martinzoo » Experiments

Orebody Challenge

Robin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:22:30 +0000

Today we did an activity to learn about how scientists know how to determine where ore mining should take place. Our challenge was to make a two dimensional map of an orebody, based on data obtained by poking a drinking straw through layers of play dough and examining the core which is removed by the straw.

First, we each set up an orebody. He would check mine, and I would check his.

We started with a grid, like the one in the picture.
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Then we made a layer of ‘Earth’ to fit within the grid.
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The next layer was the ‘ore’ and we were to design any kind of shape. Then we used a piece of wax paper, over our design, to trace the design, so we could check and see if our partner’s guess was correct. I’m showing you my design. GB’s result will be shown at the bottom, but I was not allowed to photograph it.
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Then we covered our design with another layer of ‘Earth’.
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Once the model was created, we switched models with each other.
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Using a straw, we poked holes in the model.
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We used a bamboo skewer to push the clay pellet out of the straw to see if any color, other than green, was showing. If there was color showing, we would use a magic marker to mark inside the hole.
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We each got 24 tries to guess the shape of the other’s orebody. We discussed the fact that it costs about $50 per foot of drilling, so scientists don’t want to make too many unnecessary core samples while looking for ore.
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When my 24 tries were up, I removed the ‘orebody’ from the graph paper, and using the dots from my magic marker, I was able to make a guess as to the shape of GB’s orebody. In this picture, I’ve laid the wax paper drawing that he made earlier, on top of my guess.
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As you can see, I was pretty darned close. GB did a good job with his, too. It was really a fun activity and I think he learned a lot. He said it was a lot like playing Battleship with ore….LOL!
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Mineral Toothpaste

Robin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:21:07 +0000

GB and I are learning about rocks and minerals in our Science curriculum. The activity for today was to take two common minerals, calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (basically, tums and baking soda) and make a common, everyday product. By mixing these ingredients with a bit of water you get a toothpaste.

We crushed up the Tums so that we had equal amounts of each ingredient.

Then, poured the baking soda into the bowl with the crushed Tums.

Then we added a little water to make it similar to a paste consistency.

Then it was time to try it out.

GB was not overly fond of the taste, neither was I, it just tasted too salty. But, it did an amazingly good job of getting our teeth nice and white. I guess I now have a back-up if we ever run out of paste….LOL!

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Rock Study

Robin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:04:58 +0000

Today GB and I started a rock study for our science curriculum. We began by boning up on the rock cycle. We studied this, in brief, about two years ago. But I’m hoping to go a little more in depth this go around.
The animated rock cycle at this site was invaluable. Everything was presented so clearly.
.Click the picture to take you to the animation page:

We reviewed the three types of rocks again, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. And then I set up mystery stations in the kitchen with a set of rocks that I had purchase a few years ago from Home Science Tools. We also looked at some of the gems and rocks that we brought home from the rock mine a few weeks ago.

Using a rock key, similar to this one, GB was able to identify all but one. He used a magnifying glass to look closely at the rocks and the stereoscope for extremely close-up inspection.

He particularly enjoyed submerging a couple of the rocks, the limestone and the marble, into vinegar to see if the would fizz.
The following video, and all the pictures were taken with my new camera. I’m still getting used to it’s new features, but I was thrilled with the quality of the video; especially compared to some of my recent ones. I still sound like Minnie Mouse, but it’s better.

We also learned that sedimentary rocks are grouped into three categories;

clastic rocks, which are formed by mechanical weathering

chemical rocks, which are formed from chemical weathering

and organic rocks, which are formed from biotic weathering

We’ve gotten a lot of information and knowledge from this wonderful site during our studies of geology: Geography for Kids – by KidsGeo

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Investigating Volcanoes

Robin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:56:39 +0000

Today we made the three different kinds of volcanoes and learned a lot about volcano formation and where they are located around the world. I wish you could have seen the light of excitement in GB’s eyes as the volcanoes erupted; especially the stratovolcano. That was very impressive. In fact, he wouldn’t let me clean up until his dad gets home from work because he wants to show him what we did.

I put together a video of the whole thing. I hope you can hear some of GB’s excitement. Mine was pretty evident.

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Triops

Robin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:53:13 +0000

When I was at our local craft store I noticed that they had a bargain bin. Digging through it, I found this cool little science kit from the Smithsonian Museum. It’s called ‘Prehistoric Sea Monsters.’ They aren’t really sea monsters, but fossils of these triops (tadpole shrimp) have been found in items dating back to the prehistoric era. And since they look exactly like their ancestors, triops are considered living fossils.

Triops are found in standing fresh water, especially temporary rain pools, often in the desert or semi-desert areas. The eggs can survive drying and freezing and hatch the following year when the pools refill with water. They can stay alive for up to 9 years in the soil. But they will hatch within 2 days of getting wet.

They’re really much cooler than the ’sea monkeys’ that we’ve gotten before. For one thing, they actually work. We started them up four days ago and they are already visible from across the room (approx. 1/4 inch).

Triops come from the crustacean family, which includes crabs and lobsters. They should grow quickly to about 1 – 3 inches.

They were cheap, and so far, utterly fascinating!

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Magnetic fun

Robin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:35:13 +0000

We played with lots of magnets today. We used a lot of the activities from this site to learn about north and south poles on a magnet, attraction, repelling, and magnetic field.

We also used the magnets that I got in this kit.

First we used the wand to pick up as many paper clips as we could; 56

Then GB ran around the house looking for things that the magnet would be attracted to, being very careful to stay away from electronics (see below).

One activity was to put a file on a disc, exposed it to the magnet, check the file and see that the magnet has ruined it. Magnets will ruin discs, computers, tvs, video game players, etc. So be careful with your magnets.

Our next activity was to crush up some cereal that is fortified with extra iron.

Add water to make it into a soupy mixture. Then put your magnet into a ziplock back and drag it through the soupy stuff. The magnet will grab the iron right out of your cereal. Next smear what you brought up onto a white piece of paper.

We had to check under the microscope, but darned if they weren’t there, just as promised. Creepy!

See the little black dots? That’s the iron. The yellowish stuff is the cereal.

The following video shows a dollar bill responding to our magnet. We were stunned to find out that they use a bit of iron in dollar bills to make them harder to forge. You’re supposed to try this experiment with a stronger magnet, but ours did just fine.

Because magnets repel each other when the alike poles are facing each other, we were able to make this green magnet float above the red one. If you pressed down on the green one it would be forced back up.

This was the coolest magnetic viewing film. When a magnet is placed under the viewing film the tiny metal flakes respond to the magnetic field, forming shapes similar to the pattern of magnetization. The while lines show the separation between the north and south poles of the magnet.

I loved the basket weave pattern in this flat magnet.

This inch wide yellow magnet had horizontal stripes when viewed with the film.

This tiny 1/2 orange magnet had a solid pattern.

So did this green one.

And the circle.

You could see where the magnet ended in our wand by using the viewing film. This was a pretty powerful wand.

GB and I had a lot of fun today with our magnets. I can’t believe we’ve never played with them before! Shocking!

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