Super+Science+2014

Two groups of Central Southland students met with Mr McKenzie to develop our competence and confidence in using scientific laboratory equipment and to challenge and extend ourselves in a hands on practical scientific environment.

**What we did:** • We had to competently handle Bunsen burners, glassware and chemicals to set up for an investigation, to conduct an experiment, to record and interpret data and to reach a conclusion. • We sat a laboratory proficiency exam which required a 100 percent pass rate. This exam required us to show knowledge of, and demonstration of the use of 24 laboratory items or procedures. • We worked together and individually on the 16 areas of learning and were given the support to have hands on learning, to discuss our findings, to pose new questions and to plan further investigations to test our hypotheses. media type="file" key="Super Science Group 1.mov" width="300" height="300"media type="file" key="Super Science Group 2 .mov" width="300" height="300"

**Check out the scientific investigations we did. Follow the links to find out more.** **Air pressure**

We set up rockets by increasing the air pressure inside a bottle.

**Bunsen burners** Bunsen burners a very good piece of equipment for a scientist as it gives a good heat supply. It burns at about 8000 C. Check the jet of the Bunsen burner is clean. LPG has ethyl mercaptan added to it so that people can smell the gas. A yellow flame isn’t a hot flame. A blue flame is a hot flame. By restricting the amount of air coming into the Bunsen burner it changes the colour of the flame. Use a yellow flame when you are not using it, so you can see it.

**Colours and density**

•We had a flask of water. Potassium permanganate, known as Condy’s crystals is available from camping stores and is a very good steriliser. Colouring agent added to water so we can see. We shared our hypothesis of what would happen when we applied heat.

300-400 years ago **Galileo** found this, and was able to use it as a measure for temperature. He invented the first thermometer. **Fahrenheit** added the numbers. Water is solid when it is 32 degrees and boiling at 212. **Celsius** made it easier by deciding to use freezing point as 00C and 1000C as boiling point. Thermometers use a colouring agent so people can see the rise and fall in temperature, either alcohol or mercury. But mercury is dangerous as it is a poison. []

**Combustion** • If you are planning to experiment with combustion get permission from your Mum and Dad. Investigating can be very dangerous, so use caution. Mr McKenzie says he would love it if we are investigating BUT he would also love us to live another day! • Ignition source + Air + Fuel = Combustion Combustion is rapid burning.

• We experimented with 2 chemicals mixed together, which could save your life as it’s an old bushman’s trick. Steel wool dipped in diesel (fuel source) + ignition point (battery pack) = combustion • Electricians say house fires often start with short circuits- gives a spark which is the ignition source, then you need oxygen plus fuel source, so get rid of mice in your home. __• Test for Fabric Combustibility__ On clothes you sometimes see signs like ‘Warning: Highly inflammable’ or ‘Fire protected’. We tested the following fabrics for flammibility: polo, T towel, thermal/ polyprops, ironing board cover, foam, pink batts. You need sand (non combustible as the base), everyone observing, timer, paper for recording.

As a scientist you get to choose how you set up an investigation/ conduct experiments. So there is more than one way to do things. []

**Evaporation** []

**Floating & sinking** []

**Heat transfer**

We heated a brass rod made from an alloy of copper and silver. We had lots of ideas. Scientists call these hypotheses. Our hypothesis was that when you apply heat the metal expands. We found another way of testing our hypothesis using copper wire. Copper wire is a very good conductor of heat. It doesn’t rust []

**Insulation materials investigation** Heat can travel through a solid and that is called conduction. To insulate something we don’t want the heat to transfer, so we want a poor conductor of heat. To keep a room warm, close doors, close curtains, install pink batts. For this experiment we had 4 containers- all standardised- the same size, beakers with 100 ml of water. We brought them up to boiling point – 1000C. We then had 4 insulating materials around bottom and sides of container. We tested • pink batts -fibreglass fibres- need gloves, mask and goggles. • bubble wrap • high density foam • 4th one had nothing – it’s the control as we needed something to compare results on. It’s the standard by which you judge everything else. It’s easier to set up but vital in collecting data. Then place thermometer in and every 5 minutes read temperature again. Chart minutes on bottom axis and degrees temperature up the side axis. You could make up a spreadsheet to make a graph on computer to record data. []

**Investigations** Science is always better when you’ve got the right equipment. It requires great thinking, questions and hypotheses, joining the ideas together. **The components of an investigation including the use of a control and fair testing** A fair test is one were all the variables are controlled, or are the same. When a scientist gets to reach a conclusion and publish their investigation, it’s vital to do a fair test. Scientists are looking for the truth and for new knowledge. Scientists are systematic, tidy people. [] []
 * 1) Ask a question[[image:IMG_6352.jpg width="246" height="144" align="right"]]
 * 2) Think of an answer- hypothesis
 * 3) Experiment x3
 * 4) Collect data
 * 5) Interpret data
 * 6) Make a conclusion

**Laboratory proficiency exam** We peer assessed and then Mr McKenzie spot tested us as we sat a laboratory proficiency exam. It included • Safety glasses lens clean • Care and use of LPG cabinet, regulator and cylinder • Checking and setting up Bunsen burners, tripods and wire gauze • Selecting equipment and describing their use- test tube, beaker, funnel, test tube holder, flask, dropper, clamp stand, clamp, test tube rack, watch glasses • Safe use of electricity including extension cords, circuit breaker and mains supply

**Laboratory safety** • Commonsense is a great thing and it keeps you safe. • A good scientist has a tidy laboratory. Put away anything you aren’t using. • There are times you should wear safety goggles. • Lots of fabric is highly flammable, so beware of any loose fitting clothing and roll sleeves up. • Use a yellow flame when you are not using the Bunsen burner, so you can see it. It’s a hot flame – treat it with respect. • The beakers are Perspex. It’s important to apply the heat evenly.

**Magnetism** []

**Particle nature of matter including the expansion of solids, liquids and gases** • Matter is what everything is made up from. Solids are made up of particles, packed in tight, keeping shape. When heat is applied, the particles take the energy and move about and then take the shape of the container as the solid turns into a liquid. More heat turns the liquid into a gas through evaporation. By lowering the heat the process reverses with condensation. • We experimented with air in beaker with balloon, apply heat, balloon expands. • The common thing we’ve found is adding heat to a solid, liquid or gas in the investigations we did, the particles expand. • When we go over a bridge, sometimes we feel a bump. We had lots of ideas about what caused this. Mr McKenzie explained that the gaps in the bridge are the expansion gap. On railway lines the rails have a plate bolting it together to let the rails contract and expand with the heat of the day. That makes the clackety clack sound we hear. Engineers have learnt from scientists and use this in their designs. So they include an expansion gap. []

**Periodic Table** As new elements are discovered, the periodic table has grown. Abbreviations make it quicker to record the information. Lead is Pb. Plumbum. Water is H2O. []

**Pneumatics** []

**Surface tension** Surface tension of water can be used to hold things up. We floated a needle. Try it out at home or school if you get a chance. You need an ice-cream stick, needle or paperclip, single layer of tissue, water and clean hands (not greasy) and a clean dish.

It looks like magic, but it is straight science. Detergent breaks the surface tension.

**The water cycle** []

**Here are some links to science experiments you could do at home.** [] [] [] [] []

**What does a scientist look like?** Often we think a scientist is a man in a white coat doing crazy things in a lab. But that’s a stereotype. There are also lots of women scientists and there always have been throughout history. [] [] []

**If you are interested in a career using science, check out these links.** [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

Mr McKenzie was impressed with our levels of self-management, teamwork and scientific thinking. You may like to go to the Science Roadshow. It will be at James Hargest Campus in Invercargill on November 3rd and 4th, 2014.