Discovering Gravitation - DIY Science Activities for High School Students and Homeschooling Parents
Introduction:
In this DIY activity blog post, we will embark on an exciting journey to explore the concept of gravitation. By conducting these hands-on experiments, high school teachers and homeschooling parents can engage students in learning the science behind weight, mass, buoyancy, and Archimedes' principle. Let's dive in and discover the wonders of gravitation!
Activity 1: Verifying Weight with a DIY Spring Balance
Materials Required:
Eva foam sheets, straws, spring, nuts, bolts, small toy bucket, marbles
Procedure:
- Create your own spring balance using Eva foam sheets, straws, a spring, nuts, and bolts.
- Hang a small toy bucket with marbles on the hook connected to the spring.
- Start calibrating by adding marbles one by one and measure the change in length each time.
- Observe how the spring balance measures weight or mass.
Science Behind Spring Balance:
The spring balance works on Hooke's Law, which states that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied to it. As we hang marbles on the hook connected to the spring, the extension of the spring increases, allowing us to measure weight or mass.
Activity 2: Checking Mass vs Weight
Materials Required:
Setup from Activity 1, glass of water
Procedure:
- Use the same setup from Activity 1. Keep a glass of water below the spring balance and submerge the entire bucket with marbles in the water.
- Observe whether the weight changes and understand the concept of mass vs weight.
- Explore why weight appears to increase or remain the same in water.
Science Behind Mass & Weight:
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass. When objects are submerged in water, they experience an upward buoyant force that affects their weight.
Activity 3: Understanding Buoyancy and Object Density
Materials Required:
Aluminum foil, marble
Procedure:
Explore buoyancy by conducting two cases:
Case 1: Fold the aluminum foil around a marble to make it denser and place it on the water’s surface. Observe the behavior of the foil and marble. Compare the two cases to understand the dependence of buoyancy on object density.
Case 2: Create a boat shape using aluminum foil and place a marble inside. Observe if the foil boat floats on water with the marble.
What is Buoyancy ?
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it. The buoyant force depends on the object's volume and the density of the surrounding fluid.
Activity 4: Verifying Archimedes' Principle
Materials Required:
Setup from Activity 2, two glasses with a small hole in one glass
Procedure:
- Use the setup from Activity 2, where a glass has a small hole near the top.
- Dip an object into the glass and observe the water flowing out through the hole.
- Direct the flow of water to the other glass.
- This activity allows you to verify Archimedes’ principle, which explains the buoyant force experienced by submerged objects.
Science behind Archimedes' principle :
Archimedes' principle states that the upward buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object when it is submerged.
Complete walkthrough video gravitation
Quick understanding on Gravitation
Unlocking the Secrets of Gravitation: Exciting DIY Experiments for Curious Minds!
By engaging in these captivating DIY activities, students can gain a deeper understanding of the principles of gravitation. From verifying weight with spring balances to exploring buoyancy and Archimedes’ principle, these experiments make learning science fun and interactive. Embrace the wonders of gravitation and foster curiosity and scientific inquiry in the minds of young learners.
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