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Going for a Spin: Making a Model Steam Turbine
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In this activity, learners explore how various energy sources can be used to cause a turbine to rotate.
Twirling in the Breeze
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In this engineering activity, learners build a device (an anemometer) to measure how fast the wind is blowing.
The Carbon Cycle and its Role in Climate Change: Activity 3
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In this activity, learners explore the human influences on the carbon cycle and examine how fossil fuels release carbon.
Balloon Car
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In this physics activity, challenge learners to make and race a balloon-powered car. Learners construct the body out of a paper cup, wheels out of wooden spools. and fuel tank out of a balloon.
Engineer an Aeolipile
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In this engineering design challenge, learners build an air-powered spinning machine.
Hot Air Balloon
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In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer.
Yeast Balloons
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Visitors observe a bottle with a balloon attached around the mouth. The bottle contains a solution of yeast, sugar, and water.
What Counts in Bounce
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In this activity learners compare the bounciness of warm and cold racquetballs to see if temperature makes a difference in how well they bounce.
Geothermal Power Plant Model
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In this activity, learners make a model of a power plant that uses steam. Learners use simple materials like foil, a tin can, and a pot of water to model a geothermal power plant.
Pot-in-Pot Refrigeration
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In this activity (on page 2 of PDF), learners create a low-tech refrigerator that requires no electricity to keep food from spoiling.
Waves and Tides
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In this 7-10 day investigation, learners develop an understanding of waves and tides and their motion through discussion, demonstration, and hands-on activities.
Cool It!
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Learners make a refrigerator that works without electricity. The pot-in-pot refrigerator works by evaporation: a layer of sand is placed between two terra cotta pots and thoroughly soaked with water.
Wonderful Weather
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In this activity, learners conduct three experiments to examine temperature, the different stages of the water cycle, and how convection creates wind.
Tiny Geyser Models
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In this activity (located on page 2), learners will construct tiny model geysers out of film canisters, warm water, and antacid seltzer tablets.
If Hot Air Rises, Why is it Cold in the Mountains?
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This demonstration/activity helps learners understand why higher elevations are not always warm simply because "hot air rises." Learners use a tire pump to increase the pressure and temperature inside
Puff Mobile
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to design a car using only 3 straws, 4 Lifesavers™, 1 piece of paper, 2 paper clips, tape, and scissors.
Hot and Cold: Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions
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Visitors mix urea with water in one flask and mix calcium chloride with water in another flask. They observe that the urea flask gets cold and the calcium chloride flask gets hot.
It's A Gas!
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Visitors mix water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a large flask. They then add citric acid to the mixture and stopper the flask. The resulting reaction creates carbon dioxide gas.
All Mixed Up!: Separating Mixtures
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Visitors separate a mixture of pebbles, salt crystals, and wood shavings by adding water and pouring the mixture through a strainer.
Shrinkers
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Visitors use heat to shrink samples of polystyrene. They compare samples from containers that were shaped in different ways during manufacturing.