Hope CSI: Hands-On Activity Kits

List of Activity Kits for Loan:

• PhysicsQuest 2007 - Marie Curie's Floating Classes

• PhysicsQuest 2006 - Franklin's Secret Message

• PhysicsQuest 2005 - Einstein's Treasure

• Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

• Light and Color

• The Non-Reversing (True) Mirror

• Thin Film Interference

• Newton's Collision Balls (Cradle)

• Floating Coin

• Mega (Neodymium) Magnets

Physics Quest Activities: The American Physical Society From APS: "PhysicsQuest is a middle school competition that consists of four physical science experiments centered on a mystery. The experiments are designed to be done by small groups in a classroom or after school setting. Each of the experiments gives students a clue that they need to solve the mystery."

Hope CSI has assembled the 2005 and 2006 Physics Quest Kit materials. See a brief description of each below:

PhysicsQuest 2007: Marie Curie's Floating Classes

Marie Curie attended an underground university run by Polish professors at a time when women in Warsaw were not allowed to attend university. They rotated meeting places for classes to keep it secret and through a series of 4 scientific activities, you will be able to identify where she needs to go next!

Download all associated curricular materials directly from the APS website.

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

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PhysicsQuest 2006: Franklin's Secret Message

Using experiments and results to decipher a message from Ben Franklin. This kit is broken down into 4 activities, and we provide the materials for all of them! Extension activity ideas are available in the kits, but materials are not provided for these at this time. The 4 activities cover:

static electricity insulators and conductors energy transfer optics

Download all associated curricular materials directly from the APS website.

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

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PhysicsQuest 2005: The Search for Einstein's Hidden Treasure

The Search for Einstein's Hidden Treasure follows Albert Einstein's wanderings along grounds of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he spent the last 23 years of his life. There are 4 activities to help solve this treasure hunt and we provide the materials for all of them! Extension activity ideas are available, but we will not be supplying materials at this time. The 4 activities cover:

Download all associated curricular materials directly from the APS website.

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

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Other Activities:

The Physics and Chemistry of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

This activity illustrates the properties of LEDs and semiconductor materials and how they applicable in every day situations. Students learn the difference between conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. Investigations include understanding the electromagnetic spectrum, periodic table elements, and energy.

Downloads

1. Presentations to use in your class - how it works and LED applications.
2. Curriculum for this experiment is being provided in Microsoft Word format so that teachers can edit and change the document to fit their needs. Please retain the references to the original work cited at the bottom of the document.
3. Additional helpful materials.

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Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

General Description	Content Expectation
Scientific Inquiry	P1.1A, C, D, E, g, h
Scientific Reflection and Social Implications	P1.2D, E, g, j
Energy Transformation	P4.2A
Electromagnetic Waves	P4.6A
Electromagnetic Propagation	P4.6h
Quantum Theory of Waves	P4.r7a
Electron Movement	C2.4d
Elements, Compounds & Mixtures	P4.p2C, D
Solids	C4.3e
Atomic Structure	C4.8B
Periodic Table	C4.9A
Electron Energy Levels	C4.9b
*Go here for a complete description of the MI Physics Expectations and here for MI Chemistry Expectations.

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Light and Color

This activity includes 3 light mixing boxes and optics kits and associated power supplies. Several activities can be done with this kit such as: Law of Reflection of Light, Color Addition, and Images Produced by Curved Mirrors and Converging Lenses.
	Photo Courtesy Arbor Scientific © 2006

Downloads:

1. About the light boxes
2. Lab Ideas from Arbor Scientific

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   Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

General Description	Content Expectation
Scientific Inquiry	P1.1A, P1.1C, P1.1D, P1.1E, P1.1f, P1.1g, P1.1h
Scientific Reflection and Social Implications	P1.2A, P1.2j
Wave Behavior - Reflection and Refraction	P4.8A, P4.8B
*Go here for a complete description of the MI Physics Expectations.

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The Non-Reversing (True) Mirror

This activity has two mirrors placed at right angles to one another, so two mirror images bounce off of each other. Typically we see ourselves and words backwards in a mirror, but the non-reversing mirror allows us to see the actual image without reversing it. Rollover the photo to see that you can still read the name of the tape in the mirror!

Downloads:

1. A description of how it works
2. Additional helpful materials

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

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Thin Film Interference

Waves reflect from surfaces and can interfere with each other constructively and destructively. This activity allows students to see that light waves are reflected from the front and rear surface of a thin film and show interference patterns with the use of a monochromatic light.
	Photo courtesy: Harvard University Natural Sciences

Downloads:

1. A description of how it works
2. Additional helpful materials

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Newton's Collision Balls (Cradle)

This activity demonstrates conservation of energy and momentum. This version of Newton's Cradle uses balls of equal mass rolling on a grooved track. If two balls are released from one end of the track, only two balls will move from the opposite end of the static balls.

Photo Coming Soon!

Downloads:

1. A description of how it works
2. Additional helpful materials

Download a complete description of how it works.

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Floating Coin

The floating nickel box is an optical illusion using two concave parabolic mirrors. The nickel seems to float and students are encouraged to touch the nickel only to find that it is an optical illusion.

Downloads:

1. A description of how it works (see page G+55+20).
2. Additional helpful materials

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

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Mega (Neodymium) Magnets

This kit provides neodymium magnets and an experiment idea book. We also provide the materials to complete some of the experiments that are in alignment with the MI HSCEs. The other experiments are just for fun and use common household items if you would like to try them!
	Photo courtesy of Educational Innovations Inc. ©2007

Downloads:

1. Information about the magnets
2. Other magnet experiments and demonstrations

AND

Sign Up to borrow the materials from Hope CSI.

General Description	Content Expectation
Scientific Inquiry	P1.1
Magnetic Force	P3.p8A
Electromagnetic Force	P3.8b
Heating Impacts	C3.3A
Atomic Structure	C4.8C
*Go here for a complete description of the MI Physics Expectations and here for MI Chemistry Expectations.

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More to come!

Have ideas for kits? Submit them here!