Lindsay Richard
Dancing Quarter
Purpose:
The purpose of this demo is to get the children to understand that heat makes the molecules move faster and take up more space when they are heated. So when heat is being let inside of the bottle the molecules began to move faster in the bottle and molecules bump into the quarter and it make the quarter move (or the bottle burp). The quarter being wet makes a difference if the quarter is not wet then this demo will not work. Water molecules push against themselves therefore the water made like a seal against the glass bottle. (The water part of this demo is like water on the road when you hydroplane. The water is sealed over which makes your car slide across it. )
Materials:
- a quarter
- a glass bottle that has a small enough mouth on it to hold the quarter on top without the quarter falling down into the bottle
Procedure:
- First you will get you quarter and wet it will some water.
- Take the quarter and place it on top of the glass bottle.
- Put your hands around the glass bottle. (make sure they are warm you might want to rub them together)
- Then wait and see what happens.
Questions you should ask the students for the demo:
- How do you think the quarter moved or the glass jar burped and the quarter moved?
- Does it matter that the quarter is wet or not? If so why?
- Do you think it matters that my hands are around the bottle?
- Does it matter which side of the quarter you put on the bottle?
- Why do you think that they is steam inside of bottle after you do the demo several times?
Resource: http://physics.unco.edu/sced441/icedemo96.pdf
Rationale for Science Demonstration
Context: I did this science demonstration in my Block II science class. This demonstration was designed to talk with students about air molecules. In this demonstration I took a glass bottle and a wet quarter and placed the wet quarter on top of the bottle and put my hand around the bottle. Then after a few seconds the quarter moved on top of the glass bottle. This demonstration showed students that when air molecules get hotter they take up more space and move around faster. This made the quarter move. The students loved this demonstration. I did the demonstration in front of a group of 20 students that were all different ages.
Impact: This demonstration is great for students because it teachers them about air molecules. All ages of student need to learn about air molecules and what happens to them when they get warmer and when they get colder. This demonstration could lead into a lesson on ice and water molecules which would be great for students.
Alignment:
I met Standard 3, indicator 2 because this demonstration leads into discussion about heat and motion. The teacher could lead a lesson about why ice can turn into a liquid and a solid.
I met Standard 15, indicator 1 because I done this demonstration with a group of around 20 students that were of all age range and all different ethnicity.
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