Scientific Experiments Honor

Science & Health

Requirements

What are scientific experiments for?
Answer: They serve to test hypotheses and prove (or refute) ideas about how nature works, observing phenomena in a controlled way. They help us understand the world, discover new things, solve problems and teach in a practical way — turning theory into real observation. — To experiment is to test ideas in practice — this is how science discovers and confirms how the world works.
Explain Newton's first law using an uncooked chicken egg.
Answer: The first law (inertia) states that a body tends to maintain its state of rest or motion. In the experiment, a raw egg and a cooked egg are spun: the cooked one (solid) stops immediately when touched; the raw one, when touched and released, starts spinning again, because the internal liquid has inertia and keeps moving. It shows the inertia of matter. — The raw egg 'insists' on spinning due to inertia — a simple demonstration of Newton's first law.
With a bean seedling, a box and sunlight, explain photosynthesis.
Answer: Photosynthesis is the process in which the plant uses sunLIGHT, water and carbon dioxide to produce its food (glucose) and release oxygen. In the experiment, a bean seedling inside a box with only one light opening grows leaning toward the light (phototropism), showing that the plant needs and seeks light to perform photosynthesis. — The seedling grows 'after the light' — proof that the plant depends on the sun to produce its food.
Explain the oxidation of fruits using a banana. What can be used to prevent this oxidation?
Answer: Oxidation is the reaction of foods with the oxygen in the air, which darkens the fruit (the cut banana turns brown). To prevent or delay it: drip lemon juice (the vitamin C reacts with the oxygen before the fruit does) or cover/seal it from the air. It shows an everyday chemical reaction. — The banana darkens when it reacts with the air; the lemon (vitamin C) delays this oxidation — chemistry in the kitchen.
Using a transparent glass, water, sugar and cooking oil, explain homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures.
Answer: A homogeneous mixture has a uniform appearance, a single phase (e.g., water + dissolved sugar — one cannot be distinguished from the other). A heterogeneous mixture has more than one visible phase (e.g., water + oil — they separate into layers, because they do not mix). The experiment shows the difference in practice. — Water with sugar becomes one single thing (homogeneous); water with oil separates (heterogeneous) — you can see it with the naked eye.
Using a plastic comb, a wool flannel and shredded paper, explain static electricity.
Answer: When you rub the plastic comb on the wool flannel, it becomes electrified (gains a static electric charge) and starts to attract the little pieces of paper. It shows static electricity: friction transfers electric charges, and opposite charges attract. — The rubbed comb 'pulls' the paper — the static electricity generated by friction in action.
Show that air is made of matter, using a disposable syringe.
Answer: O ar é matéria porque ocupa espaço e tem massa. No experimento, tampa-se o bico de uma seringa descartável (com o dedo ou vedando a saída) e tenta-se empurrar o êmbolo: ele para e oferece resistência, porque o ar preso ocupa espaço e não pode escapar; ao soltar, o êmbolo volta, mostrando que o ar comprimido empurra de volta. Isso prova que o ar, mesmo invisível, é constituído de matéria (ocupa volume e pode ser comprimido).
Using a string and two oranges, explain kinetic energy.
Answer: Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. In the experiment, when you swing the oranges tied by the string (like a pendulum), a moving orange transfers energy to the other when colliding, setting it in motion. It shows that a moving body has energy capable of moving another. — The orange that swings moves the other when it hits — kinetic energy (of motion) being transferred.
Explain the change in pressure by doing the bottle submarine experiment, using a transparent PET bottle, a pen cap, a pen tube, water and modeling clay.
Answer: In the 'Cartesian diver' experiment, squeezing the closed PET bottle increases the pressure inside it; this compresses the air in the pen cap, which becomes denser and sinks; when released, it rises again. It demonstrates how pressure affects buoyancy (the principle of pressure in fluids and of Archimedes). — Squeezing the bottle, the 'cap' sinks; releasing it, it rises — it shows how pressure changes buoyancy.
Explain optics by doing the camera obscura experiment, using a can or box, a nail and a candle.
Answer: In the camera obscura (a can or box with a nail hole and a candle in front), the candle's light passes through the hole and projects the INVERTED image on the back of the box. It shows that light propagates in a straight line and how the image is formed — the basic principle of cameras and the human eye. — The image appears upside down in the camera obscura — proof that light travels in a straight line.
With a transparent glass and a straw, explain refraction.
Answer: When you put a straw in a glass of water, it appears 'broken' or displaced at the waterline. This occurs because of REFRACTION: light changes direction when passing from air to water (media of different densities), which fools our eyes. — The straw appears broken in the water because of refraction — light deflects when it changes medium.
Explain the Earth's electromagnetic force, using a needle, a magnet, cork, water and a glass.
Answer: When you magnetize a needle (rubbing it on a magnet) and place it on a cork floating in the water, the needle turns and aligns in the NORTH-SOUTH direction — because the Earth has a magnetic field. It is a homemade compass, which shows the Earth's magnetism. — The magnetized needle points north-south — a homemade compass that reveals the Earth's magnetic field.
Find in the Bible a story about someone doing an experiment. What was the one thing that made that experiment succeed?
Answer: One example is Daniel's 'experiment' (Daniel 1): Daniel asked to eat only vegetables and drink water for 10 days, instead of the king's food, and to compare their appearance. At the end, he and his friends were healthier. What made the experiment succeed, above all, was FAITHFULNESS to God — who blessed them for remaining faithful to His principles. — Daniel's 'test' (Dan 1) succeeded because, more than the diet, there was faithfulness to God — who blessed the decision.