Science Buddies Blog (Page 56)

Flippy the Robot Dances (and Falls Apart)

October 2, 2015 12:47 PM

Engineering projects encourage students to think creatively, troubleshoot, and innovate. Sometimes there are no single "right" answers, and students will need to work, test, and brainstorm to find their own solutions to problems they encounter or to challenges presented. Building and improving a simple dancing robot whose legs fly off is a great way to "teach" lessons related to engineering and troubleshooting. Plus, Flippy is adorable, and this engineering challenge is a lot of fun! … Read more

Compare Circumference and Diameter with String

September 24, 2015 10:01 AM

Things that are circular in shape surround us. From quarters to wheels to the openings of cups and bottles, circles are abundant, and they come in all sizes. In this week's family science activity, students explore properties of a circle, just like mathematicians do, to see if they can identify the relationship between the diameter of a circle and the circumference. This hands-on math activity turns these measurements (and the concept of Pi) into something that can be visualized with… Read more

Survey Science: Asking Questions and Analyzing Answers to Test a Hypothesis

September 23, 2015 10:45 AM

Using a survey to gather data for a science project can be a lot of fun, but successful survey science takes careful preparation, planning, and data analysis. What will the survey data show? "Survey says!" is a famous phrase used in the classic "Family Feud" television game show. Surveys offer an interesting look at information gathered from a group of participants, and with careful planning, you can use surveys to help investigate a range of science… Read more

Wind Turbines and Energy from Wind Turbulence

September 17, 2015 11:00 AM

Wind turbines can be used as a source of clean, renewable energy. With their tall towers, wind turbines harness the movement from the wind-spun blades to generate electricity. The positioning of a wind turbine, however, will determine how effective it is. Environmental and civil engineers carefully evaluate the placement of wind turbine towers to help ensure they get maximum exposure to wind. What happens when there are buildings, trees, or other objects nearby? In this family science… Read more

Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

September 11, 2015 12:50 PM

Hands-on science and an understanding of electronics, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects can improve your odds of survival in the event that zombies come to town, or in the face of some other unexpected disaster. Image: The image above was used in a clever CDC "zombie preparedness" campaign in 2011. At one time it was vampires. Now and again there are werewolves and witches or even wizards and Muggles. But with the hit "Walking Dead" (AMC) television series entering its… Read more

Solve a Mystery with Science

September 4, 2015 2:30 PM

What does a scientist do when faced with a mystery ingredient that could be the key to solving a crime or accident? Understanding how certain chemicals react in the presence of other chemicals can be the key to confirming the identity of a substance. Students get a hands-on look at chemical reactions using a color test as they work to solve a hypothetical medical mystery in the Crime Scene Chemistry project. The premise of the Crime Scene Chemistry:… Read more

A 'Big Blue Live' Look at Marine Life

September 2, 2015 2:40 PM

In a three-part television series from PBS and BBC, viewers tune in to an amazing ecosystem off the coast of Northern California where all kinds of migrating animals stop to feed and refuel. Students and classes can explore environmental issues, marine life, the science of habitats and migration, and other related science questions with hands-on STEM education projects. Click the image above to visit the PBS website where you can watch the "Big Blue Live" episodes online. Sea otters… Read more

Racing Marbles to Measure Viscosity

August 27, 2015 3:00 PM

Have you ever noticed that some liquids are more difficult than others to squeeze from a container? Honey is a great example. Depending on its temperature, it may be especially slow to flow from the bottle. (If you warm it up, it may flow more quickly!) While it may seem like the quality of the honey you are noticing is its "thickness" or "thinness," another way to talk about what you are seeing is to talk about its viscosity. In this week's chemistry-themed family science… Read more

Exploring Bridge Beams with Spaghetti

August 20, 2015 11:57 AM

How do engineers ensure that bridges and other structures can support weight properly so that they don't collapse? In this week's materials science-themed family science activity, families can use uncooked spaghetti noodles to explore the forces that come into play when weight is applied to a beam. What happens when the spaghetti bends in response to weight? If the noodles break, where do they break? Was the breakage the result of compression or tension? Does using more pieces of… Read more

A Positive Science Fair Project Experience

August 18, 2015 10:00 AM

Science fair projects let students learn, use, and demonstrate important science and reasoning steps, and the benefits of hands-on and active exploration compared to more passive modes of learning or rote memorization are well-documented. So why do so many parents scowl at the science fair project assignment? What makes the science project a stumbling block for many families rather than an anticipated and positive learning experience? Is it simply a matter of perspective? There are many steps… Read more

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