Kamryn Science Methods 1

5/8/2025 This week I clarified a lot of the experiments that we have investigated through the last five weeks of the semester. I connected that when a plunger is stuck to a table the particles on the outside are pushing down on the plunger. Another connection I made was when doing the balloon, baking soda, and vinegar experiment we are surrounded by air. When the balloon blows up it pushes air out of the way. When you blow up a balloon in air you are pushing air out of the way. This is called buoyancy.  It was a little confusing or maybe just mind boggling that when we shook the vinegar and baking soda a gas was produced, but the weight did not change. At the closure of lab it was made clear that there is a gas that was produced that was not there before and it doesn't affect the weight.  All the experiments that Dr. Nordine has introduced to me and assisted in conducting can be done in my future classroom. I have learned that explaining the WHY to kids is important and as an ...

5/1/2025 This week we discussed the initial states of matter. As table groups we got to talk about the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases. My group said that solids occupy space and have a fixed shape. Liquids occupy space and have a fixed volume. Gases occupy space and can be compressed. We then went on to talk about the particle view of a solid, liquid, and gas. This was through a virtual interactive simulation that showed the motion and interactions of molecules when they are in different states of matter.  The idea of a plunger sticks super hard to surfaces when you push down on it still sort of confuses me. I saw the plunger get pushed down in front of me and seal to the table. The only way for it to peel off was to pull the stick of the plunger to the side to insert air under the plunger part. I understand that it becomes a vacuum with the little air molecules trapped under the plunger, but WHY? (These were my thoughts at the end of lab) In lecture we talked about ...