Trying to get across that slippery slope was hard work. If only we had remembered sooner what our friend Science Jim had shared with us a few months ago about friction. So this time when Jim visited we quizzed him a bit more about how friction works. We did a cool experiment that really opened our eyes to the power of friction. But be warned, this little experiment is geared towards the older explorers, but if the parents take over the notetaking tasks younger ones can have fun too! Continue reading
Tag Archives: Science Jim
Let’s Make a Magnet
Did you like how we used that magnet to catch our giant fish? I’m sure you’ll agree that the folks on the Tiny Planet of Technology have ingenious tools. The really great thing about technology can be made just about anywhere — including your home.
Yes, it’s true. You can even create a magnet in your kitchen! Science Jim dropped by and shared with us an easy way to create a magnet with a few household items. But before you get started there are a few things you should know.
One of those things is what causes magnetism? Electrons! Electrons are always spinning. The reason some things are magnetic and other things aren’t is due to the balance of the spinning electrons. Electrons are said to spin left or right. Continue reading
Time to Take It to the Net (Force)
From last week’s discussion, you now understand (I hope) that it is very rare, especially on Earth, to have an object that is experiencing force from only one direction.
Remember our friend Billy from last week? He was the bicycle rider who was putting up a good fight against:
- The force of air friction pushing against him.
- He also has to fight against the friction between the gears and the wheels.
- He has gravity pulling down on him.
- His muscles are pushing and pulling inside him and so on and so on.
Here’s an activity will make this all this net force stuff clearer (I promise!): Continue reading
Science Jim Presents: The Net Force
No, no, I’m not talking about basketball (sorry guys!) The word “net”, in this case, is like net worth or net income. It’s a mathematical concept of what is left after everything that applies is added and subtracted.
Let’s talk about how much net force our friend in the picture there experiences while he’s riding that bike of his.
A bicycle rider has the force of air friction pushing against him. He has to fight against the friction between the gears and the wheels. He has gravity pulling down on him. His muscles are pushing and pulling inside him and so on and so on. Continue reading
The Cereal Galaxy Mystery
Do you like to eat cereal? I do. And sometimes while I’m eating I discover interesting things. For example, one morning as I noticed my cereal doing weird things. My Cheerios were forming little communities in my bowl. Last time I checked oats weren’t magnetic — or are they?
Okay, oats aren’t made of iron, nickel or cobalt, but something strange was happening in my cereal bowl. Why don’t you try it and we can figure this out together. Continue reading