Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Kids Engineering:Valentines Heart Bombs!

T-Rex (my second grade son) has come up with another fun engineering project for you. This time, we're making heart bombs- just in time for Valentine's Day.


Here's a fun way to study electrostatics or spend a Saturday morning in Februrary.




This project relates to NGSS -3-PS2. Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.

For those of you wondering strewing hearts from a balloon issomething to do, please go find two elementary boys and ask them. If the first one doesn't tell you, the second one will.


Materials for Valentine Heart Bomb

Party sized balioon
Multiple types of paper
Scissors

Here's a fun way to study electrostatics or spend a Saturday morning in Februrary.


The objective of this experiment was to determine which type of hearts make the best projectiles when launched from a free-flying balloon.

Winter is the best time for electrostatics, so February is a great time to do this type of project. If you are presenting this project to a class, I recommend putting the students in teams. Challenge the students to drop at least one of their hearts before the end of the balloon's flight.

We hypothesized that the tissue paper would be the best option. However in our actual trial, the electrostatic cling worked too well.





The wrapping paper hearts had sufficient electrostatic  force to launch with the balloon, but launched nicely in the end. 




One thing I noted afterward was that the force of the electrons on the balloon became more concentrated and therefore more powerful as the balloon flew.

Here's a fun way to study electrostatics or spend a Saturday morning in Februrary.

Did you find a better material? Tell us about it.





The Early Elementary Blogging Team has a great selection of Valentine's themed learning activities ready to go for you today! Check out what everyone has to offer.

Low Prep Rounding Activity by Life Over C's
Conversation Heart More or Less Activity by Raising Little Superheroes
Needle Felted Heart by Rainy Day Mum
Tile Printed Heart Cards from Peakle Pie
Broken Hearts Compound Words from School Time Snippets
Hershey Kiss Word Family Worksheets from 123 Homeschool 4 Me






4 comments:

  1. I love electrostatic experiments. Although I was usually the guinea pig for any as have very fine hair! Made for excellent demonstrations as a Science Teacher.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're one of my favorites too! Lucky you! I usually found a blonde. Student who was willing to be a good sport.

      Delete
  2. What a cute idea! I love it learning is made fun!!

    ReplyDelete

I can't wait to hear what you have to say! Thanks for sharing.