The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
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The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
1–10 of 46 posts
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#2Some good stuff, but also stuff like this, from the Cartesian Diver":
> Air is easily compressible, water is not.
Not significantly compressible, in the sense of reducing volume, but it is pressurisable (think of pressure at the bottom of the ocean), which is what this experiment depends on.
> The water is not compressed by your called ions) and the chlorine atoms (chlorine ions) of which the salt in solution consists.
Wot?
Thinking about my own experiments as a child, my favourite tools were a 12-volt car battery charger, and fire. Sometimes I wonder that I'm still here :-)
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#3Some good stuff, but also stuff like this, from the Cartesian Diver": > Air is easily compressible, water is not. Not significantly compressible, in the sense of reducing volume, but it is pressurisable (think of pressure at the bottom of the ocean), which is what this experiment depends on. > The water is not compressed by your called ions) and the chlorine atoms (chlorine ions) of which the salt in solution consist…
I think playing with fire is a basic part of being human. Humans, fire. The fire primate, why we don't have hair or fat for body heat, we have fire and clothes. Like how else are you going to learn but seeing what happens if you eg play with the gauge on a lighter (for education, playing is mostly about learning), more flame, less flame, look at it, marvel at it. Doesn't mean getting burned though for sure there will be burns.
And it's becoming a lost art, like everything's electric, less and less fire in the house for fewer and fewer reasons, fewer smokers smoking less, vaping instead (which I consider good, harm reduction all the way), fewer ways to make fire, offices rarely have incinerators any more, well paper too, fire and paper, another combo. Less metallurgy due to less manufacturing in the States. SF Fire Department actually now do more like...helping the evicteds, because the codes to eliminate fires have worked very well in the regard of preventing fires.
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#4This is just priceless. I admire the breezy dismissal of potential harm/injury, and the confident reliance on exercising "reasonable care". Favourite (so far, that is):
26. A flour bomb as a noisy finale to our air experiments
... If you tried to set fire to a small heap of flour you would not succeed. But finely divided flour in a cloud—that can make a completely harmless bomb!
... With a great BANG! off flies the lid of the tin. The finely divided flour has exploded.
It is best to do this experiment out of doors. Not that the explosion is dangerous, but the lid might go through a window or do some damage in the room. It is also important to take care that the lid does not hit you in the face. Given reasonable care this flour bomb explosion is perfectly harmless.
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#5This is just priceless. I admire the breezy dismissal of potential harm/injury, and the confident reliance on exercising "reasonable care". Favourite (so far, that is): 26. A flour bomb as a noisy finale to our air experiments ... If you tried to set fire to a small heap of flour you would not succeed. But finely divided flour in a cloud—that can make a completely harmless bomb! ... With a great BANG! off flies the l…
I was reminded of this attitude last week, when I met a TV presenter from my childhood. He was known for doing daring things, the first of which was cleaning the Big Ben clockface. The Daleks were not the only scary thing on 80s BBC TV:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/blue-peter--big-ben-is-cleaned...
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#6Has anyone tried this?
131. Cut glass with. .. scissors!
You will need: bowl of water, pair of scissors, piece of glass.
It is possible to cut glass with ordinary scissors in any shape you wish, provided that while cutting you hold the glass and the scissors as well as your hands completely under water. The water deadens the vibrations which make the glass crack. Yes, under water, glass can be cut almost as easily as cardboard.
It's not mentioned, but I'd assume that the glass thickness would be something like a pane from a greenhouse. Might just have to try this one ...
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#7Some good stuff, but also stuff like this, from the Cartesian Diver": > Air is easily compressible, water is not. Not significantly compressible, in the sense of reducing volume, but it is pressurisable (think of pressure at the bottom of the ocean), which is what this experiment depends on. > The water is not compressed by your called ions) and the chlorine atoms (chlorine ions) of which the salt in solution consist…
I think playing with fire is a basic part of being human. Humans, fire. The fire primate, why we don't have hair or fat for body heat, we have fire and clothes. Like how else are you going to learn but seeing what happens if you eg play with the gauge on a lighter (for education, playing is mostly about learning), more flame, less flame, look at it, marvel at it. Doesn't mean getting burned though for sure there will…
My own worst experience with fire was with a Primus stove (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primus_stove) when I was about 14. I'd squirted the priming meths alcohol from a squeezy bottle on to the stove and lit it. But then (because alcohol burns with a near-invisible flame I thought it had gone out, so I squirted more on, then ... boom! Squeezy blew open, sending burning meths everywhere.
Luckily alcohol doesn't burn at a high temperature, so only all the skin on my hands peeled off. And this is no criticism of the Primus, just wittlessness on behalf of 14-year-old me.
I don't suppose kids get to do this sort of stuff these days?
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#8These are wonderful. Let me add one of my own to the collection. This is a true story from that same era, maybe a couple of years later when I got kicked out of my third grade class for being a troublemaker and had to go to a special ed class called Mrs. Spencer's Workshop.
199. Make your own printed circuit board
You will need: a common kitchen cutting board, a sheet of copper, a roll of electrical tape, a fish tank, and a supply of nitric acid. And whatever electrical components you need to complete your circuit.
All of these supplies are readily available to a third grader, except for the nitric acid which you will have to ask your teacher to source.
First, design your circuit and test it in your mind. Then tape it out - literally - with the electrical tape on one side of the copper sheet and matching tape on the other side.
Pour the nitric acid into the fish tank.
Dip the copper sheet into the nitric acid. Watch it with your teacher as the acid dissolves the copper, except where you have taped out your circuit.
When all that remains are the taped out traces, remove the copper circuit from the acid and rinse it with water.
Peel off the electrical tape and fasten the copper traces onto the cutting board. This is what makes it a circuit board.
Connect the rest of the components and test your circuit.
Go to the science fair, demonstrate the printed circuit, and explain to the visitors how you made it.
Thank you, Mrs. Spencer.
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#9No post body was provided.
Re: The Book of Experiments (1958) [pdf]
#10This is just priceless. I admire the breezy dismissal of potential harm/injury, and the confident reliance on exercising "reasonable care". Favourite (so far, that is): 26. A flour bomb as a noisy finale to our air experiments ... If you tried to set fire to a small heap of flour you would not succeed. But finely divided flour in a cloud—that can make a completely harmless bomb! ... With a great BANG! off flies the l…
Yes, a small flour puff can make a fancy show and is fairly safe, Mr. Wizard did it on his show decades ago.
Then again, anything, when suspended in air in significant amounts and the right ratios, will explode. Sugar and flour explode just fine. Sawdust, metal particles, and don't drop that cup of flour next to an open flame if you like your eyebrows.