surface tension

water molecules maintain a magnetic link bond with one another. 

Okay, to shake his bond, we need to interrupt the electrical field that maintains that grip. 

what better way to show than with 10-mL of water in a petri dish and a small metal needle. 

Aside from a discussion on distribution of weight, students learned that using the tines of a fork will ensure a needle can be lowered slowely onto the water and it will float.

 the key, here, is that the molecular bond of the water is strong enough to suspend the needle at the top of the water.  so, by adding a drop of soap, we disrupt this cohesive electrical bond and the molecules separate enough to permit the needle to sink.

hmmm, is this why soap removes dirt and grime better than water, itself?

what if we replicated this experiment using ocean water?

Have a great weekend, folks.

The polarity of water

How can the jumbling of water molecules result in so many being tossed out of water and into the air?  Ya know, this is how water evaporates.

 But to consider that heating of the air and water by the sun causes the molecules to accelerate so violently as to cast so many into he air, is hard to comprehend.

With that philosophy, there would have to be an exhorbitant number of molecules cast out by violent shaking.  Kinda hard to accept that thought.  My students became aware there are other forces at work, here. 

Okay, here's where polarity steps in.  Each molecule possesses an electrical charge - sorta like a magnet.  When one molecule is bounced outta water, it clings on to another molecule that also gets bounced out.  A chain of molecules are pulled from the water to explain why during condensation molecules form clouds that weigh thousands of pounds.

To demonstrate, I had one class hold hands in a string, held together through this electrical bond.  I left the classroom holding the arm of one student, who held the hand of another with her other hand, and that chain continued until quite a few kids were led from the room before the chain broke.

Cool, eh?  My kids are ready for Joe Snedecker's wham cam.

Have a great night, folks.

Read Across Science

Pappa Z, today, read pages 93-99, to his classes.  It was all about freshwater beneath the surface of the Earth.  Studens kept their vocabulary sheets next to them as they followed along in their own texts. I stopped occasionally to reiterate context, otherwise, it was good old-fashioned teacher-initiated learning.

Have a great night, folks.

Well, well.

Sorry, feeble attempt at humor.  We started discussing freshwater beneath the surface of the Earth.  And, what kind of water do we find from underground?  WELLS! 

Have a great night, folks.

Okay, You May Now Follow Directions

Introductory paragraph:

Do people use way more water than they need?
     Major F.R.E.D.- Conducting home water use evaluation
     Major F.R.E.D.- Background information
     Major F.R.E.D.- Analyzing collected data


Paragraph 2:
Major F.R.E.D.- Conducting home water use evaluation
     1.) Minor F.R.E.D.- home survey tally sheet
     2.) Minor F.R.E.D.- comparing each activity to total gallons used
     3.) Minor F.R.E.D.- percentage of water use


Paragraph 3:
Major F.R.E.D.- Background information
     1.) Minor F.R.E.D.- how third world countries get water
     2.) Minor F.R.E.D.- does weight of water determine water use?
     3.) Minor F.R.E.D.- how much does the average American use


Paragraph 4:
Major F.R.E.D.- Analyzing collected data
     1.) Minor F.R.E.D.- compare your data to average American
     2.) Minor F.R.E.D.- compare your data to third world countries
     3.) Minor F.R.E.D.- compare your data to one other student


Conclusion:
     Answer the prompt by summarizing paragraphs 2,3, and 4, then, explain if you need to conserve water, or, if you are doing a good job at conservation.

   Well, it loses something in translation, eh? C'mon, I handed this to every munchkin. All they had to do was follow the format.  Very, very few, did.  And, what really irks me is tha many students chose not to do the assignment.  They lose points for every day its late.

     Progress reports on Wednesday.

     Have a snow-free night, folks.