Chemistry Experiments - The Chemistry of Life
This year the theme for Science Week was "The Chemistry of Life"
We tried out some the experiments on the Science Week web site and from the Discover Primary Science web site.....
About Science Week
The aim of Science Week is to promote the relevance of science, engineering and technology in our everyday lives and to demonstrate the importance of these disciplines to the future development of Irish society and to the economy. Science Week is a Discover Science & Engineering (DSE) project. In a time when Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are more important than ever, the recent Science Week 2011 ‘The Chemistry of Life’ exceeded all expectations. Science Week saw 120,000 people participate in more than 500 events all throughout the country between 13th – 20th November. The theme really highlighted how chemistry is central to people’s everyday lives. There are an overwhelming number of careers available to those who immerse themselves in the study of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Some Activities we got up to...
We tried out some the experiments on the Science Week web site and from the Discover Primary Science web site.....
About Science Week
The aim of Science Week is to promote the relevance of science, engineering and technology in our everyday lives and to demonstrate the importance of these disciplines to the future development of Irish society and to the economy. Science Week is a Discover Science & Engineering (DSE) project. In a time when Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are more important than ever, the recent Science Week 2011 ‘The Chemistry of Life’ exceeded all expectations. Science Week saw 120,000 people participate in more than 500 events all throughout the country between 13th – 20th November. The theme really highlighted how chemistry is central to people’s everyday lives. There are an overwhelming number of careers available to those who immerse themselves in the study of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Some Activities we got up to...
The Balloon Experiment:
We Inflated a balloon until it was about 3/4 way full of air. We tied a knot in the balloon so the air could not escape. At the very tip and at the knot the balloon was darker in colour and less stretched. We put some petroleum jelly on the skewer and pushed it the whole way through the balloon (in through the darker tip) and out through the other end right beside the knot. The balloon didn't burst! Balloons are made of rubber and when they are blown up the rubber is stretched out trapping all of the air in the balloon. Rubber is made up of tiny microscopic strands and chains of molecules called polymers. When the balloon is blown up these polymers are stretched out and are put under a lot of strain and pressure to hold all of the air in the balloon. When a pin or sharp skewer pierces the stretched polymers it bursts and causes a pop. However at the very tip of the balloon the least amount of strain or stretching is happening to the polymers so a skewer can carefully be pushed through the balloon without it popping.
More of photos of experiments will be uploaded soon.....watch this space!
More of photos of experiments will be uploaded soon.....watch this space!