Overview
- Major Topics Explored:
- Advanced waves and light phenomena.
- Chemical kinetics and the study of complex systems.
- Fluid dynamics and real-world applications (e.g., flight, pressure).
- Form Factor of Lab Session:
- Structured demonstrations followed by student experimentation.
- Use of advanced apparatus like ripple tanks and lasers.
- Group work with focused tasks, discussions on real-world examples.
Session 1: Wave Physics
- Wave Machine: A 25-foot wave machine demonstrates standing waves, frequency, and amplitude, connecting this concept to sound, light, and other wave-based phenomena.
- Ripple Tank: Further explore the principles of wave diffraction, reflection, and refraction with practical wave experiments.
Session 2: Energy Transfer
- Domino Chain Reactions: Analyze how small triggers can lead to large-scale effects, using energy transfer systems to connect with real-world energy cascades like earthquakes or economic crashes.
- Self-Organizing Structures: Explore spontaneous order and chaos theory, showing how simple rules can lead to complex patterns.
Session 3: Advanced Chemistry
- Elephant Toothpaste: Study reaction orders and rates in depth, looking at how temperature, concentration, and catalysts affect reaction speed.
- Fire in Water (Sodium Reaction): Go deeper into chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, discussing exothermic reactions, gas production, and oxidation-reduction.
Session 4: Light and Optics
- Infinite Mirror: Explore advanced optics, including the principles of multiple reflections and virtual images.
- Disappear in Lenses: Study how convex lenses manipulate light and create optical illusions, connecting these principles to practical applications in telescopes and microscopes.
Session 5: Heat and Sound
- Rijke Tubes: Study sound resonance and heat transfer in more detail, linking these concepts to real-world applications like musical instruments and heat engines.
- Lichtenberg Patterns: Investigate the flow of electricity through different materials, with a focus on material science and conductivity.
Session 6: Fluid Dynamics and Pressure
- Levitating Balls: Study fluid dynamics and Bernoulli’s principle, exploring how pressure differences lead to the levitation of objects.
- Black Holes: Simulate gravitational fields and black hole effects using a water tank to mimic spacetime curvature.
Session 7: Electricity and Magnetism
- Electromagnetism: Revisit electromagnetism with deeper concepts, explaining how electric currents can induce magnetic fields and how this principle is applied in real-world technologies.
- Liquid Nitrogen: Show the effects of extreme cold on different materials and discuss its applications in superconductors and refrigeration.
Session 8: Advanced Geometric Patterns
- Hex Games: Focus on mathematical patterns, geometry, and logic, with more challenging spatial puzzles.
- Drawing with a Single Line: Explore geometric patterns created from continuous lines, focusing on the concepts of symmetry, continuity, and fractals.
Session 9: Chaos and Motion
- Doubly Suspended Pendulum: Introduce chaotic systems with a double pendulum, linking the concepts of deterministic chaos to real-world systems like weather or traffic patterns.
- Newton’s Cradle: Analyze more complex collisions and energy transfer, linking momentum conservation to complex mechanical systems.
Session 10: Student Demonstration Day
- DIY Demonstrations: Allow students to select and present their favorite demonstrations, encouraging deeper exploration and public speaking.