what’s in the kit 2
TRANSCRIPT
What’s in the kit Advice for supervising adults Scientists’ safety rules First aid information Warning signs Introduction Miss Perkins’ crazy kaleidoscope Professor N Large’s what a mix up Baron Frankenstein’s I’m in a spin Professor N Large’s a drop of colour Miss Perkins’ liquid stacker Baron Frankenstein’s floating egghead Baron Frankenstein’s the bashed-up brain Miss Perkins’ bulging brain quiz Professor N Large’s what’s your pH? Professor N Large’s flying crispies Baron Frankenstein’s up, up and away Miss Perkins’ walk on water Baron Frankenstein’s horrible hand trick Baron Frankenstein’s vile visions Professor N Large’s bonkers bouncy ball Baron Frankenstein’s escaping eyeballs Miss Perkins’ something’s-a-foot Professor N Large’s greedy greenery Baron Frankenstein’s panting plants Miss Perkins’ putrid plant quiz Final word
2345568
1011121417182022242527283031333435363940
WHAT’S IN THE KIT:
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO FIND:
GOGGLESTEST TUBERACK
3 TEST TUBES
BALL MOULD
WATER (HOT AND COLD), GLASS/BEAKER, PAPER, VEGETABLE OIL, PAPER TOWEL, TABLESPOON, METAL TEASPOON, SUGAR, AN EGG, SALT, LARGE GLASS, WATERPROOF FELT-TIP PENS, MEASURING JUG, EMPTY JAR WITH LID, PLATE, LEMONADE/LEMON JUICE/MILK/VINEGAR/SOAPY WATER, PUFFED RICE CEREAL, BOWL, WOOLLY JUMPER OR HEAD OF HAIR, SCISSORS, WASHING-UP LIQUID, STICKY TAPE, CUP, PENCIL, TAPE MEASURE, PENCIL AND PAPER, 2 CARROT TOPS, CELERY STALK WITH LEAVES, SHARP KNIFE AND AN ADULT ASSISTANT.
MAGNIFYINGGLASS
SQUISHYEYEBALLS
2 BALLOONS
PRINTED CARD PIECES
3 FOODCOLOURINGS
PH SCALEAND PAPER
STICKERS
BALL CRYSTALS
PAPERCLIP
TISSUEPAPER
2 RUBBER BANDS
PETRI- DISH
PIPETTE
3 MIXING STICKS
PLASTICSPINNER
FUNNEL
2
3 FOOD
3 MIXING
2 RUBBER
SLIME POT
3
Read and follow these instructions, the safety rules and the first aid information and keep them for reference.
This experimental set is for use only by children over the age of 6 years. Only for use under adult supervision.
The incorrect use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Only carry out those experiments which are listed in the instructions.
Because children’s abilities vary so much, even within age groups, supervising adults should exercise discretion as to which activities are suitable and safe for them. The instructions should enable supervisors to assess any experiment to establish its suitability for a particular child.
The supervising adult should discuss the warnings and safety information with the child or children before commencing the experiments. Particular attention should be paid to the safe handling of alkalis and acids.
The area surrounding the experiment should be kept clear of any obstructions and away from the storage of food. It should be well lit and ventilated and close to a water supply. A solid table with a heat-resistant top should be provided.
The working area should be cleaned immediately after carrying out the activities.
4
Read these instructions before use, follow them and keep them for reference. Keep young children and animals away from the experimental area.Store this experiment set out of reach of children under 6 years of age - so that means little brothers and sisters keep out!
Clean all equipment after use.Ensure that all empty containers and/or non-reclosable packaging are disposed of properly - put them in the proper bins and not on the floor!
Wash hands after carrying out experiments.Be very careful when opening the food colouring pots – you want to make the colours of the rainbow, not wear them!
Do NOT eat or drink in the experimental area - you wouldn’t want to eat something nasty would you?
Do NOT allow chemicals to come into contact with the eyes or mouth - that rule’s a no-brainer – and anyone who breaks it must be missing a few brain cells too!
Do NOT use any equipment which has not been supplied with the set or recommended in the instructions for use - just don’t go there.
Do NOT leave magnifying glass in direct sunlight.Do NOT replace foodstuffs in original container.Dispose of immediately.
5
FIRST AID INFORMATIONIn case of eye contact: wash out eye with plenty of water, holding eye open if necessary. Seek immediate medical advice.
In case of inhalation: remove person to fresh air.
If swallowed: wash out mouth with water and drink some fresh water. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Seek immediate medical advice.
In case of skin contact and burns: wash affected area with plenty of water for at least 10 minutes.
In case of doubt, seek medical advice without delay. Take the chemical and its container with you.
Please note down the telephone number of the local hospital in case of intake by accident of dangerous substances:
..........................................................................................................
In case of injury, always seek medical advice.
Tells you what the hazard is.
Warns you of messy experiments.
Tells you when an experiment is getting a bit tricky. You may need to find an adult to help you with these bits...
6
Welcome to the Frightful First Experiments kit! Science is full of mysteries, but the biggest mystery of all is where it all comes from. There is always someone who did something first, who discovered something before anyone else did! In the box you’ll find everything you need for budding new horrible scientists. Each experiment is an introduction to the chaotic world of Horrible Science, from the shocking power of static electricity to baffling brain illusions and mixed-up molecules. All you need to get going are the weird and wonderful bits and pieces in this kit, plus a few more odds and ends you can find in your home. And to help you, here are three experts (plus Monster Boy, of course) to show you some of the frightfully foul facts and shocking science truths in their lab notebooks. If you’re a Horrible Science fan you may have met them before but you won’t have seen their personal files!
. Chemistry Teacher.
. Keen experimenter who’ll try anything once.
. Hates: the headmaster – whom she doesn’t get on with, especially after she blew up the chemistry lab!
. Enjoys: eating chocolate and dancing at school discos.
Miss Esmerelda Perkins
7
. Professor of physics, specialising in forces.
. Accident-prone inventor.
. Hates: when Tiddles his cat widdles all over his latest experiment.
. Enjoys: playing with Tiddles.
Professor Norman Large
Baron Frankenstein and Monster Boy
. Famous mad scientist and the monster boy he made from bits of human body.
. Hates: having to do the dishes and tidying up after Monster Boy. . Enjoys: performing evil experiments and testing revolting home remedies on Monster Boy. Monster Boy enjoys digging up bodies, making up terrible jokes and scaring the cat.
8
Miss Perkins’CRAZY KALEIDOSCOPE
WHAT I NEEDED:
There are so many different colours in the world. Even your nasty school dinner is full of colour – yes the colours may be all browns and greys (yuck!) but they are still colours.
But how are different colours made? Let’s test out how we can mix colours together without unscrewing the test tube caps.
Be very careful when using food colouring and take special care when opening the pots – I always wear an apron to protect my white lab coat from splashes and I open my bottle over the sink, to catch any spills.
3 x test tubes
Rubber band
Test tube rack
Warm waterAdult assistant
Red, blue and yellow food colouring
b
3 x test tub3 x test tub3 x test tu
bber b
9
WHAT I DID:
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLT ING REMARKS:
1. I filled each test tube with water and placed them in the rack.
As the light passed through, different colours were made.
The liquid doesn’t change colour, it is the light that changes colour. As it passes through two colours at the same time, your eyes see just one colour. Keep your coloured water for the next experiment. Remove the rubber band from the tubes.
2. I added three drops of food colouring to each test tube so that I had one test tube containing red water, one with blue water and one with yellow water.
3. I screwed the caps onto the test tubes and shook them up to mix in the food colouring.
4. I asked Professor Large to hold the three test tubes together as I stretched a rubber band around all three.
5. I held it up to my eyes to see the colours and twisted them around to see the colours change and mix together as the light passed through the test tubes.
erand around all three.
10
Professor N. Large’sWHAT A MIX UP!
I have red, blue and yellow food colouring but I need purple, green and orange to finish my lovely portrait of Tiddles.
WHAT I NEEDED:
3 x test tubes with coloured water - from Crazy Kaleidoscope
experiment
Test tube rack
PipetteClean water
Petri-dish
Mixing stick Glass or beaker
WHAT I DID:1. I filled my glass with clean water. I used this to wash out my pipette between colours.
2. I experimented mixing colours in the petri-dish. I used the pipette to
transfer the coloured water from the test tubes to the petri-dish.
I mixed the following colours -
I then tested Tiddles to see what colours
she thought I’d made.
red + blue,
blue + yellow,
and yellow + red.
WHAT A MIX UP!WHAT A MIX UP!
I then tested Tiddles to see what colours
IS THIS GREENTIDDLES?
11
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
By mixing these three colours together I made even more colours - very clever stuff this!
Red, blue and yellow are primary colours; many colours are made by mixing these three colours together. See what other colours you can make.
Baron Frankenstein’sI’M IN A SPIN!
Seeing is believing – except when we can’t believe our eyes! After all, a rainbow is not really there – it’s an illusion.(It’d be great if Monster Boy’smess was an illusion too!)
1 . I carefully pressed the card disc out of the card sheet and placed it onto the plastic spinner.
2 . With all my finger strength, I spun the spinner as fast as it would go. I watched the spinner to see what happened to the colours.
Plastic spinner Card disc with 7 rainbow colours
Let’s use the spinner and find out more about these mysterious rainbows!
WHAT I NEEDED:
WHAT I DID:
I’M IN A SPIN!Seeing is believing – except when we can’t believe our eyes! After all, a rainbow is not really there – it’s an illusion.
I carefully pressed the card disc out of the card
With all my finger strength, I spun the spinner as fast as it would go. I watched the spinner
12
As the disc spun around all the colours combined to make white or grey.
The disc moves so quickly that your eyes see all the colours together, making the disc appear white or grey. From the 7 colours, white light is created. A rainbow works the other way around. White light from the sun is split into 7 colours when it shines through rain in the air to create a rainbow.
Try making your own disc using card and felt-tip pens and see what happens to your colours when you spin them.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
Professor N. Large’sA DROP OF COLOUR
Much of our planet is made up of mixed-up chemicals. Take a breath of air. In one gulp you’ll get a chaotic combination of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen and a few other gasesthrown in for good measure. All these atoms are completely mixed up.
When you mix two gases or two liquids, the atoms of each chemical often spread out until they are thoroughly mixed. But some mixtures don’t mix properly.
see all the colours together, making the disc
white light is created. A rainbow works the other way around. White light from the sun is split into 7 colours when it shines through
13
Be very careful when using food colouring and take special care when opening the pots – I always wear an apron to protect my white lab coat from splashes and I open my bottle over the sink, to catch any spills.
WHAT I NEEDED:
2 x test tubes
Vegetable oil
Pipette
Test tube rack
Water
2 x strips of white paper to fit in the
test tubes
Blue food colouring
Paper towel
Magnifying glass
WHAT I DID:1. I placed the two test tubes in the test tube rack.
2. I half-filled one test tube with water and half-filled the other test tube with oil.
3. Then I inserted one strip of paper into the oil and one strip of paper into the water.
4. I removed them and placed the two strips of paper on a paper towel.
2 x test tubes
2 x strips of white Magnifying glass
Water
14
5. I added one drop of blue food colouring to each strip of paper and watched what happened using my magnifying glass.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
The food colouring on the water-soaked paper is absorbed and spreads across the paper whereas the food colouring on the oily paper stays in one droplet.
This happened because food colouring is water-based and so mixes with the water. Oil and water do not mix so the food colouring stays as a droplet on the top of the oil.
Dispose of the oil carefully in a sandwich bag. Seal and place in the bin – DO NOT pour down the sink. Wash out your test tube with warm water and washing-up liquid.
Bet you never knew!An early car engine ran on peanut oil. The engine, built by the German Otto Company, worked well and I bet it cost peanuts to run. Modern engineers have converted diesel engines to run on waste oil from restaurants – but sadly they don’t fry chips at the same time.
Miss Perkins’LIQUID STACKER
I have stacks of books in my lab – from science books to catalogues showing all the latest lab coatfashions!
ues
15
Solid items can be stacked easily but can you stack liquids? It sounds impossible doesn’t it? Let’s try it!
Be very careful when using food colouring and take special care when opening the pots – I always wear an apron to protect my white lab coat from splashes and I open my bottle over the sink, to catch any spills.
WHAT I NEEDED:
3 x test tubes
Mixing stick
Tablespoon
Test tube rack
Funnel
Metalteaspoon
Test tube stickers
SugarTap water
(hot)
3 x food colourings
WHAT I DID: 1. I labelled the test tubes 1, 2 and 3 in the test
tube rack.
2. Using the funnel, I poured 1 tablespoon of sugar into test tube 1, 2 tablespoons of sugar into test tube 2 and 3 tablespoons of sugar into test tube 3.
3 x food colourin
Funnel
MetalTablespoon Tap water
3. I added 2 tablespoons of water from the hot tap to each of the three test tubes.
16
4. Next I added 2-3 drops of food colouring to each test tube - a different colour for each one.
5. I mixed the liquid in each test tube with the mixing stick. It took a lot of mixing to dissolve all the sugar, so I asked Professor N Large to help me!
6. I took a metal teaspoon and held it over test tube 3 with the back of the spoon facing upwards. I then lifted test tube 2 out of the rack.
7. I poured the liquid from test tube 2 onto the back of the spoon so that it ran off the teaspoon and into test tube 3.
8. I took test tube 1 and poured it on top of the other two liquids in test tube 3 using the metal spoon .
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLT ING REMARKS:
Each liquid formed a different coloured layer in the test tube.
The amount of liquid in each test tube is the same but when more sugar is added, the liquid is denser. Density is the amount of material in an object compared to its size – so a pebble is denser than a beach ball (if you don’t believe me try dropping them on your toe). Because the different coloured liquids have different densities, you are able to stack them.
I took a metal teaspoon and
17
Baron Frankenstein’sFLOATING EGGHEAD
Density is a tricky thing! Let me demonstrate further with Professor N Large’s breakfast before he wakes up!
An egg
Tablespoon
A large glass Measuring jugWaterproof felt-tip pen
Cold water (leave a jug of water in the fridge for an hour or two)
Salt
WHAT I NEEDED:
1 . I measured 250 ml of tap water and poured it into the glass. Then I placed the egg in the water. As long as it’s fresh, the egg should sink (eggs that are going off may float).
2 . I removed the egg and stirred in 4 tablespoons of salt. I stirred well until all the salt dissolved.
3 . I dried the egg and drew a face on the shell.
4 . I took the jug of cold water and slowly trickled some water on to the salty water. When I did this I tried not to stir up the salty water.
5 . Finally, I placed the egg in the glass again.
WHAT I DID:
I removed the egg and stirred in 4 tablespoons of salt. I stirred well
An eggWaterproof
WHAT I NEEDED:
SaltTablespoon
A large glass
18
The egg sank, but NOT to the bottom of the glass.
The egg sank because it’s denser than water. Adding salt to water makes it denser than the egg – so the egg floats on top of the dense layer of salty water. Simple, really! I wonder if we put Professor N Large in a bath with half salty water whether he’d float or sink – he is pretty dense after all!
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
Baron Frankenstein’sTHE BASHED-UP BRAIN
My favourite part of the body is the brain, it’s so squishy and juicy! I’m delighted with the brain that I’m planning to plop into Monster Boy’s skull and wire up to the rest of his body. But before I can start there’s one more test to do. How will the brain cope with being shaken? Will this experiment leave you feeling shaken too?
Your egg from the Floating Egghead
experimentAn empty jar
with lidCold water
WHAT I NEEDED:
so the egg floats on top of the dense layerof salty water. Simple, really! I wonder if we putProfessor N Large in a bath with half salty water
19
No matter how hard I shook the egg in the water, I found it very hard to crack. Without its cushioning of water, my poor old egg cracked very easily.
The water acted as a shock absorber. It soaked up the force of the shaking and protected the egg from splatting in the jar. Your brain is cushioned in the same way by 150 ml of cerebrospinal (ser-ree-bro-spi-nal) fluid. Every time you move your head your brain actually sloshes around a bit, but at least you don’t give yourself brain damage when you shake your head.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
1 . I filled the jar to the brim with water.
2 . I gently plopped the egg in the jar. Then I replaced the lid and shook the jar as much as I could.
3 . Finally, I repeated step 2 but without water. I shook the jar more g-e-n-t-l-y.
WHAT I DID:
No matter how hard I shook the egg in the water, I found it very hard
Finally, I repeated step 2 but without water. I shook the jar more g-e-n-t-l-y.
to crack. Without its cushioning of water, my poor old egg cracked very easily.
REVOLTING REMARKS:
protected the egg from splattingin the jar. Your brain is cushionedin the same way by 150 ml ofcerebrospinal (ser-ree-bro-spi-nal)fluid. Every time you move your
brain damage when you shake
20
Miss Perkins’BULGING BRAIN QUIZ
So how vast is your brain knowledge? This queasy quiz is sure to make your brain-box bulge… Put these creatures in order of brain weight, starting with the heaviest brain.
1. Your little brother
4. A great white shark
5. Bubbles the goldfish
6. A jellyfish
8. An elephant
3. Your pet hamster
2. A sheep
7. Your pet dog
21
Answers:
8. An elephant’s brain can weigh 5.5 kg. 1. Your little brother’s brain comes in second,
weighing around 1.2 kg – that’s about five times less than an elephant’s brain .
Larger beasts often have bigger brains – butnot always. Great white sharks can weigh1.2 tonnes but they have lighter brains than sheep. Mind you, having a heavy brain doesn’t make you the greatest genius in the galaxy. You may think your little brother is more brainless than a half-witted jellyfish – but he’s actually smarter than an elephant.
2. A sheep brain weighs 140 g. 7. Your pet dog’s brain weighs around 72 g. 4. A great white shark’s brain only weighs 34 g. 3. Your hamster’s brain is a pitiful 1.4 g. 5. But the puny brain of your goofy goldfish is
14 times lighter. 6. A jellyfish has no brain at all.
22
Professor N. Large’sWHAT’S YOUR PH?
Every substance we encounter in daily life has a proper chemical name and formula. Mixing chemicals can be a dangerous business, so by describing substances as either acids or bases scientists know if they’ll get a safe reaction or an over-reaction!
Strong acids are nasty things that easily dissolve metals so you need to be very careful around them. Weak acids are not as bad and lurk in lemons and vinegar, giving them a bitter taste. The chemical opposite of an acid is a base. Some dissolve in water and are called alkalis. Like acids, bases can be weak or strong - and just as dangerous!
Let’s do some detective work and see what things are acids and bases in your home.
WHAT I NEEDED:
Universal indicator paper booklet
pH scale
Plate
Pipette
Lemonade or lemon juice, milk, vinegar, soapy water and water
WHAT I DID:1. I used my pipette to transfer a sample of each liquid
onto a separate piece of indicator paper. I used the pH scale to see whether they were an acid, a base or neutral. I took extra care to keep the paper I wasn’t using dry.
soapy water and water
I used my pipette to transfer a sample of each liquid
23
2. On my pH scale there are numbers 4 to 9. The numbers 4 to 6 indicate an acid, the numbers 8 and 9 indicate a base and the number 7 is neutral.
3. I compared the colour of my paper with the colours on the pH scale and recorded my results in a table like this:
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
The paper changed colour with each sample I tested which indicated whether the sample was a weak or strong acid or alkali.
Universal indicator paper is a special paper that tells you the strength of the acid or alkali by turning a range of colours.
Scientists use a full pH scale that goes from 0 (strongly acidic) through to 14 (strongly alkaline). A pH of 7 is bang in the middle and these liquids are neutral - pure water’s one of them. So anything with a pH of less than 7 is acidic, and anything with a pH greater than 7 is alkaline. Acids and alkalis crop up everywhere around your home.
Bet you never knew!Some birds put ants in their feathers because the ants get rid of bugs by squirting a nasty acid, called formic acid, at them. Formic acid is also found in bee stings. A neat bit of chemistry can relieve the pain of stings. When you mix a base and an acid together, you get a neutral substance. So by putting an alkali, such as soap, on a sting you neutralise the acid.
TEST NO. INGREDIENT PH LEVEL ACID, BASE OR NEUTRAL?
1
2
3
4
5
24
ROTTEN RESULTS:The puffed rice cereal flew onto the balloon - it was magic! I decided it would be a shame to waste the cereal left in the bowl, so I poured on some milkand ate it. I did the experiment twice more -including the eating bit - to make sure it worked.Then I made myself scarce before the Baronwoke up and discovered I’d eaten all his cereal!
Professor N. Large’sFLYING CRISPIES
After the Baron messed with my breakfast it’s time to get my revenge on his! Puffed rice is his favourite!
WHAT I NEEDED:BalloonBowl of puffed rice cerealWoolly jumper or head of hair (sadly I don’t have very muchhair so I might need to use Tiddles for this one ... where has she gone?!)
WHAT I DID:1. I blew up my balloon and tied a knot in the end.
2. Then I rubbed my balloon on my woolly jumper as Tiddles had completely disappeared ...
3. I held my balloon around 20 cm above the bowl and then slowly moved it closer.
Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
(sadly I don’t have very muchhair so I might need to use Tiddles for this one ... where has she gone?!)
1. I blew up my balloon and tied a knot in the end.
it was magic! I decided it would be a shame to waste the cereal left in the bowl, so I poured on some milk
25
REVOLTING REMARKS:
The electrons and nucleus pull on each other and this holds the atom together. And if you want to sound like a scientist, you can call the pulling force by its name - the electromagnetic (e-leck-tro-mag-ne-tick) force. When I rubbed the balloon on the jumper, I rubbed billions of electrons off the wool. The electrons pulled on the atoms of the puffed rice. And those teeny-tiny electrons had enough power to tug the puffed rice into the air. This electrifying effect is called “static electricity”. You can use the balloon to make your hair stand up for the same reason.
Baron Frankenstein’sUP, UP AND AWAY!
To make sense of this experiment, you need to take a very close look at this atom.
The electrons and nucleus pull on each other and this holds the atom together.
this atom.
Here in my sinister castle in the dark wood you will often hear spine-tingling screams and they’re not just from Monster Boy. This castle has far more creepy creatures in it than him, if you can imagine that! My main house pests at the moment are those ghoulish ghosts that keep me up at night!
Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
26
Balloon
Tissue paper
Scissors Felt-tip pen
Woolly jumper or head of hair
WHAT I NEEDED:
1 . I cut out a circle from the tissue paper which I then shaped around my finger into a rough cone shape.
2 . I added eyes and a mouth with my pen and sat my tissue paper ghost on a table.
3 . I blew up the balloon and tied a knot in the end.
4 . Then I rubbed the balloon on my woolly jumper.
5. I moved the balloon close to my tissue paper ghost.
WHAT I DID:
As I brought the balloon closer to the ghost it began to float upwards towards the balloon.
The tissue paper ghost floated because of static electricity just like the puffed rice did in the last experiment. If you hold the balloon too close, the ghost jumps up and sticks to the balloon.
Try testing out other types of paper like newspaper, kitchen roll, etc. Or try making a few ghosts and see if they will all move together in a group.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
Felt-tip pen
I blew up the balloon and tied a knot in the end.
Then I rubbed the balloon on my woolly jumper.
I moved the balloon close to my tissue paper ghost.
Scissors
WHAT I NEEDED:
Felt-tip pen
27
Miss Perkins’WALK ON WATER
Have you ever wondered how some bugs can walk on water as if by magic? Some science is like magic.
WHAT I NEEDED:
Paper-clip Bowl of water Washing-up liquid
WHAT I DID: 1. I gently placed the paper clip onto the top of the
water so that it floated.
2. It took me a few attempts to get the paper clip to float.
3. I added a drop of washing-up liquid and watched what happened.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLT ING REMARKS:
The paper clip floated on the surface of the water. When I added the washing-up liquid the paper clip sank.
The paper clip floats because of surface tension . This is where the water on the surface acts like a skin. Each water molecule is made up of 1 oxygen atom and 2 hydrogen atoms.
28
While the oxygen atom happily hangs on to its own pair of hydrogen atoms, it also tugs at hydrogen atoms from other water molecules. This pulls the water drops together and creates surface tension.
This is how small lightweight objects float and water bugs can walk on the surface of the water. When you add the washing-up liquid, it reduces the surface tension so your paper clip sinks.
Bet you never knew!A drop of water contains about 1,700 billion molecules. That means that on a hot day, you sweat squillions of molecules. But don’t worry – you won’t dry out. Your body contains over 20 litres of the wet drippy stuff.
Baron Frankenstein’sHORRIBLE HAND TRICK
Monster Boy is not known for his personal hygiene but any minute now he’s about to feel even sicker – look at those dirty palms! Try this trick yourself and then test it on others. Warn people that they might not want to eat beforehand as they might feel a bit sick!
Monster Boy is not known for his personal hygiene but any minute now he’s
Warn people that they mightnot want to eat beforehandas they might feel a bit sick!
29
Plastic spinner Spiral card disc
Optional: a sick bag (just in case you
found this experiment too revolting)
Flat surface Hand
WHAT I NEEDED:
1 . I placed the card disc onto the plastic spinner.
2 . I spun the spinner as fast as I could on a flat surface.
3 . I stared at the spinner’s spiralling centre for 30 seconds, from about 30 cm away. (If I got too close to it I felt very sick!)
4 . Then I stared at the palm of my hand from the same distance.
WHAT I DID:
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
My palm appeared to be moving just as if there were alien worms wriggling under my skin.
Your brain has two regions that sense things moving round – one for each direction. Both sets of neurons fire all the time – even when you’re not looking at anything that moves. In this experiment one set of motion sensors fired faster and then slowed as they got used to the spinner. When you looked at your palm, the other set were still firing at their normal speed and so you saw your palm moving. I hope it didn’t make you sick!
My palm appeared to be moving just as if there were alien worms wriggling under my skin.
Spiral
Cardboard thaumatrope
Two rubber bands
Sticky tape
Assistant(Monster Boy)Scissors
WHAT I NEEDED:
1 . I carefully pushed the card piece out of the card sheet.
2 . I folded the card in half so that the Monster’s head was on one side and his brain was on the other. I then glued or taped the two sides together.
4 . I held the ends of the rubber bands, one in each hand, as Monster Boy rotated the disc. This wound up the rubber bands.
3 . I threaded the end of a rubber band through one hole and threaded the other end through the loop to attach to the card. I repeated this for the other hole.
WHAT I DID:
Baron Frankenstein’sVILE VISIONS
Optical illusions are things we see which are confusing, puzzling and not as they are in real life, or not there at all. Some ‘trick the eye’. Others ‘baffle the brain’. Some even do both! I’m going to baffle Monster Boy’s brain with a simple optical toy from the 19th century called a thaumatrope. It doesn’t take much to baffle Monster Boy. Why don’t you help me...? You might find this experiment quite moving . . .
30
I threaded the end of a rubber band through one
Cardboard ScissorsTwo rubber bands
31
5 . When the rubber bands were tightly twisted, I told Monster Boy to let go of the disc. Then I stretched the rubber bands to send the disc spinning the other way. The faster the disc spun, the better the effect was.
I saw a tasteful image of Monster Boy with his brain showing. The faster the disc spun the better the effect was.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
This is the tricky science bit! Your baffled brain can only work so fast. If it’s shown more than 20 pictures a second, your brain blends them into a single picture. For more brain bafflement, repeat the experiment with the curtains drawn. The dimmer the light, the longer your brain takes to make sense of the pictures.
REVOLTING REMARKS:
Bet you never knew!TV pictures are made up of a dot scanning the screen 50 times a second. It’s fast enough to fool your brain that it’s watching a moving picture when in fact you’re looking at nothing half the time. And just think – that means you must spend two hours of an evening’s viewing gazing virtually at a blank screen!
Professor N. Large’sBONKERS BOUNCY BALLS
I have some crystals in my lab that change into something very exciting when water is added. Follow my experiment below and see if your crystals are as exciting as mine!
TV pictures are made up of a dot scanning the screen
that it’s watching a moving picture when in fact you’re
32
The bouncy ball crystals are Polyvinyl Alcohol Granules (or PVoH) whichis a polymer. Polymers are made up of long chains of similar molecules. Dry PVoH molecules are hard but when you add water, the molecules move further apart as the water is absorbed and the crystals stick together. As the ball hits the floor, the molecules are all squashed together, they soak up the energy of the impact and bounce up again.
Your bouncy ball will eventually harden as the water evaporates. You can revive it by soaking it in water.
Ball mould 3 x bags of crystals
Cup
2. I poured the bags of crystals into the mould, one by one, until the mould was full.
3. With the opening at the top, I placed the mould into a cup.
4. I filled the cup with water until the mould was fully covered. Then I left it for 2 minutes in the water.
5. I took it out and let it stand for another 2 minutes.
6. I carefully unclipped the mould to release the ball, I rinsed it under running water and left it to dry.
ROTTEN RESULTS:The hard crystals became soft when water was added and stuck together to form a ball. When the ball was dry, it bounced brilliantly! Tiddles keeps trying to catch it but it’s just too bouncy for her.
1. I clipped the two halves of the ball mould together.
WHAT I NEEDED:
WHAT I DID:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
3 x bags of Ball mouldWater
5. I took it out and let it stand for another 2 minutes.
I carefully unclipped the mould to release the ball,
33
WHAT I NEEDED:
This is a good trick I love to play on Monster Boy. He’s the perfect victim – with his slow reactions and gullible nature, he’ll believe anything.
Squishy eyeballsHandsUnsuspecting victim
1 . I cupped the eyeballs in my hands so from the outside you couldn’t see that I was holding anything.
2 . I waited for Monster Boy to walk past and pretended to loudly sneeze into my hands. As I sneezed I shut my eyes. I showed Monster Boy the eyeballs in my hand while my eyes were still shut and screamed, “Argh … I’ve sneezed out my eyeballs!”
WHAT I DID:
ROTTEN RESULTS:
REVOLTING REMARKS:
It looked as if I’d sneezed out my eyeballs. If done well, your victim will have a look of terror on their face. Priceless!
Contrary to what your friends might tell you, if a body sneezes with its eyes open its eyeballs DON’T plop out. Strong muscles hold the body’s eyeballs in their sockets. The eyelids close automatically to stop blood vessels in the eyeballs breaking – and making the eye appear bloodshot.
For another slimy trick - conceal some slime in your hands before you pretend to sneeze. Hold out your hands to your unsuspecting victim and they will be horrified with what you have just sneezed out!
Baron Frankenstein’sESCAPING EYEBALLS
1 .1 . from the outside you couldn’t see that I was holding anything.
WHAT I DID:
the eyeballs in my hand while my eyes were still shut and screamed,
Contrary to what your friends might tell you, if a body sneezes with its eyes open its eyeballs DON’T plop out. Strong muscles hold the body’s eyeballs
with his slow reactions and gullible nature, he’ll believe anything.
Humans’ bodies are usually in proportion . That’s why people with big heads generally have larger bodies…
WHAT I NEEDED:
A tape measure Paper and pencilA good friend
( I’m going to use Professor N Large! )WHAT I DID:
2. I measured the length of his foot (he had to take his shoes off which made my eyes water! What a pong!) and wrote the measurement down.
3. I asked Professor N Large to stand with his arms spread wide. I measured the distance from the tip of his longest finger on one hand to the tip of his longest finger on the other hand. I wrote down the measurement.
4. Finally, I measured Professor N Large’s height and wrote it down.
1. I measured the distance between the crease in the crook of Professor N Large’s elbow to the crease where his wrist joins his hand. I then wrote this distance down.
etween the creasee’s
ow to the crease where his wrist
I asked Professor N Large
34
ROTTEN RESULTS:The measurements I wrote down for steps 1 and 2 were pretty much exactly the same. And so were the measurements for steps 3 and 4.
Miss Perkins’SOMETHING’S A-FOOT
3. 3. to stand with his arms spread wide. I measured the distance from the tip of his lon hand to the tip of his lon on the other hand. I wrote down the measurement.
35
WHAT I NEEDED:2 x carrot tops Petri-dish Water
1 . I half-filled both parts of my petri-dish with water.
2. Then I placed a carrot top in each dish. I placed one dish on a sunny window-sill and the other in a dark cupboard where it wouldn’t be disturbed.
WHAT I DID:
REVOLT ING REMARKS:The size of your body is controlled by your genes.Gene – a chemical code found inside most cells. Your genes order your cells to grow and build a complete, fully functioning human body. Your genes ensure that your body grows in proportion and you don’t end up with one hand much bigger than the other or something.
Professor N. Large’sGREEDY GREENERY
Imagine you had ultra-powerful hearing. If you went outside you’d be able to hear a quiet slurping noise that would be the sound of thousands of plants busily guzzling their food.
But plants don’t eat stufflike cream cakes. Oh no - a plant can make a meal ofjust three simple ingredients. Water, air and sunshine.
3. I checked the water daily in both dishes and kept topping it up. The water went a bit cloudy after a while so I replaced it with fresh water.
4. I observed my carrots over a few weeks.
36
3. Convert the above in to sugars and oxygen. The plant lives on the sugars and releases the oxygen into the air we breathe.
Your carrot top in the dark couldn’t process its food without light so it had no chance! Can you imagine what it would be like if all you had to do when you wanted to eat was to lie about in the sun. Life would be brilliant, wouldn’t it? Then, when you woke up your food would be ready for you.
Baron Frankenstein’sPANTING PLANTS
BRAINY BREAKTHROUGH. NAME: STEPHEN HALES (1677-1761)
. NATIONALITY: BRITISH
. BEFORE STEPHEN HALES STARTED EXPERIMENTING ON PLANTS, PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WATER CIRCULATED INSIDE A PLANT LIKE BLOOD IN THE HUMAN BODY. BY CUTTING BRANCHES AND PLACING THEM IN WATER, SENSIBLE STEPHEN SHOWED THAT MOVEMENT WAS ONE WAY – FROM THE ROOTS TO THE LEAVES. ANYWAY – THIS EXPERIMENT SHOULD POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
1 . Take sunlight and carbon dioxide through their stomata - that’s the tiny holes in their leaves.
The carrot in the sunlight sprouted leaves but the one in the dark didn’t do much at all.
Photosynthesis (fo-toe-sinth-e-sis) is the way plants make food. What they do is this ...
REVOLTING REMARKS:
2. Suck in water through their roots.
The carrot in the sunlight sprouted leaves but the one
sis)
ROTTEN RESULTS:
37
WHAT I NEEDED:
Test tube Test tube rack
100 ml waterSharp knife
Adult assistant
Red food colouring
Mixing stick
Stalk of celery - complete with leaves
Always be very careful when using a knife. Ask an adult assistant to help you with the difficult and dangerous cutting work.
Be very careful when using food colouring and take special care when opening the pots.
2 . I cut the bottom off the celery stalk in a straight line so that the end of the stem was level.
3 . I placed the stem in the water for ten minutes.
WHAT I DID:1 . I mixed enough red food colouring in the
water to make it a tasteful blood-red colour.
Stalk of celery -
Sharp knife
Adult assistant
38
4 . Now for the tricky bit. I cut the celery about 3cm from the bottom of the stem and 2mm deep.
The water has been drawn up tiny tubes towards the celery leaves. All plants do this, and scientists call it transpiration.
REVOLTING REMARKS:
Bet you never knew!Hales was also an inventor. He invented a surgical tool for crushing bladder stones (sounds painful!) and a pair of giant bellows for wafting fresh air into smelly prisons. Could your school toilets do with this essential invention?
5 . Then I carefully bent the top part of the stem so I got a good view of the stringy bits that were keeping the two parts of the celery stem together. I bent the stem some more and peeled back the skin on each part of the celery.
5 .5 .
The stringy bits contained red.
ROTTEN RESULTS:
39
Miss Perkins’
THE PUT RID PLANT QUIZ 1. Why wouldn’t you want to
eat a skunk cabbage?
Answers: 1. c) 2. b) Mind you, it doesn’t fool many people - after all fish don’t normally grow on bushes. 3. b) And if you still think the answer’s a) you ought to be expelled.
2. How did the goldfish plant get its name?
3. What do the rafflesia and the voodoo lily have in common?
a) It stinks like a skunk.
a) Goldfish can’t resist nibbling it. They even leap out of their bowls and wriggle towards the plant on their bellies. Then they die.
a) They would make an ideal gift for your teacher.
b) They stink of rotten meat.
b) It tastes like a skunk.
b) It looks like a goldfish. c) It pongs like a goldfish (a long dead one).
c) It’s poisonous and it stinks like a skunk.
c) They’re used to make perfume.
It’s poisonous and it stinks like a skunk.
owls
40
A final word from our experts… Science really is shocking, but in the best way! Through experimenting you can find out amazing secrets about our world and find new things yet to be discovered. In ancient times people knew nothing about science, in fact they were even more clueless than you were on your first day at school. But when all the brainy boffins in the past took the first faltering steps to invent science, everything changed. Without discoveries like penicillin for antibiotics or how to generate electricity with the flick of a switch, our lives would be very different today. The latest mobile phone is a must-have gadget for many. But the first mobile phones wouldn’t have existed without their liquid crystal screens (invented 1971), microchips (1958), radio waves to send and receive messages (1890s), plastic case (1907), rechargeable battery (1859), and so on. Which all goes to show how inventions and discoveries of today rely so much on what has gone before. So thanks to all those scientists who weren’t scared to try something new and see what they could discover. In the past, scientists didn’t have all the knowledge we have today so if we keep building on what we know and learning as much as we can about the world and beyond, just think where the future could take us!We hope you had a horribly good time delving into our frightfully foul lab notebooks!