Other

Can You Walk A Tightrope?

A lot must happen in order for an object to balance. In this activity students are challenged to make a popsicle stick balance upright on their index finger; this is no easy task. With the help of some well-selected and well-placed items and an open mind the students will find a solution. The activity can be extended to discuss balanced forces and center of gravity.

Keep It Super Simple

Simple machines are all around us! In this activity students have the opportunity to explore various pulley set-ups as well as simple levers. They can find the mechanical advantage and efficiency of their apparatus. The work done can also be calculated and compared to a situation not involving a simple machine. A large-scale double pulley system and lever are available for demonstrations and to engage the students.

Why Does A Boat Float?

In this activity students will gain valuable insight to relative density. The activity begins with several discrepant events that invite the student to explore the idea of density further. A strong emphasis is placed on the understanding of mass and volume and how they relate to density. The students then experiment with Archimedes blocks and determine the densities at which they will float and sink.