Science Smarts: Science Olympics!!

By Patty Rooks on October 29, 2022.

I am SO excited. Our 30th annual Family Science Olympics is today!! It has been so long since I have seen so many “scientists” in action face to face.

The Education Students at Medicine Hat College allowed me a sneak peek the other day to see some of the hands on activities they will be presenting today. I may be a bit biased, but I really do think this will be the BEST Family Science Olympics yet.

I can genuinely say that after having the privilege of organizing this amazing event for so many years. It has also made me a bit nostalgic. I was looking through my files of past activities. I just have to share one of my favourite. Let’s get started!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• White disposable plastic drinking cup with a hole in the end

• Cotton butcher string*

• Button

• Small piece of sponge

• Water

Procedure

1. Push the string through the holes in the cup and tie it on the outside of the cup.

2. Insert the end of the string into one of the holes and pull it through the other hole.

3. Tie a knot in the string at the top of the cup.

4. Poke a hole in the middle of the piece of sponge.

5. Pull the string through this hole in the sponge.

6. Tie a button onto the end of this piece of string to keep it from pulling through the sponge.

7. Wet the sponge with water.

8. Wrap the wet sponge around the top of the string.

9. Squeeze the sponge against the string as you move the sponge down the string using jerky movements.

10. Be patient this may take some work to get the correct sound you are looking for.

What is going on?

As up pull the wet sponge down the string, you will make a moaning sound (like a ghost). The water allows the sponge to move down the string, but there is enough friction to cause the string to vibrate, because the sponge skips and pulls at the string.

The irregular touching on the string produces tiny taps that force the string’s molecules to move back and forth.

The vibrating string strikes the molecules in the cup, and the cup’s molecules strike the air molecules causing them to move back and forth in rhythm with the cup and string.

The sound is made louder because the inside of the cup acts like a megaphone that concentrates the sound waves and sends them out in one direction.

Note: change the colour of the cup for the seasons – I use the red drinking cups to make chickens or turkeys for Thanksgiving. Just adjust your technique on the string to make different sounds!

Mark your calendars… our annual FREE Family Science Olympics returns on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Medicine Hat College. Hands on science activities and prizes for ALL ages. See you there!

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismedhat.com, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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