Stress Test-Science Experiment

For my Science project on Monday, I learned about different building materials. To do that, I build two slabs of plaster. One was just plaster, and the other had wire running through it, in a crisscross pattern. The wire would supposedly make the plaster much stronger, with the ability to flex without breaking. You can see a picture of reinforced concrete below.

You can see the iron bars lacing through the cement.

After I had made the two plaster blocks, I set them up like a bridge in between two containers. Next, I set a cup on top of the unreinforced plaster. I then filled it up with water, a cup at a time. Once I had filled the cup with 5 and 1/2 cups, the plaster shattered, making a huge mess. After I had cleaned that up, I put the reinforced plaster block over the same spot. The reinforced plaster took over 7 cups of water, and a several pound piece of slate before it finally broke. This experiment showed how the strength of a material can be greatly improved by lacing it with wire, or a similar material. This technique was invented by Joseph Monier, who origionally invented it to improve the strength of his garden beds and pipes.

You can see some videos and pictures of the experiment below.

Science Unit Summary

Summary of Ancient Scientist Unit Study

For my science unit this year, I have been learning about ancient scientists. I read background information about the scientist, do experiments related to their discoveries, and write about my findings in my blog. Below, I am going to give a short summary of what I have done so far.

I am doing experiments out of a science book called "Milestones in Science". The book groups scientists by their fields, and then chronologically within each one. So far, I have studied "Light, Colors, and Sound", "Heat, Steam, and Engines", "Magnetism and Electricity", and "Force". To start off with, I read a short description of the scientist in the manual. It includes their most famous achievements, when and where they were born, and how their achievements helped mankind. After I have read their summary, I learn more about the scientist from their biographies, or by reading about them in the one and only online encyclopedia. After I have read about them, I conduct and experiment based on their discoveries.

The experiment is always based on one of the scientist's own experiments, or one of the theories that they are famous for. The complexity of the experiment ranges anywhere from filling a cup with water (Newton's third law of motion) to building my very own Camera Obscura, (demonstrating some basic principles of light and how they can be used.) The experiment usually has several steps, and several different parts. Each section usually shows that the same principal/theory can influence many different areas. For example, when I learned about Isaac Newton, I did several experiments all proving his laws of motion. The average number of experiments per scientist is about three.

After I have researched the scientist, I write a blog entry, and make a timeline card. On my blog, I talk about the experiments I did that day, and what scientist I learned about. (You can view my blog at kaiindvik.blogspot.com) I tell what the experiments proved/disproved, and how the scientist made a contribution to humanity. I almost always take pictures of my experiments, and sometimes film a video of them in action. After the blog post is done, I make a timeline entry. I give information like when and where the scientist was born, and his most important achievements. The timeline cards are on display now.