Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My daugther is in 7th grade and is doing the Rings of Saturn Experiment. We are having a hard time finding a record player and was wondering if anyone else has used something else for the experiment, other than a CD player, which we also don't have. Any suggestions will help! Thanks!

Hi sdgirl07,

As I look at the project idea (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml), the record player is just being used to support and spin the construction paper disk. So, anything that can support a sheet of construction paper and spin it at a reasonable (and reasonably constant) rate should work for this project. That being said, I suspect it will take a bit of trial-and-error tinkering to get a "homegrown" contraption to work well.

A few thoughts come to mind. First, construction paper on its own is pretty flimsy; the record player has a base that supports the paper. So, I suggest cutting out a record-sized circle of sturdy cardboard to use as the base of support for the construction paper. If you poked a small hole in the center of the circle and ran a bamboo skewer (or something similar--a pencil, dowel, etc.) through that hole, you could spin the skewer with your fingers, which should make the disk spin. The cardboard disk should be roughly centered on the skewer. If the disk doesn't spin, it's probably because the cardboard isn't coupling nicely to the skewer. Gluing the skewer to the cardboard circle would solve that problem. Now, the cardboard circle will need to stay horizontal while you spin it, so you will need a level surface to support the circle (otherwise the particles will just slide off the disk). I suggest something like two desks of the same height placed next to each other or stacks of books--something that will support the sides of the disk, while letting the dowel go between them. If you settle the cardboard disk on the stacks of books (to keep the disk horizontal), put a piece of black construction paper on top of the cardboard disk, and then use your fingers to turn the skewer, you should be in business. Make sure to spin the skewer at as constant a rate as you can, so that spin rate is a controlled variable in your daughter's experiment.

Let me know if this description doesn't make sense or if I can help troubleshoot something. I'm happy to help however I can.

All the best,
Terik