Science experiments help students learn concepts.
Physical science is the study of energy and nonliving matter, and many science courses fall into his category, such as chemistry, astronomy and physics. In an elementary or middle school classroom, students can participate in physical science experiments and activities to grasp an understanding of the states of matter, how electricity flows or the usefulness of simple machines in everyday life.
States of Matter
Younger students can easily participate in interactive physical science activities with states of matter. After students learn about solids, liquids and gases, they can experience these concepts firsthand when conducting experiments with water, ice, and steam. An easy activity to do is to experiment with heat and cold. Using a blown-up balloon, students measure around its middle and then heat it up with a blow dryer for 10 minutes or in the summer sun for 30 minutes. They measure it again in the same place to see whether it expanded from the heat. Then students put the balloon in a freezer or cooler with ice for 30 minutes and measure it to see whether it contracted in the cold.
Electricity
One electricity activity for students is to create an electromagnet. The only materials students need are a 6-inch iron nail; 10 feet of 22 gauge insulated, stranded copper wire; a D-cell battery; and a pair of wire strippers. Students will also need objects that the magnet can pick up, such as steel paper clips or washers. To make the electromagnet, students use the wire strippers to remove about 1/4 inch of insulation at each end of the wire before they wrap the wire tightly around the nail. Then students attach one end of the wire to one end of the battery and do the same with the other end of the wire to the other end of the battery. Now, they have made a complete circuit, and the electromagnet should be able to pick up objects as a regular magnet would.
Simple Machines
Physical science experiments also involve using simple machines to make work easier. For example, students can discover how a lever helps people do work with less force by building a tabletop lever and then determine how much force it takes to lift an object. Students will need a ruler for the lever, a marker or pen for the fulcrum, a load such as a bar of soap and masking tape to secure the fulcrum to the table. Students can measure when it is easier to lift the load, depending on where the fulcrum is located under the lever. Students will ask themselves: Is it easier to lift the load with the lever when the fulcrum is closer or farther from the load? They can also use a plastic bag full of pennies on the opposite end of the ruler to lift the load. Do they need more pennies in the bag to lift the soap when the fulcrum is closer or farther from the load?
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