Katelyn Tipton Science Methods Blog

  What did you learn this week? This week, I learned that when you burn something, a lot of the mass is turned from solid to gas in the form of smoke. My group burned a couple of paper towels and matches and almost all of the mass was turned into smoke. I also learned that carbon dioxide is denser than the air we breathe, so when we mix baking soda and vinegar the carbon dioxide this chemical reaction makes stays in the container. Carbon dioxide is also not flammable, so it can be used to put out a flame.  Are you able to relate what you learned to what you already know? Yes, I already knew that mixing baking soda is a chemical reaction and that it creates gas. I didn't know that the gas it creates is carbon dioxide. I already knew that the mass of an uncontained fire decreases, but I didn't know the mass changed as much as it does, which was pretty cool to see. I also already knew that chest freezers, like the ones at Trader Joes, hold the cold air better, but I didn't kno...

What did you learn this week? This week, I learned that plungers suction to things because of the force of air molecules pushing out from inside the plunger and in from outside the plunger. The force going both ways, but not letting any molecules actually go in or out causes the suction. I learned that a pot of water will boil faster with a lid on it. The lid traps the heated water molecules in so they continue to spread the heat to the other water molecules. If you take the lid off, the hottest and fastest water molecules will escape, taking heat and energy with them.  Are you able to relate what you learned to what you already knew? I already knew that boiling water without a lid would let water molecules escape, but I didn't know that those were the hottest molecules that were escaping. But, it makes sense because they are leaving in the form of steam. I also already knew the basic concept behind condensation forming on cold drinks, but I didn't really know how to articulate...