In this demonstration, a peeled potato is cut into the form of a candle and an almond slice is used as the candle’s “wick.” The teacher lights the almond slice on fire and it burns. The students see the object, and make observations about it. Then the teacher blows the flame out and allows the students to get a closer look at the “candle.” This demo is an excellent way of explaining the difference between “observations” and “inferences.”
Related Resources:
Teacher Demo/Student Activity: Disappearing Volume
Categories: Lab/Student Activity, Teacher Demonstration
In this activity, students mix a given quantity of salt with a fixed volume of water. Mass and volume measurements are made before and after mixing to determine if these quantities change. Students... read more
Teacher Demo: Bending Light - Part II
Categories: Teacher Demonstration
In this demonstration, laser light is bent as it travels through a sugar (or salt) solution of varying concentrations. read more
Teacher Demo: The Nose vs. the Wrecking Ball
Categories: Teacher Demonstration
A pendulum is constructed from a 1.0-kg mass suspended from the ceiling, with a length of strong string long enough so that, when pulled about 40o from the vertical, the mass comes to nose level. The... read more