David Hertz asked:




Imagine the looks on the faces of your guests when you push your glass right through the table. They will want a drink after seeing that! Here is how! For this classic effect you will need a glass that is the same size all the way up (not tapered) and a napkin or some wrapping paper. You will need to be seated for this.

When you have finished your drink, attract every ones attention. (A loud burp should suffice). Place the glass, mouth down on the table and cover it with the napkin or wrapping paper. Form the napkin / paper around the glass so that it forms the same shape as the glass. Borrow a coin and place it on the table. Now cover the coin with the glass and its cover, stating that you will try to make the coin melt through the table.

Lift up the glass and its cover and bring them back towards your body, showing that coin is there. Replace the glass and make a magical, mystical gesture. Again lift the glass and its cover, bringing them back towards your body, showing that the coin still has not vanished. On the third try, lift the glass and cover and bring them back towards your body. When all attention is on the coin, secretly let the glass slip out of its cover, naturally falling into your lap.

If you wrapped the napkin / paper around the glass tightly enough, it should stay the same shape when the glass slips out as if the glass is still inside. Place the cover back over the coin as if it still has the glass underneath. Act a little annoyed and then slam your hand down on the cover. Your spectators will be shocked to see that you have made the glass melt through the table instead! Reach under the table and bring the glass back into view, stating that you really need to practice that one!

David Wetzel asked:




As science teachers prepare to go back to school for the next school year, some have already returned, they are always searching for good online resources to supplement their lessons. It is always nice when someone helps them by previewing science websites and make recommendations.

The best science education websites are interactive, allowing students to make changes to or manipulate variables to observe what happens and share with others. This falls within the boundaries of inquiry-based teaching and learning. Students are developing their own experiments, observing the results, and reporting their findings.

The following websites have been previewed and meet the criteria of interactive and inquiry-based:

FOSS Web – is designed to support Full Option Science System (FOSS) Science K-8 science kits, but anyone can use the interactive activities for grades K – 8.

Volcano Cams – provides real-time views of volcanoes around the world. Students can observe volcanoes and develop their own experiments using these virtual cams for grades 5 – 12.

Explore eLearning – provides simulators for all science concept areas for grades 3 – 12.

Real-time Stream Flow Data across the Nation – by the US Geological Survey (USGS) provides real-time data typically are recorded at 15- to 60-minte intervals and transmitted to the U.S. Geological Survey offices every four hours. Data can be selected by state and county for grades 8 – 12.

Real-time Water Quality Data across the Nation-by the US Geological Survey (USGS) provides real-time water quality data are returned directly field instruments. Data are updated at five minute to one-hour intervals. Data can be selected by state and county for grades 8 -12.

Design a Roller Coaster – allows students to design their own roller coaster. They are building a conceptual coaster using the same physics concepts that are used to design real coasters for grades 6 – 12.

Human Anatomy Online – allows students to explore the Human Anatomy. Each topic has animations, 100′s of graphics, and thousands of descriptive links, for grades 4 – 12.

Earth and Atmospheric Kids Crossing – allows students explore water, atmosphere, and weather for grades 3 – 8.

Recycle City – lets students explore plenty of ways to see how a city’s residents recycle, reduce, and reuse waste for grades 3 – 8.

MBG Net – allows students to explore Biomes, Freshwater Systems, and Marine Systems of the World for grades 6 – 12.

spidergoose asked:




What comes to mind when you consider the extreme sport of wakeboarding? Gnarly young dudes and dudettes flying through the air holding onto a piece of string, screeching in delight/terror as they twist and turn a glorified ironing board attached to their feet?

Yes, me too! Of course the video replay will be accompanied by the obligatory thrash metal soundtrack! Stereotypes are us!

As “out there” and dangerous as this hobby/sport may seem, wakeboarding could in fact save your life! Here, in no particular order is a brief list of things you probably never considered about wakeboarding:-

1. You have been for a relaxing swim in the lake after a heavy lunch and start flailing around, clearly in a lot of trouble…how grateful you are to the passing wakeboard dude and his/her boat as they rescue you from impending doom. Life Saved! Although in fact the wakeboarding expert is more than a little annoyed at the “washy wake” you have created and explains that he is the one that should be making the deep water start.

2. Your previous ironing board caught fire and was destroyed along with all your underpants when you forgot to switch the iron off before work. You have a very important function to attend and all your shirts look as though they have just performed the mightiest of face plants! Fortunately, your next door neighbour is a wakeboarding fanatic and offers you his spare wakeboard for your emergency ironing session.

3. You and a friend have spent an afternoon at the local tennis club. Inexplicably, your partners rage at losing an important point has resulted in both tennis rackets looking like they failed to land a very ambitious monkey spin. Luckily the wakeboarding club is just next door and a brief chat with the supervisor later and you return with two wakeboards and continue your tennis match as if nothing was amiss.

4. An impromptu paintballing session has been arranged by your friends. When you arrive, there is no protective gear left. You start to panic but then realise you collected your wakeboarding neighbour from a championships the night before and he left his gear (including his brand new impact vest) in your car. Ten minutes later you return, ready for battle. Admittedly you look like Judge Dredd having a night on the town but you don’t care because you are invincible!

5. On arriving home from the paintballing session, you realise that your house keys are actually still in the house and you are hopelessly locked out! The same wakeboarding gear that saved you at the paintballing comes to the rescue again, because you have left an upstairs window open and you make a lasso from the Liquid Force wakeboard rope and climb up and swing into your open window!

6. It’s your wife’s birthday tomorrow and she is a huge fan of huge earrings but because of all the problems you have had this evening, you completely forgot about it! What can you do? A brain wave hits you and you call your neighbour who agrees to sell you two brand new Hyperlite wakeboards. You attach a bit of chain to one end of each and begin to pray that your wife doesn’t think they are just a bit too big!

7. At your wife’s birthday party, some boisterous but harmless play from your new wakeboarding friends leads to the table with all the desserts on being accidentally broken. You salvage most of the dessert but you have to ask your wife if she will lend you one of her new wakeboard earrings. She doesn’t want to give them up so readily but reluctantly agrees and hey presto you have your new dessert table!

8. The next morning your car won’t start and work is more than an hour away, there is no one around and you know you are on thin ice with your boss already. You do the only thing you can in this situation and use the power of your imagination to turn one of your wife’s wakeboard earrings into a futuristic hover board that will speed you to work in less than ten minutes, even allowing time for some of the sickest corked spins ever!

9. Once you have been fired for taking the day off work, you being to wonder how you will pay the bills, but you remember your wife’s Hyperlite’s could be worth more than $500 each! You breathe a sigh of relief, life saved!

10. Your interaction with all things wakeboard has actually aroused your interest a little, your wife has long since left you and you have become the loneliest person ever so you decide now is the right time to join the local wakeboarding club and make lots of new friends whilst learning a new sport! Life Saved!

 

Christopher P Clark asked:




The 1965 Mustang pedal car is among the most popular pedal cars ever. Originally built by AMF for Ford, the Mustang pedal car was produced from 1965 to 1972. Today, these original models command premium prices, especially in original or restored conditions. Over 93,000 pedal versions of the 1965 Mustang were sold in its first year; the pedal toy was as much of a runaway hit as the real version. Originally designed as an advertising promotion, it was sold in Ford Dealerships around the United States for a discounted price of just $12.95 per car, and in toy stores for $25, about the going price of a pedal car during that era.

For more than 30 years, no steel Mustang pedal toys were being produced. During this time, steel gave way to plastic for the manufacturing of ride-on toys, leading the initial manufacturer, AMF, to sell the tools for making the cars. These newer pedal toys had a cartoon-like aesthetic and were generally designed to be fantasy cars, not modeled after a specific real-life car. They lacked the realistic details of such models as the 1965 Mustang and other popular pedal toys designed after real car models.

The design for the 1965 Mustang pedal toy remained unused for over twenty years until it was rediscovered in Mexico in 2004 by Mark Luzaich, owner of pedal car manufacturer Warehouse 36. After re-discovering the original tooling for the AMF Mustang, the original design is again being produced today, over forty years since its original release. This steel car uses the exact same design as the famous 1965 Mustang pedal toy of the 1960′s and early 1970′s, with all of the original tooling, down to the Mustang horse on the front grille. The first cars of this new wave were produced in 2005, timed to coincide with the redesigned 2005 Ford Mustang. Because they are made of steel, not plastic, they are built to withstand generations of children.

These authentic pedal toys are coveted by collectors who can’t get their hands on one of the originals. Not only pedal car collectors, but also fans of the real 1965 Ford Mustang car, enjoy this new version. These attention-getting models also make great gifts for a new generation of children. They are loved by car lovers of all ages, kids and adults alike, who enjoy the styling of this classic car.

Today’s version of the AMF 1965 Mustang features all of the original details, including chromed hubcaps, that made the original version of the ’65 Mustang one of the most popular pedal toys ever. Despite the numerous changes in standards for children’s toys since the 1960, this new version features an identical exterior, with Mustang markings on the body, all-steel construction, and a clear windshield. In fact, many have noted that the only difference between the 1960′s version and today’s version is the price, which has increased due to inflation. Today, these nostalgic cars are produced in red or blue, and are fully licensed by Ford.

Dee Schrock asked:




1st grade science projects are always fun. There are lots of interesting ways for young kids to experiment, and a lot of them will probably favor doing an experiment on an animal or a bug, or perhaps an experiment with plants.

A great 1st grade science project for this age group should be kept simple and fairly quick, and hopefully something that can hold the child’s interest long enough to complete. One fun experiment for the kids to try would be to race snails; see if they can move faster on concrete or on dirt.

Another project for 1st graders might be to find out if plants grow towards light. This project isn’t exactly quick, but is simple to set up and it gives the children something to check on each day. All you need to do for this experiment is to get two plants and put them each in a box. Cut a hole in the top of one of the boxes, and a hole in the side of the other one. After a few days you should notice the plant with the hole in the top of the box is growing straight up, while the plant with the hole in the side of the box is growing sideways, trying to get to the light.

Another project the kids would likely enjoy might be to make a tin can phone and see if it really works. This project needs very few materials and can be lots of fun! All you need is some string and tin cans with a hole in the bottom. Make sure the top of the can that the kids hold to their ear isn’t sharp.

1st grade science projects are a lot of fun for everyone in the class, teachers included. By choosing the right kind of projects for the right kind of class, you can ensure everyone will learn something about science, while having a great time too.

Jordan Matthews asked:




Science projects for second graders help them learn a scientific principle through an experiment or a series of experiments. The project helps them to apply the skills that they have been taught. Through the second grade science fair project, children learn to ask questions, collect relevant data, write conclusions and present their findings in an attractive and effective manner.

While choosing the topic for the second grade science fair project, the raw materials required should be kept in mind. Very good second grade science fair projects can be done using household materials and material, which are commonly and easily available. Expensive laboratory equipment is not necessary for a second grade science fair project.

The entire second grade science fair project has to be thoroughly planned. The reports that are written should be clear and to the point.

Presentation is the key factor in second grade science fair projects and the following should be kept in mind:

1.The child should understand the topic very clearly and should have absolutely no doubts.

2.The child should be able to explain the project without reading it out.

3.The child should be confident and enthusiastic.

4.The child should be able to speak knowledgeably.

5.The child should present the project in a well organized and clear manner.

6.The project should be original and unique reflecting the creativity of the child.


Topics for second grade science projects are innumerable. However, interesting and original projects can be based on these questions: -

- How far can an animal be heard?

- How are diseases transmitted?

- How long are the blood vessels in different animals?

- Do plants lose water through their leaves?

- Which side of a plant leaf takes in Carbon dioxide?

- How do different colored lights affect plants?

- How fast can a rat/guinea pig run through a maze?

- Why is the sky blue?

- How are rainbows formed?

- Why does ice cream melt?


The advantages of doing an experiment so early on are innumerable. Such projects arouse the curiosity of the student. They are also intellectually stimulating as the child searches for answers instead of being spoon fed information. The students conducts the experiment and gets the result and then explores the reason behind the result and the scientific principle or principles involved.

Some experiments are done in groups. In such cases, children learn to co-operate with one other and work together as a team. They learn the importance of team spirit and they learn to adjust and compromise. In case the project has to be done individually, the child learns to be independent and self confident, however, these projects must be very small in scale, because the students are still to young and disorganized to do anything too complex.

These experiments also strengthen the bond between children and parents. The parents and children sit together and discuss various topics and the options available to them. The child feels happy that the parent is involved in his or her school work.

The second grade fair science projects also enable a student to learn a topic thoroughly and as he or she has learn it on his/her own, the child will not easily forget the scientific principle involved. Also, these experiments encourage children to enjoy science and develop a love for the subject.

Joe Kanooga asked:




Few things are more exciting and rewarding than building something that really works. Most kids love the challenge of building their own electronic devices, whether it’s a simple robot or a bedroom alarm to keep out little siblings.

Various electronic kits are available, and the potential benefits go beyond the finished product. For a start, it’s a hands-on opportunity to become familiar with some terminology. By high school, science classes often include an introduction to electronics concepts, including circuit diagrams, resistors, and diodes. Kids who build electronics learn about basic physics, electricity, and how electronic devices work.

These are pretty challenging abstract concepts, which can be brought to life by using electronic kits to connect the right parts. For instance, rather than looking at a computer and seeing only a box with a screen, electronics enthusiasts can get their hands on real parts to help them see and better understand the inner workings and infinite expansion possibilities.

Electronic kits contain multiple parts, diagrams, and instructions. To be successful and create a working device, kids need to follow instructions systematically. Starting with electronic kits for beginners, there are multiple levels of difficulty to explore. Kids learn how to read instructions carefully and how to interpret schematic diagrams, developing both spatial and logical skills.

Building electronics requires persistence and patience. Starting with simpler kits allows these skills to be learned gradually. Snap-together versions are more gratifying for beginners, who are getting accustomed to the parts and language. Later, more difficult assemblies become interesting.

Electronics does not have to be a solitary pursuit. Some children’s kits, such as the Elenco Snap Circuits Jr 100, include interactive games to be played with friends. While most beginners start with electronic kits, there are endless possibilities for more advanced enthusiasts. In fact, there are clubs and online hobby groups. As projects get more complicated, kids can move on to more advanced electronic kits. Elenco Snap Circuits Jr 100 is a great place for beginners, but after mastering it, kids can advance to Elenco Snap Circuits 300 and Elenco Snap Circuits 500. There are also other brands available, such as Thames and Kosmos.

Have a science fair coming up? Electronic projects are an interesting way to explore physical concepts. Not only can a budding scientist build his or her own electronic device, but then there are many possible experiments that can be done with instruments like photo-electric cells, electromagnets, and generators.

Even beginners can make a wide variety of devices using Elenco Snap Circuits Jr 100, from radios and doorbells to a flying saucer. With so many options and parts, kids can experiment to build their own creations. Then there are electronic kits available that are specifically designed with one purpose in mind, such as making robotic vehicles, hydroponic gardens, race cars, weather observation centers, motorized dinosaurs, and digital recording instruments.

Most beginner electronic kits are solder-free, so they are straightforward and accessible for children. With practice and advancing skills, older kids can learn how to solder. Once this is mastered, there are many intriguing projects to make. Light dimmer switches, LED displays, combination code locks, and digital clocks make nice additions to any room. So next time you’re looking for an interesting and educational activity, think about an electronic kit.

Dee Schrock asked:




3rd grade science fair projects are a lot of fun because at this age children are eager to explore the world around them and find out how things work. They are constantly wanting to know the answer to the question “What happens if I do this…” and therefore they will likely come up with many different experiments they’d like to try. It may be difficult to decide on just one!

At this age they have a short attention span though, so the projects must be simple, fun and fairly short. There are many, many different project ideas for this age group such as; do all the children in their class have the same size hands and the same size feet as each other? They can research this by tracing the other children’s hands and feet on a piece of paper and comparing them to each other.

They could do a test to see if waterproof mascara is really waterproof. To do this you would need a couple brands of waterproof mascara, a piece of paper and some water. Simply put the mascara onto a sheet of paper and rinse it under some water to see what happens.

Another fun 3rd grade science project would be to see if raw eggs and hard boiled eggs spin the same number of times. Obviously they would need an adult’s help with this one in order to cook the eggs, and then they simply need to spin each egg and record the results. There are lots of great 3rd grade science projects out there; it’s just a matter of finding one that interests them.

Izrul Fizal asked:




There are many reasons why people want to do magic. Some people want the applause; others want to see the look of wonder on the faces of those in the audience. And then there are those people who merely want to have fun. One of the best ways to astound your friends and family is with mental magic tricks. These tricks are fun to learn and amazing to perform. Every magician even a beginner should have a collection of mental magic tricks ready to impress an audience.

From Your Mind to Their Mind

Mental magic tricks mostly involve staying one step ahead of your audience. With most magic tricks, scientific principles are used. However, mental magic tricks use more of a math foundation, specifically the laws of probability and statistics. When you understand how you can predict your audience’s response to certain questions, you will be able to master many mental magic tricks.

1) Pick a Card

You have heard magicians tell their audience: Pick a card, any card. Here is a unique twist. Have your audience member think of a card. You will be able to tell them the card by reading their mind. While this may sound like an impossibility mental magic tricks are done in a very possible way.

In this trick, the magician relies on the fact that most people will think of the Ace of Spades, the Queen of Hearts, the Six of Clubs or the Nine of Diamonds. Before facing your audience, pull these four cards out of the deck and put them in different pockets.

Be sure to remember which card went in what pocket. Your audience will be truly astounded when you pull their card out of your pocket. Mental magic tricks like this one are based on the probability of people choosing certain cards. With that said, this trick will also work most of the time.

2) Pick a Number

There are many mental magic tricks involving numbers. Try this one. Ask an audience member to pick a number between 50 and 100. The number must be even and have different digits. The usual answer will be 68. Once again, the idea is to be one thought ahead of your audience. Research indicates that 68 is the number most likely to be selected.

3) Pick Another Card

Fan out several cards before an audience member and ask them to select a card. The cards should be face cards with a Four of Hearts in the center. Most people will pick the Four of Hearts because it’s different and in the middle.

All of these mental magic tricks so far use math probabilities to succeed. Keep in mind that while they may work most of the time, they may not work all the time. In that case, be ready to improvise. Magicians understand that their own performance is the key to successful magic. If a trick should fail to proceed as planned, don’t let the audience know. Stay confident and in control at all times.

4) Bending a Coin

Mental magic tricks don not always use probability. With this trick, the minds of the magician and the audience member appear to work together to get an unusual result.

Ask someone for a coin and then palm it in your hand. Have a bent coin ready in that same hand. Tell the person you will place the coin in their hand and together you will bend it. Slip the bent coin in their hand and close their fist around it. Tell the person to concentrate on the coin and when their hand opens, there is the proof!