SOUTH SHORE SCIENCE FESTIVAL (W.A.V.E.S.)

This is the article that was published in the Patriot Ledger on Monday, April 25.  I can't get it to show up here, but you can look up this link.  It includes some video footage, too.

http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20160423/NEWS/160427847

And this is what I wrote before the Science Festival:


This is one of the many great offerings of the Cambridge Science Festival.

Come for

Wicked Awesome Ventures into Exciting Science (W.A.V.E.S.) 

with so many things to choose from:

Gateway to Science: Sports and Games will bring back hula hooping (torque, angular momentum, centripetal force) and string-can telephones (science of sound) and assorted games.     In addition, we will be learning about how light refracts into colors with a story -- The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister -- followed by an art activity.

Learn about refraction, too, as it applies to determining what eyeglasses you need -- with optometrist Bob Crawford, O.D.

Refraction can be seen in gemstones, too.  Jeweler Jeff Bertman will bring a jeweler's equipment for examining these special stones.

The biotechnology department from Quincy College will be back again, bringing lab equipment and DNA games, etc.

Lob the Bottle, a sports-oriented recycling game, will be brought here again by Dick Leonard. 

Using Legos, recreate the manufacturing process with Manuel Barroso.

Computer-based activities include learning to write a story and incorporate graphics, and learning about Scratch programming from 30Hands Learning.

Learn about Quincy's early industrial history with Al Bina of the Quincy Quarry Museum.  The Inclined Plane -- actually a simple machine -- was part of the Granite Railway.

A model of the Souther Tide Mill will demonstrate how a tide mill works, built by Amy Boyce of Friends of Souther Tide Mill.

Mister R.E. Cycle , the recycling robot from Quincy's Waste and Recycling department, will be here with his human, John Sullivan.

Improvisation will be back this year with Mayah Braun.

Nature Studies was a big hit and will return with Suzanne Reynard, The Amateur Naturalist.

THIS LIST IS NOT COMPLETE AND WILL BE REVISED AS OTHER OFFERINGS ARE FIRMED UP.

For more information, go to http://southshorescience.org where you can see pictures and the schedule from last year and sign up OR www.cambridgesciencefestival.org. 

WHERE IS THE SOUTH SHORE SCIENCE FESTIVAL?

We're at 180 Old Colony Avenue, Quincy, which is a ten-minute walk from the Wollaston T on the Red Line, with parking available as well.

COLLISION! What's That?

COLLISION

Elastic v. Inelastic

Two things collide with each other!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how elastic or inelastic is the collision?

1            2            3              4            5             6              7              8             9            10

ELASTIC                                                                                                INELASTIC

(has a lot of "give")                                                                            (not enough "give")

 You can find out just what this means when you have an

EGG TOSS -- OR WATER BALLOON TOSS

Use an easily breakable item – that's why we use an egg or a water balloon.

In a contest like this, after each round, you take a giant step back, so there is more and more distance involved. The distance adds to the amount of force each time you throw.

How elastic or inelastic a collision?                         It depends on:

USE AN EGG or WATER BALLOON                     WHERE IT LANDS AND HOW IT LANDS

Using the above scale:

                      1                                             on sand or grass or a pillow

                      3                                             in your hands, and keep the arms moving

                      5                                            in your hands, stop all of a sudden

                      7                                             right on you!

                     10                                             on hard ground

                                                                                            

You can find out, too, with pitching and catching:

PITCHER / PITCHING MACHINE

How elastic or inelastic a collision?                           It depends on:

USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF BALLS                HOW YOU PROTECT YOURSELF

cloth ball                                       1                               bare hands

rubber ball                                     3                               bare hands

softball                                          5                               catchers mitt

baseball                                         7                               catchers mitt

ball used in shotput                       10                             2 catchers mitts ??!

SUMMARY: The force is d-i-f-f-u-s-e-d, meaning you s-p-r-e-a-d  o-u-t the force.

This  way  there  is  a  more  elastic  collision,  resulting  in  less  damage.

So, wearing a helmet helps protect you when doing activities such as bicycling or skateboarding. Why? If you fall and hit your head, 
it spreads the force, first, throughout the lining --- protecting YOU. 

How? Less force to your head!

 

Proposal for a Legislative Resolution

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS...

Children play,

WHEREAS...

Children acquire language,

WHEREAS...

Children's bodies understand the feeling of various forces that they experience while at play – whether in the playground or on the playing field – or in any other daily activity,

WHEREAS...

Massachusetts has long been a leader in education and has a vast sports infrastructure,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

...Children be helped to learn basic scientific principles in the playground and through the sports and games that they enjoy.

...Their working vocabulary be expanded to include words such as Friction, Gravity, Energy, Momentum, Axis of rotation, Inertia, Trajectory, Potential energy and Kinetic energy, Torque, Angular momentum, Lift, Air resistance, and Elastic collision, for example.

...STEM / STEAM be amended to STEAMS:

Science – Technology – Engineering – Arts – Mathematics – Sports

...The following specific recommendations be developed, modeling for other states how this can be done:

• sports camps
• preschools
• after-school programs
• professional development for teachers and coaches
• methods courses in education programs
• high school and college level Physics of Sports courses, with the gymnasium as the applied physics lab
• sports stadiums via activities and Jumbotron

...The Commonwealth of Massachusetts take the lead in developing this approach to science education – one that is natural, logical, and fun (and long overdue).

...Form an institute dedicated to teaching people how to do this.

Leaflet: Science of Skiing

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS WHILE SKIING ? This is about the science involved in downhill skiing. Why is skiing on packed powder better than skiing right after a snowfall? What things can I do to be sure of a nice smooth ride down the slope? What kind of simple machine is a ski slope? What is aerodynamics? And what does it have to do with skiing? GATEWAY TO SCIENCE: SPORTS AND GAMES                                      http://sportsciencekathy.blogspot.com WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN I LOOK FOR WHEN I HIT THE SLOPES? First of all, that ski slope is actually a machine – what we call a simple machine. It's an inclined plane, just like a ramp. It makes work easier. And if you had to ski down a hill that wasn't smooth, skiing would be harder. Wouldn't it? After a fresh snowfall, the hill is not so smooth until the snow be-comes packed. As you're standing at the top of the hill getting ready to push off, your position there gives you a lot of potential energy: the higher you are, the more you have. Crouching down and pushing off -- kinetic energy of motion combined with the pull of gravity -- along with a smooth surface and smooth skis -- means YOU will have an exciting ride down the hill! WHAT KIND OF FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN DOWNHILL SKIING? Energy: Potential energy at the top of the ski slop -- which changes to kinetic energy when you're in motion Gravity: A force that pulls you to the earth, so it aids downhill motion Friction: Occurs when 2 surfaces meet. A lot of friction (rough, bumpy) makes motion harder; and a little friction (smoother) makes motion easier. Aerodynamics: Wearing smooth clothes and crouching help you to reduce friction between yourself and the air › less drag. Your shape is more like a bird or a plane (aerodynamic). NOTE Center of mass, or center of gravity: Bending your knees helps you find your center of balance. Skiing... is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry. I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn't know where to start. Physics and geometry come into play in every activity and event going on around us. Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun. So give it a try. How? Start with the information here You may not understand every- thing in it right away, but for now, use what you do understand Do an online search of your own See what books or videos your library has Share them with friends, your class, your team, your scout troop Read my blog and tell others: sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com                               Thank you! Kathy Hogan                                                         Gateway to Science: Sports and Games                                                                                                                                                  Picture: Univ. of Utah REFERENCES: Skiing: It's All About Friction Marcia Howell, Univ. of Utah NOTE: Univ. of Utah is a good resource for sport science in general. NBCLearn.com and the National Science Foundation did videos at the 2010 Winter Olympics on sport science, narrated by Lester Holt. See YouTube.           Sports and games are the gateway to science,                                  and YOU hold the key!

Leaflet: CHUNKIN' PUMPKINS

I prepared this leaflet and passed it out today at CHUNKIN' PUMPKINS today.  It was a project of Boy Scouts Troop Six of Quincy and was held at Merrymount Park.   Great project, lots of fun and excitement.  Wonderful learning experience for the boys.  When printed, this leaflet folds in thirds (the long way).  

FRONT

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

WHILE CHUNKIN'

PUMPKINS!

trebuchet, or catapult

This is about the science involved in chunkin' pumpkins – or any other projectile!

It looks at the following questions:

What simple machines are involved?

What kind of forces are involved?

What kind of things can I look for?

INSIDE LEFT

SIMPLE MACHINES

What are some simple machines found on a trebuchet?

Look for them!

SOME SIMPLE MACHINES:

LEVER -

You use a lever when you 

swing a baseball bat

kick a soccer ball

ROPE AND PULLEY -

You use a rope and pulley when you

open a venetian blind

use a fishing pole

INSIDE CENTER

WHAT KIND OF FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN USING THE PUMPKIN LAUNCH?

FORCES

Push – Pull – Turn, or Torque

INERTIA

the tendency to remain at rest – or the tendency to remain in motion

VELOCITY

speed combined with direction, e.g., Wind velocity is 20 miles per hour coming from the southwest.

INSIDE RIGHT

WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN I LOOK FOR?

potential energy

angle of launch

kinetic energy

projectile motion

Time in the air

Horizontal distance traveled

Calculate velocity

What height achieved

Similarities? Differences?

BACK

Chunkin' pumpkins, or any other activity involving launching a projectile...

is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry. I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

Physics and geometry come into play in every activity and event going on around us.

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun. So give it a try. How?

• Start with the information here
• You may not understand everything in it right away, but for now, use what you do understand
• Do an online search of your own
• See what books or videos your library has
• Share them with friends, your class, your team, your scout troop
• Read my blog and tell others:
  sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com or Gateway to Science: Sports and Games

Thank you! Kathy Hogan

Sports and games are the gateway to science,

and YOU hold the key!

FanFest at Boston College, 2015

Hi!

SOMETHING NEW!  For the last few months I've been working with BC to add science to games at FanFest.  FanFest began over ten years ago to provide fun things for kids to do before the home football games.  It takes place in the Flynn Recreation Complex (the Rec Plex) and begins three hours before game time, running 2 1/2 hours.  There are several inflatable games, bean toss and other games, and face painting.  Gateway to Science: Sports and Games has offered games with science at four FanFests so far, and on alternating weeks in September, two science professors did special demonstrations for the kids and their parents.  Ruihua He demonstrated superconducting magnetic levitation with frozen liquid nitrogen.  Dunwei Wang used solar/hydrogen-powered miniature race cars for a competition.

WHAT WILL YOU FIND WHEN YOU GET THERE?  We've had hula hooping to help kids learn about torque, the turning force, and string-can telephones for the science of sound.  We've also had activities to help learn about finding your center of gravity as well as your axis of rotation.  We'll be using jump ropes to learn about waves and other things.  And who knows what else?  Come and find out!

On exhibit are several items I've been working on, including stories and how they can be used to learn about simple machines, physics and geometry.  Leaflets on the science of hula hooping and jump roping are available, too.

THE TEAM   My husband Frank has been helping me, as well as Bob Mallon '65 and Joe Nigro '65, both of whom attended the School of Education at BC, where I worked from 1962-65.  I bumped into them at reunion activities in May, and they wanted to help me.  Eileen Leister, a great hula hooper from Quincy, "circulates" and draws people in to our Gateway to Science center (centripetal force?).  Dick Leonard, retired science teacher and permanent sub at Quincy HS, is bringing his recycling game with a sports angle to FanFest for the North Carolina State game. Eileen Heavey, my friend from Milton who also helped at the South Shore Science Fun House in Quincy last April, jumped in at the last minute when we found ourselves operating on a "skeleton crew" basis last week on Halloween. 

Last year Brad Bates, AD, had directed me to Jody Mooradian, Assistant AD, who referred me to Jim Morris, Alumni Association, and Jamie DiLoreto, Athletic Association, who together run FanFest.  Then they directed me to Rebecca Cegledy, the FanFest team member in the Rec Plex who manages things there.  In addition, on game day either Caitriona Taylor or Laurel Carter is there and somehow manage to be several places at once! 

Getting the logistics worked out and developing a routine for setting up is coming along, I'm happy to say.

YOU'RE INVITED!  So please try to come and see this innovative approach to science education.  My goal is for this to become the standard way of introducing kids to physics and geometry concepts the EASY way!  Don't you wish that you learned physics this way?!  I do.  Pain-free and fun!

GETTING THERE   You don't need a game ticket to attend FanFest.  However, to get onto the campus on game day, take the T, the Green Line, to the end, the Boston College stop.  FanFest is about a ten minute walk.

SCHEDULE
Sat. Oct. 31  Virginia Tech   FanFest 9:30-12    Game 12:30
Sat. Nov. 7   North Carolina State, youth & high school football day     FanFest 9:30-12

Hope to see you!
Kathy

STOKED ABOUT PHYSICS website .......... (this post is under construction)

I just found a really good site:  Stoked About Science, authored by physics teacher Mr. Chris Stokes.

http://stokedaboutscience.com 

This is what he says for people who want a science camp:

Don’t have access to a science camp?  Here is a way to stream science camp right into your own living room.  I provide the demos and instructions and you just need to supply the enthusiastic campers and some basic supplies!

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