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It's a Material World |
It’s a Material World!
Five different hands-on activities inspire inquiry
into Materials Science related topics and emphasize the fascinating nature
of science! This program is available for elementary school science nights.
Students and parents will explore the world of materials in five different
stations presented by MRL graduate students while learning about present
and future applications of the materials.
Magic Sand
This sand is not really magic. It is ordinary sand that has been dyed and
coated with a special substance (a silicon compound). This makes it hydrophobic,
or “water fearing” and therefore it repels water. The sand has some interesting
properties that students can explore.
Heat Sensitive Materials
Students explore different kinds of heat sensitive materials: Thermo-chromatic paper, containing a
heat-sensitive dye, looks like ordinary paper until
one holds it between hands. The temperature of the hand causes the dye to turn colorless,
leaving a white handprint that fades away when the paper cools down.
Black plastic plates filled with
liquid crystals create beautiful colors at different temperature ranges.
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Memory Wire
A memory wire is an alloy that “remembers” its geometry. Our wire is made of
nickel-titanium.
Students will bend the wire into different shapes and then observe how it jumps back into its
original form (straight) when heated in a water bath at 60C.
Sodium Polyacrylate
Sodium polyacrylate is a white powder that absorbs water rapidly up to 1000
times its weight! This is also the material used in baby diapers. Students
have fun finding out the absorbence capacity of the powder and learn something
about polymers as well. |
Ferro Fluids
Ferrofluids are tiny magnetic iron oxide particles usually with a diameter of 10 nanometers or
less. They exhibit simultaneous liquid and superparamagnetic properties (magnetic fluid) and are
an incredible way to demonstrate magnetic fields. By using a strong
magnet students explore the properties of the ferrous liquid. |
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Here is a list of some of the local schools where we recently presented our workshop.
| Name of School |
Date |
| Isla Vista Elementary |
Science Night May |
| Washington Elementary School |
Science Night April |
| Vieja Valley Elementary School |
Science Night April |
| Hollister Elementary School |
Science Night March |
| Hope Elementary School |
Science Night March |
| Ellwood Elementary School |
Science Night February |
| Foothill Elementary School |
Science Night January |
| Monte Vista School |
Science Night January |
| La Patera School |
Science Night November |
| Coastline Christian Academy |
Science Night November |
| Kellogg School |
Science Night October |
| Washington School |
Science Night April |
| Goleta Family School |
Science Night April |
| Brandon School |
Science Night March |
| Hope School |
Science Night March |
| Mountain View School |
Science Night March |
For more information or to schedule an event please contact our education coordinator
Julie Standish.
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