Dave Orr, Ryan Boyle, and Sarah Chisholm presented to three classes of 2nd graders in Covenant Day School’s Super Science Day. YGN hosted two short experiments geared towards topics that the students were currently learning about in their classes. The first experiment “How can you measure something you cannot see” used Geiger counters to measure the radioactivity of household materials. The second demonstration allowed the students to observe the sublimation of dry ice.
In the measurement lab the students measured a Fiestaware bowl, salt substitute, a rock containing small amounts of uranium, and their hands. The students then completed a worksheet, which also explained the basic concepts of radioactivity and its measurement.
In the sublimation demonstration the students watched as Dave Orr used dry ice to blow up a balloon, demonstrated that energy is being released using a quarter wedged in the dry ice, and observed the fog coming off of the dry ice as water was poured over it to speed up the process.
