Curated Video
Place Like Home: Life On a Moon
The discovery of Titan's atmosphere excited scientists, who believe it could hold the key to life on Earth. Physics - UniverseLearning Points. Titan is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. Titan's atmosphere is 98%...
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Ferrofluids
We compare the properties of three iron mixtures: iron and water, iron and oil and a ferrofluid - a mixture of compounds containing iron and oil. First, we look at how iron filings behave when mixed with water and then oil. We then hold...
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Citrus Fruit Battery
We use lemons and strips of zinc and copper to make a battery. First, strips of copper and zinc are added to one lemon and they are connected across a voltmeter. This is repeated, this time with more lemons and metal plates, until a...
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Making Slime
We make slime using borax, water and food colouring. The slime is a non-Newtonian liquid. A non-Newtonian liquid can behave like a liquid or a solid depending on the pressure applied to it. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning...
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Distillation of Ink
We use distillation to remove the water from ink. The ink is heated in a conical flask with a delivery tube running to a beaker. The water has a lower boiling point and so it evaporates before the ink. The water condenses as it travels...
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Endothermic Reaction
We demonstrate an endothermic reaction by mixing hydrated barium hydroxide with ammonium thiocyanate. When these two solids react they take heat from the surrounding air. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Breaking bonds takes in...
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Clearing Oil Spills
We investigate the effectiveness of different methods to clear oil spills from water. First, we try to burn the oil in a sample of water using a gas lighter but there is no effect. Next, we break the oil up using detergent but this does...
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Frozen Balloon
We lower a helium-filled balloon into liquid nitrogen to see how the change in temperature affects its volume. When it hits the cool liquid nitrogen, the gas inside contracts and the volume of the balloon decreases. When it is removed...
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Liquid Density
We compare the density of oil, salt water and fresh water using displacement tanks. Equally weighted measuring cylinders are placed into the three liquids and the amount of water displaced is collected for comparison. Physics - Forces -...
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Screaming Jelly Baby
We add a jelly baby to a boiling tube containing potassium chlorate. When the chemicals react, gas is rapidly produced. The screaming sound is created as the gas escapes from the tube. The sweet burns brightly as the reaction occurs....
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Dancing Polymer
We create a polymer using cornflour and water called oobleck. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian liquid that behaves like a solid and a liquid. When placed on a speaker, the vibrations cause the polymer to constantly change its behaviour and it...
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Fire Extinguisher Sublimation
We release carbon dioxide from a fire extinguisher against a dark cloth to see what happens. The expanding gas cools as it leaves the extinguisher, forming a visible dry ice solid on the cloth. As it warms, the carbon dioxide vanishes...
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The Halogens
Halogens are hazardous to human life, yet they can also be very useful. How do they react when they meet other elements? Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The halogens are the elements in Group 7 of the periodic table. The...
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Non-Newtonian Liquids
Introducing the liquids whose behaviours seem to defy the accepted states of matter. What are they and why don't they behave as we predict? Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. Newtonian liquids take the shape of their...
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Core (Earth sciences)
The central, usually hottest and densest, part of a larger structure, for example a star, planet or galaxy. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual...
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Soluble
Any substance that can dissolve in another is said to be soluble; though a substance may be soluble in one liquid but insoluble in another. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning...
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Nucleation
The beginning of physical or chemical changes on a very small scale in discrete regions of a system. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions....
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What's inside the Earth?
Let's take a journey inside the Earth and explore the different layers – crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. Our universe - Planet Earth - What's inside the Earth? Learning Points The internal structure of the Earth consists of...
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Melting
Melting is when a solid turns into a liquid. The world around us - Exploring materials - Freezing and melting Learning Points Some places on Earth, such as the Arctic, are so cold that seawater freezes during the cold winter months. When...
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Ice festival
Water can exist as solid ice and liquid water. The world around us - Exploring materials - Freezing and melting Learning Points If liquid water cools to below 0°C, it will freeze into solid ice. If solid ice warms to above 0°C, it will...
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Liquids – Did you know?
Did you know that mercury has a low melting point and is the only metal which is liquid at room temperature? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Liquids Learning Points Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room...
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Changing properties
What chemical and physical changes are at play in cake baking. Material processes - Changing materials - More chemical reactions Learning Points Chemical changes are usually irreversible. Physical changes are usually reversible. Chemical...
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The wonder of water
We use water every day ... but what do you really know about it? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of water Learning Points Water is the only substance on Earth that occurs naturally in all three states....
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Condensation and freezing
Why do water drops form on cold windows and why does water freeze? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Changes of state Learning Points Condensation is the change of state from gas to liquid. Freezing is the change of state...