During Science Week we investigated the following:
1. Why do some objects float in water while others sink? The reason for this is density. Items that are less dense float in water whereas items that are more dense sink. We found that an egg will sink in fresh water but will actually float in salt water.
2. What happens to a balloon when it is put on top of a collection of thumbtacks? The balloon will not burst as the balloons pressure is spread evenly among all the thumbtacks whereas when it only has one point of pressure it will burst.
3. Why does a pencil look “crooked” when only half of it is in water? This is known as refraction or bending of light. It doesn’t occur when the whole pencil is in or out of water.
4. Which is a better contractor of heat; wood, plastic or metal? Metal is the best contractor of heat. During our experiment the heat from the boiling water traveled through the metal up to the butter which subsequently melted.
5. Do heavier items fall quicker than lighter items? No. When dropped at the same time, both items will hit the floor at the same time.
6. Can everyone roll their tongues? No. Most people can but some people cannot laterally roll their tongues. This is down to our genetics.
