This year at camp the kids investigated facial reconstruction software, 3-D animation, and the World Wide Web in their computer classes. In biology they dissected a frog, looked at fingerprinting and hair/fiber analysis which would prove useful later in their crime scene investigation. During their chemistry sessions they learned about chromatography, analyzed several white powders, and searched for clues using their new scientific tools and deductive powers. They built a star projector and some tools that are used in astronomy. In physics we investigated the effects of cryogenic temperatures on some physical, chemical and electrical properties of matter and looked at some physics that can be done with things that you find in fast food restaurants. The kids were also challenged with contests to see who could generate the best computer composite drawing of Mr. Arts, solve a crime, get the highest score on the Olympic events and build the strongest, lightest, and most earthquake resistant spaghetti tower. The field trip this year was to COSI in Columbus Ohio.
Campers
Astronomy
Spectroscopes, planispheres (star finders), and star projectors were
the astronomy projects.
Chemistry
In this part of the program the students analyzed 5 different inks
using chromatography. Yes, Nancy was the instructor for that
session.
They also applied several reagents in order to determine how each of 4
different white powders would react. Both of the analytical
techniques
proved useful in the crime scene investigation.
Computer science
Rob Foster showed them how to use a program to make a composite drawing
like is used during police investigations. They were also challenged to
find information on the web in an internet scavenger hunt.
Physics
The students saw cryogenics demonstrations, made musical instruments
you won't find in the orchestra and bird calls from straws, measured
the
coefficient of friction and viscosity of things that are found in a
fast
food restaurant (they tried soap, wet soap, vegetable oil, salad
dressings,
pop, and ketchup), and built cartesian divers.
For close up pictures of the cryogenic demonstrations click here.
Biology
Fingerprint and fiber analysis helped our detectives solve the
nefarious
crime they discovered during their Wednesday chemistry session.
They all learned a lot as they dissected frogs.
The spaghetti tower
challenge.
The kids competed to build a tall sturdy tower that was tested on an
earthquake machine. The third picture shows the winning tower
with
its engineer sighting in on it. It held more than 20 Kg. (44
lb.)
for more than 10 minutes of shaking before it failed. We had
time
to learn the game of Nim. The student who plays next has a
win if
he recognizes his best move.
A Treat
We made Wizard Ice Cream this week too but you will need to go to the
pictures from last week to see how it is done since we forgot to get
pictures.
We did make it in just under 20 seconds for a new record.
Very
vigorous
stirring and getting just the right amount of liquid nitrogen into the
mix on the first try helped a lot in setting the record.
Physics
Olympics
Two of the events were the blind laser maze where one of the team is
blindfolded and the other members try to give instructions on how to
place
mirrors so that the beam makes it to the other end. The other
is
a target shoot where two mirrors must be set to make the beam hit a
target
that is blocked by a barricade. The problem here is that the
laser
isn't on until after the mirrors are in position. I tried it and
despite
knowing a bit of physics and not doing too badly at billiards I didn't
do very well on this problem.
Contest winners
Prizes were awarded for the physics Olympics, internet scavenger hunt,
the crime scene detectives, best facial reconstruction, million dollar
science quiz and the spaghetti tower.
Trip to the COSI
We started with a ride on the unicycle. Some were
apprehensive
but took on the challenge. then up to gadgets for
investigations
of pulleys, electricity, lasers, air pressure and how things
work.
Time travel to 1898 and then to 1962 where they saw how a TV studio
looked
and ran when I was young. The King's throne room where an
earthquake
nearly upset them. And on to outer space through a tunnel that was
spinning
around you with most disorienting effects.
Robert Arts, the program
director.
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