If you can't make it to this month's Family Science Night, here's a fun & easy experiment to do at home--you'll love it, and we challenge you to wrap your brain around just how it works. Remember, Pow!Science! offers fun, FREE Family Science Nights every month at both locations. Check the Events Calendar for all the info!

---

LIKE a ROLLING SODA

Materials:

• Two unopened cans of soda
• Inclined surface

Procedure:

1. Locate the inclined surface (If you’re experimenting at home, stick a book under a board, or prop up two legs of a table or something).

2. Teamwork required! One person stands at the raised end of the inclined surface with the soda. This person is the Roller. The other person stands at lower end of the inclined surface. This person is the Catcher.

3. The Roller should carefully lay the cans on their sides on the starting line (at the raised end of the inclined surface). When you’re sure the Catcher is ready, release both cans at the same time, and watch them roll. They should roll to the Catcher at about the same speed.

4. Return both cans to the Roller. The Roller should now select JUST ONE of the cans, and shake it vigorously for about 10 seconds. Repeat step 3 (Roll the cans to the Catcher again).

What’s Going On?

Wow! The unshaken can wins every time! This is because shaking the can knocks loose any bubbles sticking to the inner surface of the can. This causes the mass of the soda inside the can to be more evenly distributed throughout the can, causing it to roll more slowly. The unshaken can’s soda is (just a little tiny bit) more concentrated around the can’s axis of rotation (it’s center), and therefore rolls a little bit faster.

Think and talk about this!

There is a famous demonstration using a stool with a spinning seat. If you have one, you can try it. Spin on the stool with your arms held straight out. While spinning, pull your arms in tightly to your chest. Your spinning-speed will increase quickly!! It’s the same idea. The closer your mass is to your center, the faster you spin.

GRAPE JUICE CHEMISTRY

Objective: To observe Grape Juice’s natural ability to detect acids and bases.

Materials:

• Grape Juice (Juicy Juice works very well, even though it's not 100% Grape Juice)
• Water
• Baking Soda
• Citric Acid Crystals (substitute vinegar if you don’t have citric acid crystals)
• Spoon
• 3 Clear plastic cups or glasses (10-12 ounce capacity)
• Paper Towels (optional, but handy in case of an overflow)
  

Procedure:

1. Pour about 1 inch of Grape Juice into an empty cup. Then add about an inch of water to the Grape Juice to lighten its color.
2. Pour about 1 inch of water into a different cup. Add a spoonful of Baking Soda to this water and stir until dissolved (or mostly dissolved).
3. Pour about 1 inch of water into your last cup. Add a spoonful of Citric Acid Crystals to this cup and stir until dissolved (or mostly dissolved). If you don’t have citric acid crystals, pour 1 inch of vinegar into the cup for this step.

KEEP TRACK OF WHICH CUP IS WHICH!

4. Pour the Baking Soda liquid into the Grape Juice and watch for a color change. Cool! Grape Juice detects chemicals that are “alkaline” or “bases” by turning darkish green-ish!
5. Next, pour the Citric Acid liquid into the darkish green-ish liquid. Whoa!!

Grape juice detects acids by turning a very light color! And as you may have noticed, baking soda and citric acid react in an exciting way also.

What’s Going On?

Grape juice, like many other natural chemicals, reacts when different types of chemicals are mixed with it. Cabbage juice is another example of a natural acid/base indicator.

Think and Talk About This:

Do you think toothpaste is an acid or a base? How could you find out? What other chemicals could you test with your Grape Juice indicator? With mom or dad’s permission & help, design and experiment and try it out!

It's Rocket Season!

As a friend recently reminded me, spring is in the air, and for us nerds, that means it's time to start building & launching Estes Rockets. Chances are you haven't launched one in a long time, but can probably recall the thrill of pressing the button and hearing the hissing WHOOSH as the rocket thunders skyward.

If you haven't ever launched a rocket, then you are not much of a nerd (but we can help you). We've got two Estes Starter sets in stock, the Alpha III and the Taser.

---

The Estes Alpha III is an E2X Starter Set. More people have started with this timeless, easy to build rocket than any other in the history of the world! Features include a bright molded one piece fin unit , nose cone and engines for two fantastic parachute recovered flights. The Estes Alpha III Starter Set is the standard for beginning starter sets.

Includes:

• Estes Alpha III Model Rocket kit
• Estes Electron Beam Launch Controller
• Estes Launch Pad
• Model rocket engines
• Parachute Wadding

What you'll need:

• White Glue
• Scissors
• 4 AA Batteries for the Launch Controller
• MSRP: $34.99

---

The Estes Taser Launch Set has a 3-fin designed rocket that allows this sleek, high flier to soar up to 1,000 feet into the air! The Taser is another E2X skill level kit that is easy to assemble.

No painting is required with the pre-colored parts. After it's built, simply apply the great looking decals, and your ready to blast off. The Estes Taser rocket then glides back down on a colorful and pre-installed 12 inch parachute.


Includes:

• Taser Rocket
• Launch Pad
• Electron Beam Launch Controller
• Rocketeer's Guide to Model Rocketry

NOTE than unlike the Alpha III, the Taser does NOT include Rocket Motors. Those must be purchased separately.

MSRP: $29.99

---

The best thing about either of these sets is that the Launch Pad and Launch Controller will work for any other rocket you ever build and launch. Invest in one starter kit now and you'll have years of launching to look forward to.