Posts

Showing posts from March, 2011

Zoetrope (mini)

Image
Materials: • 4.5” dia. clear plastic round deli container, 16 oz. • large chopstick • straws (must big enough to fit the chopstick, we used “jumbo” straws) • electrical tape • 2.25” dia. foam core washer • 10.5”x 1” paper animation strip (with frame lines every 1.25” pre drawn)   Tools: • scissors • screw • screw driver • tape pattern template (if making multiple or working with young children ) • hot glue gun First, locate the middle of the plastic cup and poke a hole in it with the screw, then take a Phillips head screw driver about the size of your chop stick and widen out the hole.  Next, begin applying electrical tape strips to the side of your cup, leaving gaps no more than a few mm wide.  Note that given the cups are conical when the tape is placed straight up and down the slots should be triangular not perfectly parallel. Once you've made one good one you can save it as a template or use a sharpie to make a separate template. Temp

Stroboscope

Image
Materials: •1.5” cardboard tube (we got ours from www.uline.com : S-5816, 1.5’’x36’’ kraft mailing tubes, but aluminum foil tubes would work just as well) • foam core • black mat board • straw • chopstick (that will fit in the straw) Tools: • fine tooth saw • box cutter • hot glue gun • large scissors • compass, straight edge  Cut the eyepiece (3”) and the handle (6”) out of the large cardboard tube. Cut the two slots in the top of the handle, approx. 1” long and as wide as your foam core. Next, lay out the shutter disk using a compass and straightedge, the disk should be 6.5” in diameter with a small hole in the center and should have a least one radial 2”x.25” slot.  If you are making multiple stroboscopes we’ve found it useful to make one perfect template that can be traced onto other pieces of mat board. If you make a 90 degree cross on the center of your disks, a one slot template can be used to trace disks with one, two and four slots patterns.  A one slot disk will have a

Camera Projector

Image
Materials: • 2” telescopic cardboard tubes (we got ours at www.uline.com : S-1634 kraft telescopic tubes, for smaller numbers check out your local shipping and packaging store) • mat board or large popsicle sticks • 1.75’’ plastic magnifying glass (we got ours from American Science and Surplus, www.sciplus.com , # 91581 plastic magnifier, these generic 2 lens magnifiers are available from many web sites but make sure they fit your tube before you order a lot of them from another source) • white plastic grocery bags •acetate sheets for slides (try to get these from an art store not a office supply store as they are much cheaper, alternatively any flat clear plastic from packing or flat sided bottle can also be used.) Tools: •fine tooth wood or hack saw and miter box •box cutter •scissors •hot glue gun •permanent markers Preparing the tube and matt board: use a fine-toothed saw and a miter box to cut the telescopic tube into 6’’ lengths. Make sure both inner and outer tubes are cut

Spectroscope

Image
Materials: •1.5’’ dia. cardboard tubes (we got ours from www.uline.com : S-5816, 1.5’’x36’’ kraft mailing tubes, but aluminum foil tubes would work just as well) •Black card stock •Diffraction grating (we got ours from www.rainbowsymphonystore.com : item #10503, 6x12’’ 1000 lines/mm $25 for ten sheets, www.sceintificsonline.com item # sku 3052116-GRP, $9 for two 6x12’’ 254000 lines/inch   •Masking tape Tools: •Scissors •Hot glue gun •Hole punch (or punches) Cut the large cardboard tubes down to a 5-6’’ length using a fine-toothed wood saw (faster) or a box cutter (slower but potentially more accurate).   It is not important that the tubes be cut squarely but it is important that they be cut evenly so there will be no unwanted light leaks when the cardstock ends are glued on.     Cut two approx. 1.5x2’’ pieces of cardstock making sure that the long edges are straight, these pieces will make your slot.   Place you pieces down on a flat surface with 2 of the straight edges t

Light, Color and Perception Series

In general we are aiming to achieve four basic goals in out projects and activities: •Presenting basic scientific concepts in an interactive manner using everyday materials •Encouraging experimentation as a means of confirming scientific principles   •Developing creative problem solving skills and critical thinking •Promoting observation to reveal unseen aspects of everyday phenomena We introduce most topics, such as light, sound, electricity in series over a few weeks in order to develop and reinforce basic concepts, and to ensure there is a balance between guided instruction and experimentation.   In the case of light we usually do a day of interactive demonstrations covering light and color, bending and reflecting light and some aspects of visual perception. Then to reiterate we make spectroscopes for color, camera-projectors for light bending/image formation, then stroboscopes and zoetropes for perception over the following weeks.   After that, depending on the age of the group

About:

Image
Welcome to the Discovery Center Blog. This Blog is meant to catalogue our various projects, activities, and ideas so that they may be used and improved by students, educators and organizations. We are currently gathering content and will be posting previous and upcoming projects and activities in the coming days and weeks . Questions and comments are welcome and encouraged, please stay tuned.