PHYSICAL SCIENCE ACTIVITIES

Times listed for each lab activity are approximate times. Times include set-up/take down of equipment and discussion of data collected. Lengthy labs can be spread over several days. Many of the activities listed under Chemistry Activities, Middle School Science Activities, and Physics Activities are appropriate for Physical Science.

Global Positioning System (GPS) activities - Students will use GPS units to learn how they work, how they are used by campers, hunters, hikers, etc., and how they are used in other areas such as agriculture and the military. These activities can be done during a class period or independently outside of class. Time 50-60 minutes

2. GPS Orienteering - Students create a "route" using GPS units. Other students attempt to retrace the route using the landmarks stored by the previous group.

Exploring Light - Students use spectrometers to investigate emission, absorption, and continuous spectra. Light sources include an incandescent bulb, fluorescent tube, and elemental spectra tubes (H2, He, and Ne). Time 50-60 minutes.

Lasers and Optics - Students use a Powerpoint program and lasers to investigate various light and optical properties. Topics covered include Law of Reflection, Refraction (Snell's Law and Total Internal Reflection), Color Absorbance, Lenses (Lens Shapes and Optics of the Human Eye), Polarization, Measuring the Wavelength of Laser Light, and Optical Illusions. Each topic is self-contained so teachers can select those units that are most appropriate for their students. Each topic has students work through a variety of lab activities and provides "KEYS" so students can check what they learn as they work through each topic. Time 80-90 minutes if all topics are covered. There is no written lab for this activity.

"Waves" Powerpoint - A Powerpoint program that introduces students to the basic concepts of light, including color absorbance and reflectance, reflection and refraction of light waves, properties of light waves, structure and function of the lens of the eye, and other light-related topics. Students use lasers to analyze the properties of light. This is a simpler version of the "Lasers and Optics" Powerpoint program. Time 60-80 minutes if all topics are to be covered.

Nuclear Medicine Lab ­- Students use the radiation monitor to scan the head of a mock patient to locate a brain tumor. Students use the monitor to search for a simulated "hot spot" created by absorption of a radioisotope into the tumor. Time 30 minutes.

Seeing the Unseen (Radioactive Particles and Rays) - Students use a cloud chamber (requiresdry ice) to visualize alpha, beta, and gamma emission from a radioactive source.

Time 45-50 minutes.

Complete the Circuit - Students are given a light bulb, a wire, and a battery. They are challenged to light the bulb using three different circuits. This is a great introduction to electricity and circuits.

Time - 20-30 min.

Series and Parallel Circuits - Students are given an electronics board containing 4 - "D" cell batteries and three light bulbs. Given the definition of both series and parallel circuits, students are challenged to create both types of circuits and to note differences in the circuits.

Time - 20-40 min., depending on previous knowledge of students.

LAB ACTIVITIES USING VERNIER LAB PRO SENSORS

(from the Vernier manual Physical Science with Computers.)

Experiments Using Temperature Probes

Expt. 1: Temperature Probe Response Time - This experiment is designed for multiple purposes - to introduce students to Logger Pro, to help students learn to interpret graphical data and to determine the response time of the temperature probe. Response time is the time it takes the probe to stabilize at a new temperature. Time 40-50 minutes.

Expt. 2: Boiling Temperature of Water - Investigating temperature change characteristics as water changes phase. (Schools must provide additional hot plates.) Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 3: Freezing and Melting of Water - Investigating temperature change characteristics as water changes phase. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 4: Evaporation of Alcohols - Exploring the endothermic nature of evaporation. Students also investigate relationships between rate of evaporation and molecular weight of various types of alcohols. Time 45-5- minutes.

Expt. 5: Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions - Determining if a given reaction is endothermic or exothermic. Reactions include Mg + HCl and acetic acid + baking soda.

Time - 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 6: Neutralization Reactions - Students use both a temperature and conductivity probe in this experiment. The conductivity of various acids and bases is determined and related to the strength of the substance. Students also study the relationship between acid and base strength and heat released during neutralization. Time 60-70 minutes.

Expt. 7: Mixing Warm and Cold Water - Using a simple calorimeter to study heat transfer.

Time 30-40 minutes.

Expt. 8: Heat of Fusion - Using a simple calorimeter to determine the heat of fusion for ice.

Time 40-45 minutes.

Expt. 9: Energy Content of Fuels - Students use a simple calorimeter to study energy content of a candle, oil, or alcohol. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 10: Energy Content of Foods - Students use a simple calorimeter to determine the energy content of foods like nuts, popcorn, or marshmallows. This lab should be done in a well-ventilated classroom. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 11: Absorption of Radiant Energy - Investigating how black or white paper absorbs energy from an incandescent light bulb. Time 40-45 minutes.

Expt. 12: An Insulated Cola Bottle - Students wrap bottles with a variety of different materials and determine which insulates the best. School must provide a variety of insulating materials. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 13: A Good Sock - Wool and cotton socks are wrapped around bottles and their insulating ability determined. Schools must provide the socks. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 14: Insolation Angle - A temperature probe is attached to blocks of varying angles. Light from a stationary bulb provides the heat source. This illustrates the varying intensity of solar radiation falling on various parts of the earth's surface. Time 40-50 minutes.

Expt. 15: Solar Homes and Heat Sinks - Students construct a simple model solar home and determine the relationship between thermal mass and the ability of a solar home to retain heat. Students must construct the solar home models prior to arrival of the MSL.

Time 90-100 minutes.

Expt. 16: Conducting Solutions - Comparing the conductivity of solutions containing ions, molecules, or both. Schools have to provide some of the chemicals. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 17: Conductivity of Saltwater: The Effect of Concentration - Investigation of the effect of increasing concentrations of sodium chloride on solution conductivity. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 18: Acid Strengths - Investigating the relationships among acid strength, electrical conductivity, degree of ionizations, and chemical activity. Schools may have to provide some of the chemicals. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 19: Frictional Forces - Dragging a block across a smooth and rough surface to measure frictional forces. Students also make and test predictions about friction on other types of surfaces. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 20: First-Class Levers - Calculating actual and ideal mechanical advantage of first-class levers. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 21: Pulleys - Students determine the actual and ideal mechanical advantage and efficiency of single and double-pulley simple machines. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 22: An Inclined Plane - Dragging blocks of wood up a variety of inclines to determine work and efficiency. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 23: Reflectivity of Light - Students calculate the percent reflectivity of light from various colored papers and aluminum foil. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 24: Polaroid Filters - Investigating how the transmission of light varies as a polarizing filter is rotated through 360°. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 26: Electromagnets: Winding Things Up - An investigation into how the number of turns of current-carrying wire around a nail affects the resulting magnetic field.

Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 27: Magnetic Field Explorations - Students use a bar magnet to study the relationship between magnetic field strength and distance. They also measure and graph the magnetic field strength along a bar magnet. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 28: Household Acids and Bases - Common household substances are tested with litmus paper, red-cabbage juice indicator and the pH probe. Students determine the indicator color ranges for red-cabbage juice indicator and classify substances tested as acids and bases.

Time 60-70 minutes.

Expt. 29: Acid Rain - Investigating the effect of dissolved CO2 on the pH of distilled water and studying the effects of dissolving H2SO4 in various waters. Time 60-70 minutes.

Expt. 30: Gas Pressure and Volume - Students determine the relationship between gas pressure and volume (Boyle's law) by analyzing a graph of their data. Students also derive a mathematical equation for the relationship. Time 40-45 minutes.

Expt. 31: Gas Temperature and Pressure - Students measure the pressure of a sample of air at various temperatures. They derive a relationship from a graph of their data and formulate a mathematical equation to describe the relationship. This lab illustrates Charles's Law. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 32: Fun with Pressure - A competition in which students use what they have learned about gases to produce the highest pressure possible in their device. Students must prepare their container and develop an experimental procedure before doing this lab. Time 40-45 minutes.

Expt. 33: Lemon "Juice" - Students determine which combination of metals will produce the highest voltage reading in their lemon battery. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 35: Graphing Your Motion - Students walk back and forth in front of the motion sensor, investigating how their motion relates to the distance, velocity and acceleration graphs produced by their motion. They also try to interpret randomly generated graphs. This lab must be done in a classroom, gym, or outside. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 36: Velocity - Students determine a relationship between the point a cart is released on a ramp and the resulting velocity. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 37: It's Race Day - Students design a simple car and attempt to set up the conditions that will give it the greatest velocity. Exp. 36 should precede this activity. Students must build their cars prior to the MSL visit. Time 45-50 minutes.

Expt. 38: Momentum: A Crash Lesson - A cart is released down a ramp and allowed to crash into a block. The resulting movement of the block is measured. The process is repeated with the car at various points on the ramp. Students calculate the momentum of the car in each case and relate the momentum to the effect on the block during the collision. Time 50-60 minutes.

Expt. 39: Newton's Second Law - A cart is pulled across a table by a weighted cup attached to a string and suspended over the end of the table. The motion detector measures the acceleration of the cart. Students derive the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Time 50-60 minutes.

Note: Labs #36 through #39 are best done in a classroom or in the gym.

Expt. 40: Falling Objects - Students investigate the effects of air resistance by dropping coffee filters and books. Students produce distance vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs.

Time 45-50 minutes.

LAB ACTIVITIES USING THE VERNIER RADIATION MONITOR

(from the Vernier manual Nuclear Radiation with Computers and Calculators.)

All of the radiation labs use radiation sources that are safe for students. The alpha source is

Polonium-210, the beta source is Strontium-90, and the gamma source is Cobalt-60.

Experiment # and title:

Note: Lab 1 and 2 can be done simultaneously in 50-60 minutes.

6. Radiation shielding - Students use layers of cardboard and a radiation monitor to measure the amount of beta radiation absorbed by the cardboard. Time 30-40 minutes.