Science Fair Projects: Physics

by Bonnet, Bob; Keen, Dan; Zweifel, Frances

• ISBN13: 9780806922553
• ISBN10: 0806922559
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-31
• Publisher: Sterling

Summary

Spark scientific curiosity with easy-to-find materials. The fascinating field of physics deals with the how and why of non living objects--including so many that figure in kids' everyday lives. It covers what principles are at work when we ride a bicycle, why a balloon floats, and how a refrigerator keeps that bottle of soda nice and ice-cold! And, what physics reveals about light, time, motion, magnetism, and other natural forces plays a part in many other sciences, including astronomy, optics, and even the arts. Colorfully demonstrate how energy flows, why things accelerate, and how sound travels. With these great science fair experiments budding scientists can have a "swinging good time" testing pendulums; measuring the momentum of a dropping ball; checking if water affects a magnetic field; storing solar heat; moving heavy objects easily with the help of a lever; and much more.

Author Biography

Bob Bonnet lives in Clermont, NJ, and Dan Keen lives in Cape May Court House, NJ.

Table of Contents

Introduction	5	(2)
Project
Magnetic Water
The effect of water on magnetism	7	(1)
A Swinging Good Time
Pendulum motion	8	(2)
Man on a Tight Rope
Wave motion	10	(2)
Rub the Right Way
Friction and surfaces	12	(2)
The Mighty Mo
Momentum: a product of force times mass	14	(2)
Hot Rocks
Heat transfer from one medium to another	16	(2)
Smaller Is Stronger
Testing tensile strength	18	(1)
Up to Speed
Acceleration in a bottle	19	(1)
Bad Manners
Heat conduction and heat sinking	20	(2)
Watt?
Comparing light output and power consumption	22	(2)
Room for Brightness
Reflected light	24	(2)
Down-Range Shooter
Trajectory: curved path through the air	26	(2)
Get a Handle
Wheel and axle, a simple machine	28	(2)
Balance the Books
First-class lever, a simple machine	30	(2)
We Are #2
Second- and third-class levers	32	(2)
Bottled Force
Kinetic and potential energy	34	(2)
Water Maker
Solar radiation	36	(2)
An Uphill Battle
Kinetic energy and the transfer of energy	38	(2)
Cellular Can
Transmitting sound by vibrating materials	40	(2)
Singin' in the Shower
Acoustics: the behavior of confined sound	42	(2)
Ear of the Beholder
Pleasant sounds versus ``noise''	44	(2)
The Sound of Time
Amplifying sound	46	(2)
Blown Away
Fluidics: air flow around shapes	48	(2)
Balancing Act
Objects at rest tend to stay at rest	50	(2)
Floating Along
Buoyancy: the ability to stay up	52	(2)
Flying in Circles
Air friction: sometimes good, sometimes not	54	(2)
Pop a Treat
The physics of popcorn	56	(2)
Unwelcome Gusts
Comparing and measuring wind strengths	58	(2)
A Lopsided Pinwheel
Balancing points of oddly shaped objects	60	(2)
Get the Point
Changes affecting surface areas	62	(2)
Break the Beam
Exploring some characteristics of light	64	(2)
Now Soft/Now LOUD
Amplifying sound through reflection	66	(2)
Plant First Aid
Collecting light to benefit plants	68	(2)
Hot Light
Comparing waste heat from bulbs	70	(2)
Crash!
The relationship between mass and force	72	(2)
Bigger Water
Temperature's expansion/contraction effects	74	(1)
Look at the Sound
Light speed faster than sound speed	75	(1)
Work = Force X Distance
The wedge, a simple machine	76	(2)
Water Shooter
Compressing a fluid	78	(1)
Siphon Fun
Water drains to own level	79	(1)
Whirring Button
Torque: changing the direction of force	80	(2)
Toy Story
Torque-energy storage in a homemade toy	82	(1)
Walls Don't Move
Newton's 3rd: action and reaction	83	(1)
Sandwater
Erosion caused by friction of glacial ice	84	(2)
Back in Shape
The characteristics of elasticity	86	(2)
Don't Fret
Changing pitch by varying string tension	88	(2)
Space Saver
The concept of volume	90	(1)
Glossary	91	(3)
Index	94