Take Out the Trash
Source Institutions
-
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
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Learners explore how recyclers take advantage of the different properties of materials, such as magnetism and density, to separate them from a mixture. They use a magnet and floatation to separate screws, plastic, and aluminum from a mixture of pre-made "trash." The screws are removed from the mixture by a magnet, flotation separates out "trash" like yogurt cups and other plastics, and aluminum and other non-magnetic and non-floating bits of "trash" are left. This activity is part of the Environmental Chemistry unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. Material estimates are for 100 uses.
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Under 5 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 4 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Four medium plastic cups
- One large plastic cup
- One large plastic bowl (or small plastic trash can)
- One rectangular plastic tray (from a microwave meal)
- One slotted spoon
- One magnet
- One 25-ml plastic scoop
- Small strainer
- About 1 to 2 cups of small zinc-plated screws and chains
- About 50 plastic coffee stirrers
- Two or three empty aluminum soft drink cans
Subjects
- Physical Sciences
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Chemistry
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Volume and Density
- The Nature of Science
- Science and Society
Informal Categories
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, ©1997
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation
