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Carousel Pump
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In this activity, learners build a carousel toy that spins when pushed down.
The Geophysical Light/Dark Cycle
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This is an activity (located on page 131 of the PDF) related to sleep and circadian rhythms as well as space travel.
Build Your Own Wind Turbine
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Learners construct an electricity-generating wind turbine out of a plastic bottle.
CD Spinner
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In this activity, learners create a simple “top” from a CD, marble and bottle cap, and use it as a spinning platform for a variety of illusion-generating patterns.
Bicycle-Wheel Gyro
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In this activity, a spinning bicycle wheel resists efforts to tilt it and point the axle in a new direction.
Laser Lissajous: PVC Version
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In this activity, learners use a laser pointer and two small rotating mirrors to create a variety of fascinating patterns, which can be easily and dramatically projected on a wall or screen.
Working with Wind Energy
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In this activity, learners explore how wind energy can be generated on both a large and small scale.
Design a Microexpression Zoetrope
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In this engineering design challenge, learners animate a facial expression and make a machine (zoetrope) that plays the animation back.
Toxic Popcorn Design Challenge
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In this activity, learners explore the engineering design process (EDP)—the process engineers use to solve design challenges.
Whirling Windmills
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In this activity, learners are challenged to design and construct a windmill to harness the power of wind.
Running in Circles
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In this group activity, learners use some common objects and work together to simulate the Coriolis effect. During the challenge, learners make predictions and test different scenarios.
Kinematic Fanatic
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In this activity, learners are challenged to design and build a system of gears and kinematics to create a hand-stamping machine.
Sea State: Forecast Conditions at Sea
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In this oceanography and data collection activity, learners cast real time sea state conditions using buoys from NOAA's National Data Buoy Center.
Build a Big Wheel
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In this activity, learners explore how engineers have developed big wheels or Ferris wheels.
Tinkering with Tops
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In this activity, learners explore the history, design and motion of spinning tops. Learners work in teams of "engineers" to design and build their own tops out of everyday items.
Egg-Citing Physics
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In this demonstration about momentum, use physics to distinguish between a hard-boiled egg and a raw egg without cracking them open.
Mini Zoetrope
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In this activity (posted on March 27, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a mini zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.
Over the Hill
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In this physics activity, learners construct a small-scale version of a classic carnival game.
Transit Tracks
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In this space science activity, learners explore transits and the conditions when a transit may be seen.
The Shadow Knows II
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In this activity, learners will measure the length of a shadow and use the distance from the equator to calculate the circumference of the earth.