More FREE Videos
Preview Members Video Archive

Be a Krampf.com Member



Get Access to:
•More Videos!
•More Science!
•More Fun!
One of my goals with these science videos is to provide support to the homeschool community. After years of writing the Experiment of the Week, and presenting science shows for homeschool groups, I have been impressed with how strongly homeschool families are involved with hands-on science. I have also seen the need for a science curriculum that fulfills their educational needs. Starting with these videos, I hope to offer the homeschool community some of the science education support that they need, as well as a fun way to get students involved with scientific discovery.

I also try to use activities that involve common items. Most homeschoolers don't have access to test tubes, flasks, chemicals, microscopes and other scientific equipment. In the future, I hope to be able to guide them to inexpensive sources for science equipment to enrich their science curriculum.


Can you hold a balloon in a candle flame without popping it? You can if you know the right science.; balloon; education; elementary; experiment; fire; heat; physics; science; water balloon; Learn about the science of inertia with a classic experiment that will amaze your friends. No matter how many times I do this one, it is still one of my favorites.; Inertia; education; elementary; experiment; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; Transfer energy to get a tennis ball to bounce higher than a house. Be sure to do this high energy experiment outside!; education; elementary; energy; experiment; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use science to tell the number of sections in an orange before you slice it.; biology; education; elementary; experiment; fruit; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use steam and air pressure to crush a can in a fraction of a second.; air pressure; education; heat; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use the science of Topology to make an object with only one side and only one edge. ; education; elementary; experiment; museum; projects; science; science fair; science show; topology; Try this dramatic experiment to add some science fun to your next birthday party.; candle; education; elementary; energy; experiment; fire; heat; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; This classic experiment is a fun way to explore why things float or sink.; air pressure; density; education; elementary; experiment; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; states of matter; If you were lost in the woods, would you be able to determine which way was north?; Earth; education; elementary; experiment; projects; science; science fair; science show; sun; Why does adding clear water to white paper make it look darker?; elementary; energy; experiment; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; water; Start with a standard 3X5 index card, and cut a hole in it that is large enough to fit your body through.; education; elementary; experiment; science; science fair; science show; topology; Explore some of the ways that plants spread their seeds.; Earth; biology; education; elementary; experiment; fruit; museum; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use the science of chemistry to change the color of flowers.; education; elementary; experiment; museum; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use air pressure to control the flow of water.; air pressure; density; education; elementary; experiment; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; water; If you ever watch crime shows, you have probably seen them dusting a crime scene for fingerprints. If you want to try it yourself, you can, with a little science.; csi; crime scene; balloon; biology; candle; education; elementary; experiment; fire; heat; museum; projects; science; science fair; science show; water balloon; Use a houshold spice to measure acidity.; acidity; Chemistry; crime scene; csi; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; Use a balloon to attract a stream of water; balloon; education; electricity; elementary; energy; experiment; projects; science; science fair; science show; static; Use the science of topology in a challenge that will frustrate your friends.; education; elementary; experiment; museum; projects; science fair; science show; topology; Using science for a stronger dollar.; education; elementary; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; topology; Can you make flames shoot out of an orange? Of course you can!; Chemistry; candle; education; elementary; energy; experiment; fire; fruit; mr wizard; projects; science; science fair; science show; Produce beautiful smoke rings from a soda bottle.; candle; education; elementary; experiment; mr wizard; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; smoke; Is it true you can identify a diamond by cutting glass?; Find out how burning metal produces the sparks in fireworks.; Chemistry; education; elementary; energy; experiment; fire; heat; mr wizard; museum; projects; science; science fair; science show; sparklers; sparks; Use inertia to challenge your friends and win every time.; Alton Brown; Inertia; experiment; museum; physics; science fair; science show; Learn about being a paleontologist and eat cookies at the same time.; Alton Brown; experiment; mr wizard; museum; paleontology; science; science fair; science show; Well, the team is swamped, finishing our new Electricity DVD, so I thought I would give you a sneak preview of what we are working on. ; Alton Brown; education; electricity; experiment; mr wizard; museum; science; science fair; science show; Use a drop of water to see the true colors on your television.; Alton Brown; light; experiment; mr wizard; museum; primary colors; projects; science; science fair; science show; Try this fun challenge next time you are waiting in a restaurant.; Inertia; energy; experiment; mr wizard; museum; physics; projects; science; science fair; science show; Why does heat and hard work make you perspire?; Inertia; education; energy; experiment; physics; projects; science; science fair; How can you put sugar on your tongue and not taste anything sweet?; Chemistry; biology; education; experiment; projects; science; science fair; science show; Play music with a glass of water.; Benjamin franklin; armonica; audio; education; experiment; friction; hearing; music; projects; resonance; science fair; sound; vibration; Have fun and make a mess while learning about science with half a water balloon.; compress; elementary; energy; museum; physics; projects; science show; water; water balloon; How many ways can you think of to keep water in a glass when it is turned upside down.; processes of science; scientific method; Learn how to make all sorts of unusual sounds with a blade of grass.; music; project; resonance; school; science; sound; vibration; If you have ever eaten pizza, you have probably burned your mouth on the cheese. If the crust of the pizza is cool enough for you to hold, why is the cheese still hot enough to burn you?; energy; heat; specific heat; Can you really hear the ocean in a seashell?; audio; hearing; ocean; processes of science; projects; resonance; science; science fair; shell; sound; vibration; Learn how to make quick, easy, emergency eyeglasses.; camera; lens; light; robert krampf; science experiment; vision; Why does the sound of a car change as it passes you?; doppler effect; homeschool; robert krampf; school project; science experiment; sound; waves; Why does a helium balloon act strange in a car?; air; balloon; buoyant; density; helium; Inertia; robert krampf; video; Find out why changing the water level in a bottle changes the sounds that it can make.; air; density; education; elementary; energy; experiment; hearing; homeschool; music; physics; processes of science; project; robert krampf; school project; science; science experiment; science fair; science fair projects; science show; sound; vibration; video; waves; The answer to the previous video. Did you get it right?; air; audio; density; education; gas; gases; hearing; homeschool; mr wizard; music; physics; processes of science; project; projects; robert krampf; school; school project; science; science experiment; science fair; science fair projects; scientific thought; sound; states of matter; vibration; Are your feet really the same size as your head?; biology; education; experiment; forensic; homeschool; human body; measurements; osteology; projects; robert krampf; school project; science; science experiment; science fair projects; Try this simple experiment to see how the pull of gravity varies on the planets in our Solar System.; Earth; density; education; gravity; measurements; planets; robert krampf; school project; science; science experiment; science fair projects; solar system; Start with a standard 3X5 index card, and cut a hole in it that is large enough to fit your body through. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid909830079 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=627593783

Some older browsers have trouble playing these videos. If you are having problems, we recommend using Firefox as your browser.

11. Going Through a Card

This simple topological experiment can also turn into a challenge. The idea is to start with a standard 3X5 index card, and cut a hole in it that is large enough for you to fit your body through. That may sound impossible, but as we saw with the Mobius Strip, by playing with shapes and spaces, we can do all sorts of things.

You will need:

  1. a standard 3 inch by 5 inch index card. You can also use a 3 X 5 piece of heavy paper.
  2. scissors
  3. a ruler

We start by folding the index card in half, from side to side. It is still 3 inches high, but is only 2.5 inches wide. Next, we will make a series of cuts in the paper. Read these instructions carefully. If you do not, instead of getting one big hole, you will get one big mess. Even better, watch the video, to see how it is done.

There are now two sides to the card. One side is the folded side. The other side is the side with the two edges of the paper. Measure down 1/8 of an inch from the top. Start on the folded side and make a cut across the card, stopping 1/4 inch from the edge side. Measure down another 1/4 inch on the fold side and make another cut, again stopping 1/4 inch from the edge. Continue making a cut every 1/4 inch, until you reach the bottom of the card.

At this point, you should have a folded card that has a cut every 1/4 inch, with a thinner 1/8 inch flap at the top and bottom. That gives you ten 1/4 inch flaps, and two 1/8 inch flaps. Starting from the edge side, you will cut down the center of each 1/4 inch flap, stopping 1/4 inch from the fold side. You will wind up with a zigzag shape. Again, see the video.

Read this part VERY carefully before you make any more cuts. Looking at the fold side, skip the first flap, and then cut the fold of each strip, also skipping the bottom flap. Read that sentence again. DO NOT CUT THE TOP OR BOTTOM FLAP. You skip the top strip of paper. Then you begin cutting the center fold, but stop when you get to the bottom strip.

Carefully open up the paper and you will find that it is now one huge hole, which you can put your body through. Be careful, as the paper will rip if you pull too hard. Carefully open the entire hole and go through it.

Understanding the Science

This is another example of the science of topology, the science of surfaces and shapes. When you thought of cutting a hole in the card, you probably first thought about cutting out a circle of paper to make a small hole. With that method, you can't cut a hole that is larger than the piece of paper you are using.

Instead, we cut a zigzag slit in the paper, cutting the paper into a long strip connected at the ends to form a large circle. That left a hole in the center that was large enough for you to go through.

This experiment has been around for a long time. The oldest record that I can find of it is from the 1890's. That book called for using a playing card from an old deck of cards, and it was one of the after dinner science tricks that were very popular then. Instead of watching TV (Imagine no TV, no radio, no computers), people would sit around talking and doing parlor tricks, which were often science experiments. As much as I like my computer, it sounds like a great idea to me!

If you feel that you are very good at cutting, try it again, making the cuts closer together. This takes a lot more skill, but it gives you a hole that is bigger! When I originally sent this experiment out, I had several students that made very thin, very large holes in the card.

Have a wonder-filled week.

 


Copyright © 2006. Robert Krampf's Science Education Co. All Rights Reserved.