Middle School

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

CONVECTION EXPERIMENTS

We continue our study of the basic concepts in earth science with the process of convection.  Convection is defined as the movement of molecule caused by heating.



This photo shows convection in a glass plate.  The blue water was ice cold; the red water was hot. They moved around the plate forming this convection cell.  If it looks like a hurricane on a weather map, that is not a coincidence.  The same forces are at work in forming cyclonic storms.


The next two videos show a demonstration called The Fountain.  The flask, with a little water, is heated.  As it heats, the air expands and pushes its way out of the tube leaving a semi-vacuum in the flask.  Then the flask was inverted in ice water (purple).   The water at first climbs up the tube slowly to replace the slowly cooling and contracting air.  When the ice water hits the air, the air contracts suddenly and violently pulls the water into the flask.


THE FOUNTAIN - PART 1

THE FOUNTAIN - PART 2



(Thank you, Bailey, for making the video for me.  You did a great job.)

This is your assignment for tonight.  Watch this video of Steve Spangler doing an experiment that is very similar to one that we did.

CLICK HERE


Answer these questions:

1.  To which of our experiments was this experiment similar?

2.  How is his experiment similar?

3.  What did he do different, or in addition to, our experiment?

4.  How was the result of the second of the additional experiment different?

Friday, September 12, 2014

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL

Our Lady Crusaders played an awesome match against Trinity this afternoon.  Our girls won in two games.  I was so impressed by their cooperation on the court.  Their serving was fantastic.  I am so proud of "my" girls!



Thursday, September 11, 2014

EARTH SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

The students have been learning the physical laws that we will be using in earth science this year.  They have been using mnemonic charts to study and memorize the laws.  We have had experiments in class to demonstrate the concepts.
The first set of experiments demonstrated the molecular movement of substance at differing temperatures.  Here are Olivia Carrino and Bailey Moss assisting me with an experiment called, "Mix It Up."


 



The second set of experiments demonstrated the relative densities of substances.  We made a rainbow with liquids of different densities.




Then I made a "Genie in a Bottle" using hot and cold water.


The last experiment dealt with a "Mysterious Candle," that really ended up to be "Mysterious Medium!."
The size of the candle did not effect its density, but it floated in the water and sank in the alcohol because of the differing densities of the liquids.


I'm looking forward to a lot more experiments and experiences this year.

See you at PTF meeting, Monday, September 15th, 7 P.M.

Mrs. Sherry Lucas