The Leo on Wheels: Mapleton
Friday, September 18, 2009
Blog entry by Analiesa Leonhardt from The Leo on Wheels staff
Students entered their gymnasium that we had converted into a traveling science museum buzzing with questions. Most had already heard stories from their friends, and over the hum of the science classes, I picked out phrases: zapped her braces! ... his hair stood straight up! dude, there's the big silver ball! The Van de Graaff generator is always a favorite; we have to pre-advise the students to ration their time wisely. Even still, many kids return to the shocking machine numerous times during their limited class sessions.
This simple and timeless machine generates question after question as middle-schoolers test their own experiments: How far away can I stand and still get shocked? What happens if I take my shoes off? If I stand on a plastic stool? If we hold hands and then touch the ball?
A Mapleton Jr. High student uses the Van de Graaff generator
For the extra curious, we lift off the top half of the metal sphere to unveil the inner workings: a simple inch-wide rubber band running over two pulleys, one of which is coated in wool. Two small pieces of wire mesh act as electrodes to conduct the resulting build-up of electrons to the metal ball and beyond. It works by the very same mechanism as rubber shoes on carpet, or balloons on hair. Added revelation spurs more questions: What is electricity? Why do the electrons jump to my body? Why is my hair standing straight up? The kids giggle and squeal as the ion beams arch over to their fingertips. And we smile, watching the formation of new synaptic junctions in their brains as the students gain more understanding of the energy source that fuels our technological world. Hey, what's better than a group of excited kids, all excited about excited electrons?!
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Labels: education, science, The Leo on Wheels
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