes what you learned, the meaning lf “LASER” and three applications for lasers. This paragraph is worth a total of up to 10 points.

IV. Engineer It – Choose an interactive exhibit. Describe your participation and what you learned. This description is worth a total of up to 10 points.

Scavenger Hunt Questions

Electricity (Choose 2)

· Jacob’s Ladder (V shaped wires inside plastic case)

Why does the spark between the wires rise?
What state of matter is being produced between the wires? (Hint: it conducts electricity very well.)

· Parallel and Series Resistors (In display cases recessed in the wall)

What is the unit for electrical resistance?
How is total resistance calculated for series resistances?
How is total resistance calculated for parallel resistances?
What quantity is the same for all parts of a series circuit?
What quantity is the same for parallel resistances?
Which circuit produced more light?

· Electric Current (Thick, black wires extending up to ceiling)

What is the unit of electric current?
What type of current does a battery produce?
What type of current does the power company provide for our homes?
When an electric current passes through a wire it produces a _________________ field surrounding it.
Which of these two types of current must be flowing through the wires, since they are vibrating back and forth?

· Plasma Ball

The beams of light inside the ball are actually beams of electrons flowing to your hands.
All electrical charges are surrounded by an ______________ field.
Since these electrical charges are moving, they are also surrounded by a ________________ field.
In 1897, an English scientist used similar “light” beams and magnets to discover the first subatomic particle ever found, the electron. Name this scientist.

Fluids (choose 2)

· Viscous Fluids (long plastic tubes along the wall)

Define viscosity.
What ancient philosopher taught that heavier objects always fall faster than lighter objects?
What Italian scientist had the insight to be able to imagine a situation without friction and showed that all objects would fall the same speed without air friction.

Bernoulli Blower (balls floating in upward air currents)

State Bernoulli’s principle.
Explain how this principle applies to the balls position in the airflow.
Name one very important application of Bernoulli’s principle.

Convection Currents

Define convection
What are the other two methods of heat transfer?

Rotation (Do both)

· Gyro Chair (stool surrounded by a small fence with bicycle wheel)

Sit in the chair and have someone spin the wheel for you. Hold the wheel so it is spinning vertically and quickly turn the axle 90 degrees so the wheel spins horizontally. What happens to you and the chair when you do this?
What important law of physics does this demonstrate?
Use this law to explain the effect you just observed.

Stone Wheel and Wooden Wheel (mounted on a wall in the physics area)

Spin both wheels, and then bring both to a stop. The stone wheel is more difficult to turn and stop because it possesses more of what quantity? (Remember the thin ring and the solid disk rolling down the ramp.)

Sound Wave Properties (choose 2)

Resonance (Set of organ pipes near wave making machine—Pre AP only)

What type of tube is this? (closed end or open end)
This type tube produces what harmonics?
Approximately how much of the fundamental wave is contained inside the tube?
What is the wavelength of the sound produced by the longest tube?

Theremin (has two brass hands coming out of a box; near plasma ball)

How is the sound changed when you move your left hand?
What wave property is changed when you move your left hand?
How is the sound changed when you move your right hand?
What wave property is changed when you move your right hand?

Whisper Dishes (outside on the back patio)

When parallel rays of light (like from the sun) strike a concave mirror, they will all reflect through the same point. What is this point called?
To produce parallel rays of light (like in a headlight or flashlight) using a concave mirror, where should the light source be placed?
To produce parallel sound waves from the whisper dish, where should the sound source be located?
Draw a ray diagram to show how the waves reflect at both ends of the whisper dishes.
Would this be a good device to aid a speaker when addressing a large group of people?

Mechanics (Do this one)

· Levers (large wooden beam with ropes attached)

What do we call a device, such as a lever, that can multiply forces or change their direction?
What basic principle concerning work is behind the operation of these devices?
How much does the ball weigh?
Approximately how many times your weight is this?
Assume you used your entire weight to lift the ball. The ball is suspended a certain distance from the fulcrum. Compared to this distance, how much further must you apply the force of your weight in order to lift the ball?
What quantity used to describe the lever does this ratio give you?

Properties of Light (Choose 2)

Fluorescent Tubes (colored light tubes)

When a gas is excited by electricity causing light emission, what type of spectrum is produced?
This type spectrum shows that light comes in small packets whose energy depends on the frequency of the associated wave. What are these energy packets called?
What causes the different colors produced by the tubes?

Kaleidoscope (triangular shaped dividers; crawl under to get inside)

Step inside the kaleidoscope and observe the reflections. What type images are being produced? (real or virtual)
Estimate the number of images that you can see in any one of the three mirrors.

Periscope (located downstairs by model airplane exhibit)

Draw a diagram showing how the periscope works, showing the path a ray of light takes.

Pressure and Buoyancy (Choose 1)

Water Pressure/Cartesian Diver (by kaleidoscope)

What causes the pressure on a submerged object?
In what direction is the pressure exerted?
What causes the buoyant force on a submerged object?
Change the pressure on the diver and watch it rise and fall. What property of the diver are you changing by adjusting the pressure?

Hot Air Balloon (in lobby area)

Fill the balloon with hot air and watch it rise. Why does the hot air make it rise?
What happens to the air when it is heated?
Name and state the principle that explains the buoyant force on an object.

Work and Energy (choose 1)

Air Pressure (in the physics exhibit area)

o Turn the air pump wheel, which compresses the air. What physical quantity have you put into the system?

What is the SI unit of work/energy?
How will the temperature of the air be affected by the compression?
What is the SI unit of pressure?
What does the abbreviation psi on the gauge stand for?
Pressurized air is an example of what type of energy?
Turn the dial on the exhibit to select the device to be operated by the compressed air. What will be done to the object by the compressed air?
The movement of the object exhibits what type of energy?

Electric Generator (near the air pressure exhibit)

Select a device to be operated by the generator. Turn the generator crank. What physical quantity are you putting into the system when you turn the crank?
What type of energy do you get out of the generator?
What was the end result of this energy in the device you selected?
An electrical generator converts ______________________ into ___________________.

Medical Gallery (Choose 2)

Eyes

Draw a diagram of the human eye showing the cornea, lens, pupil, and retina
What type of image is formed in the eye? (real or virtual)
What is the process by which the lens focuses the light?
What type of lens is used to correct for nearsightedness?
What type of lens is used to correct for farsightedness?

Ears

What is the range of frequencies that can be heard by the average person?
What type of wave is a sound wave?

X-rays

What type of wave is an X-ray
How is an X-ray different from a light wave?
How are X-rays produced? (Pre AP only)
This X-ray production is the reverse of what other important topic we studied in physics?