9/2/2015 Dry Ice Experiment
In class today we explored the mystery that is dry ice, a solid form of CO2. The reason we conducted this experiment was to learn more about the differences between a liquid and a solid. So what is a solid and a gas exactly?
A solid is basically a substance with its molecules connected and packed tightly together to where they can't really move.
A gas is a substance with its molecules are not connected at all and instead are flying around.
With those base terms known we can then move on to what the experiment was and another important word to know.
That word is sublimation, where a substance converts directly to a gas from a solid.
The experiment was first to take a small piece of dry ice, and put that piece into a small beaker of water. Then we observed how much gas there was compared to the solid piece.
So what we observed was that for every small piece of dry ice that sublimated, there was a ton more gas emitted from the beaker,
which means that it has a very high solid:gas ratio. So the experiment was a success!
We also attempted a more difficult experiment, which was to put a small piece of dry ice into a balloon and figure out the volume difference between the solid and gas. However it did not end well because I couldn't get a suitable piece of dry ice into a balloon.
So next time I try this experiment I will get a bigger balloon so I do not run into the same problem again.
I worked with Darian, Alex Wessel, Garrett. I think our group did fine.
I learned about why dry ice actually turns into a gas from a solid!
A solid is basically a substance with its molecules connected and packed tightly together to where they can't really move.
A gas is a substance with its molecules are not connected at all and instead are flying around.
With those base terms known we can then move on to what the experiment was and another important word to know.
That word is sublimation, where a substance converts directly to a gas from a solid.
The experiment was first to take a small piece of dry ice, and put that piece into a small beaker of water. Then we observed how much gas there was compared to the solid piece.
So what we observed was that for every small piece of dry ice that sublimated, there was a ton more gas emitted from the beaker,
which means that it has a very high solid:gas ratio. So the experiment was a success!
We also attempted a more difficult experiment, which was to put a small piece of dry ice into a balloon and figure out the volume difference between the solid and gas. However it did not end well because I couldn't get a suitable piece of dry ice into a balloon.
So next time I try this experiment I will get a bigger balloon so I do not run into the same problem again.
I worked with Darian, Alex Wessel, Garrett. I think our group did fine.
I learned about why dry ice actually turns into a gas from a solid!
9/1/2015 Oobleck Experiment
In class today we made Oobleck, a mysterious substance that is categorized under Non-Newtonian fluids, basically not a solid or a liquid. Oobleck is 3:1 Ratio of Corn Starch to Water and it makes this white liquid of sorts. The reason why it's so mysterious is that if it encounters a force of any sort it turns solid. Otherwise it is a liquid. For example if you squeeze a handful of oobleck it will become solid. Stop squeezing it and moments later it turns back into a liquid.
The purpose of the lab itself was to spark our curiosity about the world of science, and teach us about the phases of matter. For example solids are basically molecules stuck together in an orderly fashion while liquids are also molecules stuck together
but they can move around each other.
I learned again (I've made oobleck before) that the world of science has infinite amount of learning to spark the human mind. I am looking forward to more experiments in the future. Going back to the subject of oobleck, the question of is it a solid or a liquid is mind boggling. I just think it just changes phases very easily therefore no concrete answer can be given in my opinion.
My theory about what oobleck does is that basically the starch molecules cover the water molecules and thicken the water. However I think the starch doesn't fully envelop the water which then keeps its liquid state. So its in a limbo of sorts. Apply a force to it and the starch completely covers the water molecules, therefore resulting in a solid. But stop applying force and the starch moves back and lets water through again, making it a liquid once more.
The purpose of the lab itself was to spark our curiosity about the world of science, and teach us about the phases of matter. For example solids are basically molecules stuck together in an orderly fashion while liquids are also molecules stuck together
but they can move around each other.
I learned again (I've made oobleck before) that the world of science has infinite amount of learning to spark the human mind. I am looking forward to more experiments in the future. Going back to the subject of oobleck, the question of is it a solid or a liquid is mind boggling. I just think it just changes phases very easily therefore no concrete answer can be given in my opinion.
My theory about what oobleck does is that basically the starch molecules cover the water molecules and thicken the water. However I think the starch doesn't fully envelop the water which then keeps its liquid state. So its in a limbo of sorts. Apply a force to it and the starch completely covers the water molecules, therefore resulting in a solid. But stop applying force and the starch moves back and lets water through again, making it a liquid once more.