Energy Experiments

Desk lamp

Solar:

1. Solar energy creates electricity using solar cells. A solar calculator provides an example of this. Using the calculator, make a simple calculation. Then find the solar cells and cover them with your finger for 30 seconds. Keep your finger on the solar cells and try to make the calculation again. What happens?

2. Set out an unpainted aluminum pie tin and a second tin, painted with black paint. Fill both pans with exactly the same amount of water. After ten minutes, check the temperature of both pans. What are the differences? Why did this occur?

Cooling:

3. Place one aluminum pan with water in it in the sun. Place another under a shady tree. After ten minutes, check the temperatures of the water in the pans. Which is warmer? Why?

Heat:

4. Place a desk lamp over an aluminum pan with water in it. Set a second one, with the same amount of water, away from the lamp. After ten minutes, check the temperature of each. Which is warmer? Why? 

Materials

Gravity:

1.  Place a board over a rock so one end is higher than the other. Place a toy car on the incline. What happens? Why? Try placing the board flat. Does the car move? Why not?  

Physical:

Insulation:

3. Place a cup filled with ice in the sun. Wrap newspaper around a second cup of ice, and place it in the sun. The ice in which cup melts faster? Why?

Wind

Materials

Wind:

1. Wrap the large piece of paper around the pencil. Tape it. Make sure it fits loosely. Tape the four squares to the paper. Tie the paper clip to the string and tape the other end of the string to the paper tube. Blow on the blades of paper. You have created a windmill! The wind from your blowing on it should cause the tube to turn, and it should wind the string with the paper clip up the tube. Why does the windmill turn?

Credit: The National Wildlife Federation's Animal Tracks Activity Guide for Educators. Copyright © National Wildlife Federation 1995.