How can the energy of sound cause something to move?

How can the energy of sound cause something to move?

Materials needed

• · Two guitars

Procedure

1. Be sure the two guitars are tuned alike.
2. Stand the two guitars face to face, about 5-10 cm (2-4 in.) part.
3. Strum the strings of one guitar. After two or three seconds, silence the strings of the guitar you strummed by putting your hand on them.
4. Listen carefully to the other guitar.
5. What do you hear? How did it happen?

Teacher information

This activity shows that sound can actually do work. It can make something move. Energy is transferred from one guitar to other by sound waves. And the strings of the second guitar vibrate. The two guitars should be tuned alike so the vibrating frequency is the same for the two sets of strings.

How does a nail change as it is driven into a board?

How does a nail change as it is driven into a board?

Materials Needed

• · Hammer
• · Nail, at least 5cm (2 in.) long
• · Board, at least 4 cm (1 1/12 in.) thick
• · Pounding surface

Procedure

1. Place the board on a good pounding surface such as another board, a stack of newspapers, or concrete.
2. Pound the nail at least 2.5 cm (1 in.) into the board. Do not pound it all the way in.
3. As soon as you stop pounding, feel the nail. What difference do you notice in the nail?
4. Pull the nail out of the board with the hammer.
5. As soon as you get the nail out of the board, feel it again.
6. What difference do you notice in the nail by feeling it? What can you say about this?

For problem solvers: 

rib your hands together, hard and fast. Do you feel a temperature change? How is this similar to what you experienced with the nail in the above activity?

Teacher information

As the nail is pounded into the board, some of the energy from the hammer is changed to heat energy due to friction between the nail and the board. As the nail is removed from the board, friction again changes some of the energy to heat. If the nail is pulled out quickly, the heat might be even more noticeable than when it was pounded in.

Teacher information

As the nail is pounded into the board, some of the energy form the hammer is changed to heat energy due to friction between the nail and the board. As the nail is pulled out quickly, the heat might be even more noticeable than when it was pounded in.

What other type of energy accompanies light from the sun?

What other type of energy accompanies light from the sun?

 Materials needed

• Two magnifying glasses 
•  One sheet of paper 
• Glass bowl

Procedure

1. Ask your teacher where you should do this experiment. You will need to be in bright sunlight with no wind.
2. Put the paper in the bowl.
3. Hold the magnifying glass between the paper and the sun so a beam of light focuses on the paper.
4. Notice that as you move the magnifying glass closer to and farther from the paper, the point of light changes in size. Notice also that it gets brighter as it gets smaller.
5. Adjust the distance between the paper and the magnifying glass to make the point of light very small and bright. 

6. Pull the magnifying glass back about 1 cm (1/2 in). And watch the paper.
7. Do you see anything happening to the paper? If so what, and why do you think it is happening? What kind of energy is causing this to happen?
8. What do you might happen if you used two magnifying glasses focused on the same spot on the paper? Try it.

How can you get the most heat energy from the sun?

How can you get the most heat energy from the sun?

Materials needed

• · Three identical jars
• · Paper and pencil
• · Black paper
• · Aluminum foil
• · Tape
• · Three thermometers
• · Sand

Procedure

1. Fill the three jars with sand.

2. Cover one jar with black paper, including the top,and tape the paper in place.

3. Cover the second jar with aluminium foil, including the top, and the tape the foil in place.

4. Leave the third jar uncovered.

5. Record the temperature shown on the thermometers. Be sure all three indicate the same temperature.

6. Insert one thermometer into the sand in each jar. With the two covered jars, puncture a hole in the top covering and insert the thermometer through the hole.

7. Place all three jars in sunlight. All should receive the same direct sunlight.

8. Check and record the temperature of the three thermometers every 15 minutes for about two hours.

9. How o the temperatures compare? What can you say about the effect of a black surface and a shiny surface on absorption of energy from the sun?

10. Remove the jars from the sunlight and continue to record the temperature of the three thermometers for two more hours.

Questions. How do the temperature changes compare? What can you say about the effect of a black surface and a shiny surface on heat loss?

For problems solvers

 here are more ways to compare the effect of color on heat absorption. Place a thermometer on a paper plate and lay a sheet of black paper over it.

Prepare a second plate using a thermometer and white paper, then a third using aluminum foil. On a warm, sunny day day, place all three plates in direct sunlight. Check and record the temperatures on the thermometers on the thermometers after one-half hour, then again after one hour.

If you live in a cold climate, place papers of various color on snow bank, in the sunlight.use a black paper, a white paper and a piece of aluminum foil of the same size. Use other colors also if you’d like to. Line them up, so the all have direct sunlight. After an hour, check the snow under the papers to find out how much has melted. Check them again after two hours.

How to build a house and keep it cool

How to build a house and keep it cool

CONVECTION! Design + build a house with doors and windows that will help remove the hot air and cool the house passively (without using a fans or the AC). The goal is to save energy.

COLLECT 

CONSTRUCTION PAPER
TAPE
SCISSORS
TWO INCENSE STICKS & holder
ONE MATCHBOX
THERMOMETER




If you have an attic space or have ever been in an attic space on warm days, have you noticed how much warmer it is in there than in the rest of the house? How about in the basement? In the days before refrigerators, basements - because they are much cooler - were used to store food items. Next time it's hot inside, try lying down on the floor and see how you feel. It's cooler than when standing up, isn't it?

Warm air rises to the top because it is lighter, or less dense, than cold air. Air molecules with more heat, or energy, move around at greater speeds and end up farther apart. So in the same amount of space (volume), warmer air will have less molecules in it than colder air. This makes it less dense or lighter, and it makes it rise up.

As warm air rises and cold air sinks, a directional movement of air is created which is called a convection current.

Have you ever wondered why on a warm day it is warmer inside a parked car than outside? This concentration of heat inside the car is caused by the greenhouse effect. A greenhouse is an enclosure made of glass or other transparent materials - typically for plants - that allows sunlight in, but then traps some of the sunlight's energy inside. This trapped energy is heat. A car parked in the sun heats up for the same reason, heat energy from the sunlight gets trapped.

Experiment

1. Knowing that warm air rises and cold air sinks, can you think about which parts of your house are the hottest? Sketch and design the location of your openings (doors and windows) so that the heated air will come out and the cool outside air will come in.

2. Build your cool house out of construction paper.

3. Once the house is complete, put a lit smoking incense stick inside the house in an incense stick holder.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE PAPER WITH THE INCENSE STICK AND SET IT ON FIRE!

If the placement of windows and doors is well designed for cooling with natural ventilation, then the smoke will come out.

4. Place a thermometer at various points inside the house. Where do you get the highest reading?




Reflect 

What design worked best?
What placement of openings helped more smoke to get out of the house?
Where did you get the highest temperature reading?
Why do you think this is?
Can you think of some other examples of convection you can see around the house?


Original Post by : http://curiositymachine.org

Research based Earth,Energy,Environmental, Science Fair Projects

Phytoremediation of the Oil Sands
Home School  -  Calgary, AB
Suncor Energy Summa Cum Laude Award -  $500.00
View Project:  virtualsciencefair.org/2010/millxk2
Abstract: This project used Mycorrhizal inoculated soybean plants as a means of phytoremediation in the Alberta Oil sands. The plants were grown in tailing sands soil, to determine if the mycorrhizal addition allowed growth in the barren soil, and remediation of the hydrocarbons in the soil. The addition of the mycorrhizal fungus increased the growth in the soybean plants allowing them to remediate the soil
Project Number: 5073	Grades: 10-12   Earth/Energy/Environmental
Comments:
Solar Juice
Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute  -  Guelph, ON
Lockheed Martin Canada Summa Cum Laude Award -  $500.00
View Project:  virtualsciencefair.org/2010/pansxs2
Abstract: Possible methods to prolong the operational lifespan of dye sensitized solar cells were investigated. Benzoic acid was used to inhibit bacterial growth on the natural plant dye, and sealing agents were used to prevent the evaporation of liquid electrolyte. Benzoic acid was found to have a positive effect on red cabbage dye, depending on several factors. All tested sealing agents proved to work.
Project Number: 4951	Grades: 10-12   Earth/Energy/Environmental
Comments:
Cadmium...mium!
Collège catholique Samuel Genest  -  Ottawa, ON
Transport Canada Summa Cum Laude Award -  $300.00 Primary Fluid Systems " Best in School" Award - $50.00
View Project:  virtualsciencefair.org/2010/aubixs2
Abstract: Nous avons déterminés les conditions de culture optimales pour une culture de Lemna minor, une plante aquatique. Cette culture pourait aider à dépolluer les plans d'eau contaminés au cadmium, un métal lourd.
Project Number: 4751	Grades: 7-9   Earth/Energy/Environmental
Comments: