Learn about what physics actually is, why it’s awesome, and why you should come with me on a ride through understanding the wacky universe in which we live.
Drop one weight into the tube and, no surprise here, the weight drops to the ground with a thud. Go figure… it’s gravity at work! The second weight might bend your mind a little, though. Drop this weight into the aluminum tube and… wait… why didn’t it come out the bottom? Give it a second, that weight just takes a while longer, but figuring it out may be a bit tricky. That’s why we call it Newton’s Nightmare!
Everyone knows that water can’t flow uphill. Not so fast… When a small amount of Polyox (polyethylene oxide) is mixed with water, it dissolves, forming a thick, slippery, gooey, mucous-like gel. Oh, the visual imagery! When the gel is poured back and forth between two beakers, the gel mysteriously siphons from the higher held beaker to the lower one. Maybe water can flow uphill. You have to play with the stuff to believe it.
As a penny balances precariously on the hook of a wire hanger, you might think any sort of movement would send the penny flying. With a bit of physics know-how, you can spin the entire hanger around in a circle without losing the 1¢ coin. When it comes down to it, you just need to thank Sir Isaac Newton.
All it takes is a slight tug and the long string of beads literally pull itself out of the container and onto the floor. Best of all, fifty feet of beads empty from the container in under five seconds! How does it work?
Read the full experiment at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/egg-drop-inertia-trick
The challenge sounds so simple… just get the egg into the glass of water, but there are a few obstacles. The egg is perched high above the water on a cardboard tube, and a pie plate sits between the tube and the water. Still think it’s easy? Sir Isaac Newton does.
Recently, the scientists at Spangler Labs had a day where they recollected their fond memories of elementary school. Some thought back to their favorite science or math class, but Steve was excited about the playground equipment. He loved the monkey bars, the swings, and even loved to play tetherball.
But, he recalled, his favorite thing to do on the playground was seesaw. Steve’s memories even included a daredevil stunt where he seesawed while it was on fire. He was a regular elementary Evil Knievel. And then it hit him…what if he could use some amazing science principles to make a magic seesaw?
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here is a classic table trick, whipping the tablecloth out from beneath the dishes! Make sure not to use mom’s best china.