Hands-on Science and Engineering at Pasadena Public Library

Curiosity Machine

Sept. 21, 2015

What I thought of science when I was a

kid:

There’s so much memorization…

This is boring…

My experiments never come out

right…I’ll never be a scientist or engineer because I don’t like math.

What I know NOW:It’s OK to try and fail. Sometimes great scientific discoveries, theories, or inventions happen when you don’t get the results you were expecting.

Examples:*Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias (The Big

Bang Theory)*Alexander Fleming (Penicillin)*Harry Coover (Super Glue)*Roy Plunkett (Teflon)*Charles Robert Richet (Allergies)

How to be a scientist:

Today’s project:

Make a structure that can assemble itself!

Your inspiration:POLYMERS!

What is a polymer?*A polymer is a complex chemical, a molecule made of many smaller, repeating molecules called monomers. Monomers of the same kind link up to form a long chain, creating a super-strong molecule!

Monomer

Polymer

What are polymers for?*Because of their long structure and strong chemical bonds, many polymers are used to make strong, moldable objects (like plastic) that won’t easily break. *Polymers containing fewer chemical bonds are used to make soft, stretchy materials (like rubber and nylon).

From: http://pslc.ws/macrog/xlink.htm

Strong and firmSoft and flexible

Example: Borax slime!

http://masseychem.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/0/12806117/slime_lab_sp2014.pdf

MORE EXAMPLES!

Nylon

Silicone(Rubber)

Polypropylene (plastic)

http://media.philly.com/images/113013_DNA_600.jpg

DNA

How are monomers bonded together into

polymers?*The atoms share electrons with each other! This is called a covalent bond.

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_bonds.html and http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_structure.html(I love the Chem4Kids website; can you tell?)

Polymers aren’t really this pretty.

http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?articleID=83

They are not usually stretched out all perfect like that. They really look like THIS:

OK, OK… So where do MAGNETS come in?

*Magnets and polymers both love to connect! *Magnets are used to help polymers assemble into organized forms. (With magnets, scientists can guide polymers to make straighter chains).

More about magnets

https://nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-academy/learn-the-basics/stories/magnets-from-mini-to-mighty

How do scientists use magnets to make straighter

polymer chains?*The magnets change the direction that the electrons spin, making the electrons connect in a different formation.

Let’s watch the video!

Now YOU try!

Their design:

My intial design:

Image of polyethylene from http://plastics.tamu.edu/class-resources/semi-conducting_polymers

Based on the tetrahedral structure of polyethylene—the green dice are supposed to work as terminators, chemicals that put a stop to the chain.

Why didn’t it work?

My terminators got attracted to each other!

I switched the order around…

Still had problems.

It wouldn’t stay straight! Now it wanted to be a

ball!

Finally ended up with something that worked!

And it STILL had problems. Just like polymers, my magnets always wanted to connect in more ways than just as one long chain!

Be willing to play with your design.

Be willing to tinker!

Incorporate lots of different dice

From one of my favorite geometry books EVER: Shapes in Math, Science and Nature by Catherine Sheldrick Ross and Bill Slavin.

When you get home, you can submit photos or videos of your project to the Curiosity Machine website to get feedback from engineers! They will help you tinker until you get it perfect!

http://www.curiositymachine.org

Books and Resources to Check Out from the

Library!• Turner, Mills and Gifford. 100 inventions that made history: Brilliant breakthroughs that shaped our world. New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2014.

• Kuskowski. Science experiments with magnets. North Mankato: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013.

• Goodstein. Plastics and polymers science fair projects: Using hair gel, soda bottles, and slimy stuff. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2004.

• Gardner and Gardner. Chemistry science fair projects: Using french fries, gumdrops, soap and other organic stuff. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers, 2004.

• Ross. Shapes in math, science and nature: Squares, triangles and circles. Tonawanda: Kids Can Press Ltd., 2014.

• Disney Educational Productions. The science of Disney imagineering. Magnetism [DVD]. 2009.

• Disney Educational Productions. Bill Nye the Science Guy. Magnetism [DVD]. 2005.

• Schlessinger Media. Physical science in action. Atoms & Molecules [DVD]. 2004.

Thank you for coming! See you next week!