Everyone knows that sharp objects and balloons don’t mix, so you might be surprised by the results of this fun activity! Observe how the polymers in a balloon allow it to withstand the stress of a pointy skewer. We promise you won’t hear any loud pops while completing this experiment!
During Week 6 of Girlstart After School, our young mechanical engineers learned about friction and speed. Girls experimented and recorded data of how far their toy cars traveled over different surfaces, like sandpaper, bubble wrap, and wax paper. They used their scientific investigation skills to perform a series of trials for each surface. After measuring the outcomes, they learned about the role of frictional forces in resistance to motion!
In this simple experiment, play with the properties of water to create an impressive reaction. Because water molecules are attracted to one another, they create surface tension that can be broken by a substance such as soap. See how the break in surface tension affects the pepper resting atop it.
This week at Girlstart After School, our girls continued to be Electrical Engineers. While last week the girls learned how to make a complete, functioning circuit, this week, the girls were challenged to use that knowledge to create more complex ones.
First, the girls crafted switches out of a notecard, a paperclip, and two brads, allowing them to easily turn the light bulb on and off. Next, the girls were tasked with adding a second light bulb into their circuit. To their surprise, the bulbs barely produced any light. The girls learned that the circuit they created was a series circuit, a circuit in which the current can only pass through one path. Series circuits are used in old fashioned Christmas lights, proving to be not the most effective.
The girls then had to use the same materials to reconstruct their circuits so that the lights shined brighter, a harder than expected task for most. The only way to achieve this is to create a parallel circuit, a circuit where the current flows through multiple paths. Parallel circuits are used to wire the electricity in houses and pretty much all other circuits. Our young GirlStart engineers now have the skills to create these!
