Mini Investigations

This week at Science Club Miss Harrison set out a range of mini science investigations for us to have a go at. We had to think about what was happening and come up with an investigation.

This is what we did and found out.

Compression of Substances - Louise
There was the following in syringes - water, salt and air. The hardest to press down was the water and the easiest was the air. Because the end of the syringe was blocked the water needed to go somewhere and it went nowhere so it was the hardest.

Air Takes Up Space - Jack
For this experiment you only need a piece of cardboard, a water tap and a small round container or cup. Fill the cup with water (3/4 full) and put the cardboard over the cup. Tip it upside down. Now let go of the cardboard and hold the cup. The cardboard will stay. This is because the water is pushing down but because the air pushes in all different directions it pushes up and keeps the cardboard on the cup.

Making a rainbow with a Prism - Billy
To make a rainbow with a prism is easy. You get a clear prism and point it at the sun or a light. You see some things in rainbow vision. It is really cool.

Observing a lighted candle - Shikhar
First we lit a candle with a lighter. Then we observed the candle in different ways (eg - blowing, turning upside down and trying to make it go out without blowing or touching it). The bottom of the flame is blue and sometimes white and the top is yellow. This middle is usually orange or red. If you press the very little flame with your fingers it can go out without hurting or burning your fingers. Be careful though. Fire is a very interesting and amazing element.
Air takes up space - Harrison
Put a tissue in a cup and stick it in so it stays at the bottom.
Put the cup with tissues upside down in water.
Take it out.
What happened?

• The tissue is dry. There is still air in the cup so the water can not go in.
• If you put the cup in the water sideways, water will go in.

Air Pressure - Russell
We had 2 syringes and a tube joined onto both of the ends. This experiment worked by air pressure. When you pushed the air out of one tube it makes all the air go into the other tube, making the other tube go up.
Putting a jar over a burning candle - Ella
We lit a candle standing up in a bowl of water. Then we placed a jar over the candle. After the candle burnt up all the oxygen the candle went out and the water rose up into the jar to take the place of the oxygen.

Putting a jar over a candle - Cameron and Bradley
This experiment was to fill a bowl up with water, put a lit candle in it and cover it with a jar. Then we had to see what happened.
The candle starts to die down and the water starts to rise. This happens because there is no oxygen and there is lots of space for the water to come in.