Steam Power!

I did a short experiment on steam today, and how it can be used. This experiment was just showing how steam does have power, and the ability to do work.

The first experiment I did today was very simple. I boiled water in a pot, and then watched the pot lid clatter. It was lifted by the expanding water. Below, you can see a video of it.

My second experiment was a little more complicated, but it turned out very good.

First, I brought some water to a boil in a teapot. After it was steaming, I held a water bottle over the opening. When some steam collected in the bottle, I then put it upside-down in a pot of cold water. When the steam condensed, the water filled the bottle part way. (Note: normally, the air inside the bottle will keep the water out. However, if you fill the bottle with steam, it creates a vacuum, sucking some water in. See diving bell.)

You can see some pictures below.

Science Experiment

Today, I did two science experiments. The first one I did was about daguerreotypes. You can see a timeline entry for the inventor below:

===========================================

NAME: Luis Daguerre

BIRTH/DEATH: 1787-1851

ACHIEVEMENTS:  Daguerre invented the daguerreotype, 

which was the first stable form of photography.  

With the daguerreotype the image is exposed

 directly onto a mirror-polished surface of silver

 bearing a coating of silver halide particles deposited 

by iodine vapor. This was the first kind of photography 

that did not require hours of exposure.

=========================================

Today, I made a kind of a daguerreotype myself, exept with a glow in the dark star, and a table lamp.

I went into a dark room, (a closet) and put my thumb over part of the star. I turned on the lamp.

After a while, I turned off the lamp, and took off my thumb. i could see a clear imprint of it on the star!

I did this with several different objects, and took some pictures of them.

you can see these below.

          
          

The second experiment that I did involved filements.

(You know.......the glowy thing in light bulbs)

I looked at some through a magnifyng glass, and took some pictures.

I also learned a little bit more about how a filiment works, and who invented them.

As I'm sure you (should) know, the inventor of the light bulb is Thomas Edison.

He learned how to make the filiments burn longer, by encasing them in an airtight glass tube.

Not only that, but he had to invent his own method of powering it, and build everything.

There was nothing that he could start with; he had to build everything by himself.

The powerplant, the wires, everything!

Below, you can see some pictures of his invention.