Whether you are working, studying, or being entertained, much of our daily routines rely on being plugged-in. You probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about where all that power comes from, but someone has to! Figuring out the best ways to produce energy is a big job that is growing along with the world's population. Energy production is a complex topic with debates about whether to invest in fossil fuels or clean renewable energies like solar, wind, water, and geothermal. Take a first-hand look at some of the problems and challenges scientists and engineers are tackling as they look at making and storing energy.
Instructions and materials for these 6th grade science and engineering projects are available on our website:
1. Robot Hand: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Robotics_p001/robotics/drinking-straw-robot-hand?ytid=Z95keYR60CY&ytsrc=description
2. Electromagnet: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Elec_p035/electricity-electronics/strength-of-an-electromagnet?ytid=Z95keYR60CY&ytsrc=description
3. Slime:…
Did you know that you can use solar power to cook food? This can be done using a solar oven, which is a low-cost, ecologically-friendly technology that seems to have everything going for it. This video will show you how to build your very own simple solar oven out of a pizza box to gather the Sun's rays and cook a tasty treat for you! Written instructions are available on our website at https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/solar-oven?ytid=nhgNh3BdMsc&ytsrc=description
Science Buddies…
Teachers! A free, NGSS-aligned Lesson Plan, Solar-Powered Cars for Junior Solar Sprints, is available for students doing the Junior Solar Sprint challenge: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/solar-powered-cars-junior-solar-sprints?ytid=jBpS6W-2otk&ytsrc=description Instructions for an individual student science project are available here:…
How does gear ratio affect the speed of a model car? How can you find the best gear ratio? You should take this into account when building your own solar-powered car for a competition like the Junior Solar Sprint. See the Science Buddies website for an NGSS-aligned classroom lesson plan: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/solar-powered-cars-junior-solar-sprints?ytid=-frF3sPyKMI&ytsrc=description and instructions for an individual student science project:…
Step-by-step instructions to make three different pinwheels, each with a unique blade design, and then test how fast each pinwheel spins. By following the steps in this fun science activity video, you will discover how pinwheel blade shape relates to turning speed and understand the connection between pinwheels and wind turbines.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a leader in safely performing radiological work. Our national security mission requires that we meet the highest standards of radiation protection for the health of our workers, the public, and the environment. To ensure worker and public safety, Radiological Control Technicians perform measurements of radiological conditions and levels around radioactive materials or radiation-generating equipment. Always in high demand, RCTs are a pivotal part of any facility…
How does the angle of a solar panel relative to the sun affect its power output? How does this affect the speed of a model solar-powered car? You should take this into account when building your own solar-powered car for a competition like the Junior Solar Sprint. See the Science Buddies website for an NGSS-aligned classroom lesson plan: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/solar-powered-cars-junior-solar-sprints?ytid=SyQQt0jzLu4&ytsrc=description and instructions for…
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