As the second quarter ends, students are ending the research phase of their projects and are discussing how they plan to share their information.
Thursday students traveled to the KU Natural History Museum to participate in the Rock Clocks workshop. This workshop provides an introduction to geological time with activities that investigate relative and absolute dating. After a lunch in the KU Student Union, students continued their studies with a scavenger hunt in the Fossil Hall. One sheet of paper was the only material offered to students as they were asked to build a paper bridge spanning an 8 inch gap. Pennies and weights were added to the bridges to test the weight capacity of each bridge. By folding, bending, and altering the paper, Wednesday students built bridges that held up to 1.6 pounds. Not to be outdone, our Monday group had a bridge that held almost a full 2 pounds. Impressive on all accounts. Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? It's a non-Newtonian fluid! Students were presented with a mixture of cornstarch and water (recipe here) and encouraged to explore the differences in its viscosity in both states.. When it is held lightly it slimes through your fingers and when held tightly it becomes harder and almost pliable. |