Posted in Scientific Saturday

First I am going to give all of you the answer to last week's question, "How can you blow up a balloon inside a pop bottle?" Thanks to the two people who participated last week, sweetpotato and BookwormMN. Sweetpotato said,

No, it's not what I had in mind, but it's probably a solution! And BookwormMN said,

Can you do it by attaching a straw into the balloon and lowering it down inside the bottle and blowing up the balloon with the straw, letting the air escape throught the gap?

Amber, you're on the right track with that straw. The answer that I knew of was to put a straw in the pop bottle beside the balloon, letting the air in the bottle escape through the straw. Or I suppose you could puncture the bottom of the bottle... but I'm not sure if that qualifies as a "normal" bottle. :o)

And now for this week's problem to solve. Okay, I'll admit that last week's question was not very practical. I mean, how is blowing up a balloon inside a bottle going to help anybody?? But, let me tell you, today's problem is very practical!

To begin with I am going to tell you about lift. Lift is a force that makes airplanes, well, lift! How does it work? Well, the air rushing over the wings of the airplane makes a partial vacuum (as you already know, vacuums suck things up). So, now that you know all that, here is the problem. If a huge cargo plane takes off at 180 mph, how can a racecar speeding down the track at 180 mph or more stay on the ground (since there is air rushing under and over it, creating a partial vacuum)?

Obviously, this problem has already been solved. Cars going that fast stay on the ground! So you can either try to figure it out yourself, or you can do a little research. It doesn't matter to me, as long as you find a solution. I'll post the answer next week, along with all comments with an answer, just like I did this time. That's all for now!

Posted in Scientific Saturday

I am going to do something a bit different this Scientific Saturday. Today I am going to give you a science project to do that has a problem for you to solve. Your assignment: to blow up a regular balloon inside a normal two-liter pop bottle. Sound easy? Think twice. Solve the problem of how to get the balloon inflated inside the pop bottle.

This may take a bit of thinking, and again it may not! If you succeed, please comment and tell how you did it. And, before you ask me, yes, this is possible. I even proved it myself.

Next Saturday I will post the solution. If you comment with the correct answer I will recognize you and your comment as well. I am thinking about doing something like this again next week, too, but I'm not sure yet. Tell me what you think.

Posted in Scientific Saturday

This week I am going to tell you four interesting facts about dolphins. The last one is the one that I find the most intriguing. Do you know of more fascinating things about dolphins? Comment and tell us all about it!

1. Even though their home is in the water, dolphins are not fish. They are mammals, just as whales are mammals that live in the water.

2. Dolphins are very friendly animals. They are very sociable among themselves, and they are also very friendly and sociable with people.
They are also very playful. They love to play “games” with each other.

3. Dolphins can save lives. They have often rescued drowning swimmers!

4. Unlike humans, dolphins have to think about breathing. To us, it is an involuntary act, but dolphins have to think about coming to the surface for each breath. You are asking, "So what about when they are asleep?" Good question. The answer is that God made it so that when the dolphin goes to sleep, only half of its brain goes to sleep at at time. The other half stays awake and keeps the dolphin  going up to the surface for air!

Posted in Scientific Saturday

Ever wonder why bread rises? Okay, it's the yeast, but how exactly does it work? Well, I don't know really how the yeast has anything to do with it, but I do know what makes it rise.

My science book says, "Gases expand when they are heated. The expanding of heated gas is used by your mother when she puts bread into the oven. Bread dough has small bubbles of carbon dioxide mixed through it. As the bread is heated, the gas expands and causes the bread to rise as it bakes."

Anyone care to explain to me how yeast has anything to do with this? Does the yeast give off carbon dioxide? I'd love to hear it your explanation!

Posted in Scientific Saturday

All matter has three states, and they are solid, liquid, and gas. In order for a solid to turn into a liquid, it must be heated to its freezing point (for water, this temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius), and for a liquid to turn into a gas, it must reach its boiling point (for water, this temperature is 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius). This is also true in going the other direction (for example, to turn liquid water into ice it must be cooled to 32 degrees Farenheit).

This means that ALL matter such as metal, wood, plastic, etc., has a melting point (for example, lead melts at 621 degrees Fahrenheit or 327 degrees Celsius). Did you know that WOOD has a melting point?! Yes, you read that correctly. The only problem is that some solids (such as wood) enter into a chemical reaction before they can turn into a liquid. This is why you will never see wood in a liquid or gas form. You probably never even thought of that before, but now you know! :o)

Posted in Scientific Saturday

Have you ever wondered what your appendix does? Or what is the purpose of your tonsils? If so, then read on!

Appendix: Your appendix is known to be part of the immune system.

Tailbone: Your tailbone is very important; some important muscles are attached there. Have you ever heard someone say that your tailbone is "leftover" from evolution (supposedly we evolved from monkeys, and monkeys have tails)? Well, now you know the truth!

Tonsils and adenoids: Your tonsils are at the back of your throat and your adenoids are behind your nose. They are also part of the immune system; their job is to help your body fight infections.

Thymus gland: This is behind your sternum bone in your chest. It is yet another organ that helps your immune system, especially when you are young.

Evolutionists say that these organs are supposedly extra body parts which became useless as we evolved. But, as you now know, they are not useless! God knew what he was doing when he made our bodies. He did not make any parts that have no purpose! Isaiah 55:8 says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Maybe man does not know why each and every little thing in creation was made, but God does! Never let anyone tell you that man evolved. It is NOT TRUE!

Posted in Scientific Saturday

I have decided to start a new weekly tradition. Every Saturday I am going to post a science fact that interests me. Each week will probably be about totally different topics. :o) This week I am going to tell about Wood's metal.

Some alloys (two or more metals melted together and allowed to cool) melt at very low temperatures. One alloy called "Wood's metal" contains 50% bismuth. It melts at a very low temperature (158 degrees Fahrenheit or 70 degrees Celsius). Because of this it works great for automatic sprinkling systems. A small piece of Wood's metal is used to hold the valve closed on the sprinkler. Then, if a fire breaks out, the metal melts quickly, opening the valve. The water either puts out the fire or helps to keep it under control.