Science Rocks!: Unleash the Mad Scientist in You

146 Pages·2011·46.441 MB·English

by  Robert Winston

Science
Rocks!
Unleash the mad scientist in you!

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LONDON, NEW YORK,
MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI
Senior editor Jenny Finch
Senior Art editor Stefan Podhorodecki
editorS Steven Carton, James Mitchem
US editor Rebecca Warren
deSignerS Spencer Holbrook, Katie Knutton, Jane Thomas
MAnAging editor Linda Esposito
MAnAging Art editor Jim Green
CAtegory PubliSher Laura Buller
deSign develoPMent MAnAger Sophia M Tampakopoulos Turner
Senior ProduCtion Controller Angela Graef
ProduCtion editor Andy Hilliard
dK PiCture librAry Rob Nunn
JACKet editor Matilda Gollon
JACKet deSigner Hazel Martin
Written by Ian Graham
AdditionAl text by Dr Mike Goldsmith
ConSultAnt Lisa Burke
SteP illuStrAtionS by Dan Wright
originAl PhotogrAPhy by Stefan Podhorodecki
lAborAtory ASSiStAnt Otto Podhorodecki
First published in the United States in 2011
by DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
Copyright © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited
11 12 13 14 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
179063—11/10
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions,
premiums, fundraising, or educational use. For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 [email protected]
A catalog record for this book is available
from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-7566-7198-3
Hi-res workflow proofed by MDP, UK
Printed and bound by Hung Hing, China
Discover more at
www.dk.com
US_002_003_179063_Prelims.indd 2 08/09/2010 15:58
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8 Introduction 26 Slime time 42 Forces and
moTion
27 Fantastic plastic
10 The maTerial 28 Butter it up 44 Dome, sweet dome
world
29 Holding it together 46 Launch a bottle
rocket
12 Changed state 30 Cycle centrifuge
48 Gravity-defying
13 Ice cloud 31 True colors
water
14 Ice bubbles 32 Oxidation station
49 Puzzling pendulums
15 Mega bubble 33 Rotten apple
50 Air-resisting eggs
16 Crystal creation 34 Elephant’s
51 Balancing act
toothpaste
18 Bigger bubbles
52 Fly a dart
36 Turn water pink
20 Liquid layers
53 Float a glider
37 Cabbage indicator
21 How dense is it?
54 Balloon hovercraft
38 Violent volcano
22 Float your boat
56 Rubber band
40 Copper plating
23 Dunking diver
drag racer
41 Spruce up silver
24 Fizzy fountain
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58 Ice water 72 energy in 86 Up, periscope!
can crusher action
88 Two-tube telescope
59 Flowing fountain 74 Convection
90 Cardboard camera
currents
60 Eggs-periencing
92 Matchbox
air pressure 75 Set up a solar oven
microphone
61 Under pressure 76 Move metal
94 Tap out a tune
through ice
62 Suck it to ‘em
77 Chill out!
64 Make a soda shoot
96 electricity
78 Full steam ahead!
66 Blast a two-stage and
rocket 80 Split a sunbeam magnetism
68 Hydraulic lifter 81 Hose rainbow
98 Charm a
70 Weightlifting 82 Make a paper snake
spectroscope
71 Spreading the load 99 Tiny lightning
84 Glow-in-the-
100 Detect a static
dark gelatin
charge
85 Glowing plants
102 Fashion a flashlight
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104 Lighten up! 118 the natural 138 Glossary
world
106 Salty circuit 142 Index
107 See a citrus current 120 Under pressure 144 Acknowledgements
108 Tune in to a 121 Wind whizzer
homemade radio
122 Create a cloud
110 Make a metal
124 Sow a seed
detector
126 Chasing the light
112 Microscopic
127 Starch test
meteorites
128 Split color flower
113 Magnetic breakfast
130 Revive a carrot
114 Build an
electromagnet 131 Absorbent eggs
116 Make a motor 132 Rapid response
134 Drum up some DNA
136 Grow your
own germs
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How to use this book safely and get the most
from the experiments—an important note for
children and adults
This book is packed with amazing science experiments—some are Every experiment includes a clear list of everything you will
very simple, while others are trickier. Have fun reading this book need to do it. Most will be stuff that you can find around the
and trying the experiments for yourself, sensibly and safely. house. If any specialty equipment is required, you will find
We’ve marked with symbols where you need to take extra care, advice on where to get it in the “Top Tips”. These also give
and where you must have an adult to supervise you. We have handy tips on how to get the most from the experiments.
aimed safety advice at younger readers; older readers may have Every experiment includes a “How Does This Work?”
experience in such things as heating liquids or hammering nails. feature, which explains in simple terms the scientific
principles involved.
Take special care with any experiments that use an electric
current. If an activity involves food to be eaten, make sure all your The authors and publisher cannot take responsibility for the
utensils and surfaces are clean. For experiments with moving outcome, injury, loss, damage, or mess that occurs as a result
parts or chemical reactions, it is advisable to wear goggles. of you attempting the experiments in this book. Tell an adult
In most cases it is obvious why you have to be careful, but if before you do any of them, carefully follow the instructions,
there is specific safety advice you need to know, we’ll tell you. and look out for and pay attention to the following symbols:
A guide to the time the The level of difficulty You should have Warning!
experiment will take. of an experiment, from an adult present.
Pay extra attention when
green (simple) to red
you see these symbols.
(quite tricky).
You will find important
advice on how to carry out
the experiment safely.
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introduction
Science affects every aspect of our lives. Just think it snow? Scientists have even unravelled the 13-billion-year
of the first few minutes of your day. Your alarm clock, history of the Universe and worked how our own human
duvet, toothpaste, hot shower, clothes, and breakfast species evolved from lifeless chemicals in ancient seas.
cereal are only there because of a whole set of discoveries
and inventions made by scientists from all over the world, The best way to understand the scientific principles
many of whom worked centuries before you were born. that lie behind every part of our world is to see them
Thanks to their work, we have clean water and fresh food, in action, and this book shows you how to do just that.
houses that are safe and warm, and lives far longer and Each spread not only explains how to carry out scientific
healthier than those of our ancestors. demonstrations, it also explains why the weird and
amazing things you will see, hear, and feel happen in the
But science doesn’t just make us more comfortable; it also way they do. Science is a living, growing subject, and all
explains how the world works. It answers questions like: over the world many thousands of scientists are carrying
What are stars made of? Why do bees buzz? What makes out experiments and investigations right now.
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