Models atom stacking and arrangements of molecules in solid liquid and gas.
Try stacking the balls to see how atoms stack.
Model solid, liquid & gas particles by moving different amounts of balls around on the base.
Demonstrates appropriate and inappropriate uses of materials.
Which materials are inappropriate for their job and why?
What would these normally be made of and why?
Allows children to investigate melting and freezing. This exhibit will not get hot enough to harm the children.
Use the heating and cooling buttons to watch the wax melt and solidify.
Make careful observations.
Allows children to investigate compressibility… also weight and appropriateness of materials to purpose.
Lift & squeeze the bottles to investigate compressibility and weight.
Why might these properties be important when we are making things?
Demonstrates filtering and sieving.
Filter beads of different sizes (sieving). Filter solids out of a liquid.
What can you think of in everyday life that works like this?
Demonstrates flow of liquids of different viscosity.
Tilt the tubes and watch how the liquids flow. What are the differences? Watch what happens when they get to the obstacles. Try to guess what the liquids are.
Allows children to investigate thermal insulators and conductors.
Place the thermometer on the hotplate (35?-40?C). Place the materials on the hotplate for a while. Feel the material and the underside of the hotplate. Why the difference? See how air can be used as a thermal insulator.
Allows children to closely observe immiscible mixtures as they separate.
One disc contains white spirit and coloured water. The other contains water with sand and small stones. Turn the containers and then allow them to stand. What happens? Can you explain it?
Children can investigate surface textures and how this affects mark making.
Try drawing on the different surfaces. Use only the chalk provided! Which are the easiest /hardest to draw on or to clean? Why is this? What does the end of the chalk look like after drawing on each surface? Why?
Enables children to investigate magnetic properties, thermal properties and electrical conductivity/ insulation.
Test the materials with the magnet & electrical conductivity tester. Place your hands on each material (rock (marble); steel; aluminium; plywood; plastic(PVC); rubber). Some feel colder than others. Now test with the thermometer. Are they different? (No – some just conduct heat away from your hand more effectively.)
Displays microscope images on screen.
Look at the samples provided under the microscope. You can also look at hair, your fingers and other small objects. The microscope will reveal differences in surface that are not normally noticed (magnification approx. x25). Observe carefully. Do the differences make these materials more appropriate for some uses?
Allows children to compare the movement of 3 liquids with different viscosities and compare with a fine-grained solid.
Stir the liquids & the powder with the fish-shaped paddles. Which is most difficult? This is the most viscous.
How does the powder differ from the liquids, both during and after stirring?
