Discovery Science Center
Author(s):
Dean Papadakis
Field Trip - Teacher's Guide
SED 695B
http://www.discoverycube.org/
Replica Model of the Space Shuttle
Endeavor
1:
Start out going EAST on NORDHOFF ST toward
LINDLEY AVE.
3.0 miles
Map
2:
Merge onto I-405 S.
4.9 miles
Map
3:
Merge onto US-101 S toward LOS ANGELES.
19.9 miles
Map
Endeavor’s Rocket Engines for Changing Direction
4:
US-101 S becomes I-5 S.
25.7 miles
Map
5:
Merge onto CA-22 E via EXIT 107A toward
ORANGE.
1.1 miles
Map
6:
Take EXIT 15 toward MAIN ST.
0.2 miles
Map
7:
Turn RIGHT onto W TOWN AND COUNTRY RD.
0.2 miles
Map
8:
Turn LEFT onto N MAIN ST / S MAIN ST.
Continue to follow N MAIN ST.
0.4 miles
Map
9:
End at Discovery Science Ctr:
2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705, US
Map
Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 3 minutes
Est. Distance: 55.86 miles
Total
The Solar Cell Cube
Topics addressed:
The topics addressed by the exhibits at the
Discovery Science Center include:

Light and Waves

Angular Momentum

Electricity and electrical energy

Operation of Solar Cells

Air Pressure

Planetary Science

Pressure and Forces
Description of Field Trip
This field trip is designed for students
to take either with their teacher or on
their own. The students will go to the
museum and investigate all of the
exhibits, which can be done in two to
three hours. During the visit, students
will have with them their study guide
sheet, which asks questions from most
of the exhibits. After observing and
interacting with the exhibit, they will
answer the questions provided on the
study guide. In some cases, the
answers to the questions from the
study guide at the exhibit will be seen
Standards Addressed by the Exhibits
California State PHYSICS
Standards
Grades 9-12
Motion and Forces
or described. Otherwise, the answers
can be taken with them in a sealed
envelope, which can be opened at the
conclusion of the trip.
Alternatively, the questions in the
study guide are designed so that they
can be answered before going to the
museum and then as they interact with
the exhibits, they can check the
answers they have already selected.
1. Newton’s laws predict the motion of most
objects. As a basis for understanding this concept,
Additionally, after going to the
students know:
museum, students can be given the
When forces are balanced no
assignment of working in groups of
acceleration occurs, and thus an
two to three to duplicate the exhibits
object continues to move at a
from the museum in the classroom, by
constant speed or stays at rest
using the equipment and supplies that
(Newton's First Law)
are available at school. This could be
done in preparation for Open House
Circular motion requires application of a
in the Spring, so that other students
constant force directed toward the center of the
and even the younger brothers and
circle.
sisters of the students can have the
opportunity to examine the science
Conservation of Energy and
principles demonstrated by the
exhibits.
Momentum
2. The laws of conservation of energy and
momentum provide a way to predict and describe
the movement of objects. As a basis for
understanding this concept, students know:
How to solve problems involving elastic and
inelastic collisions in one dimension using the
principles of conservation of momentum and
energy
Waves
4. Waves have characteristic properties that do
not depend on the type of wave. As a basis for
understanding this concept, students know:
Waves carry energy from one place to another
How to identify transverse and longitudinal
waves in mechanical media such as springs,
ropes, and the Earth (seismic waves)
Sound is a longitudinal wave whose speed
depends on the properties of the medium in
which it propagates.
Study Guide:
Discovery Science Center
in Santa Ana
Student Assignment
As you walk through the various exhibits,
answer the following questions:
“Vortex”
Which direction does your bathtub water drain?
a) Counter Clockwise
b) Clockwise
“Earthquake Waves and Buildings”
Look at the four different sized buildings. If a low frequency earthquake wave passed
underneath the building, in which type of building would it be safer?
a) 2- story building
b) 5-story building
c) 7-story building
“Electrical Power Consumption”
Place the following 6 electrical devices in order from highest consumption to
lowest consumption by matching them with their correct Electrical Power Consumption
(in Watts).
(1) Stereo
____
(2) Swimming Pool Filter
____
(3) Refrigerator
____
(4) Television
____
(5) Incandescent Light Bulb
____
(6) DVD Player
____
(a) 60 W
(b) 725 W
(c) 25 W
(d) 900 W
(e) 70 W
“Bernoulli’s Bench”
According to Bernoulli’s Principle, what happens when compressed air is blown between
the two hanging bowling balls?
(f) 150 W
a) They move closer together
b) They move farther apart
“Bernoulli’s Blower”
In relationship to the beach ball, where is the fastest moving air?
a) above the ball
b) below the ball
c) along the sides of the ball
“The Science of the Planet Mars”
How much time does it take a radio signal from Mars to travel to Earth, when
Mars is at its closest position to Earth? (What is the light-distance from Earth to Mars?)
a) 4 minutes
b) 20 minutes
c) 45 minutes
1 Day on Mars is equivalent to how much time on Earth?
a) 10 hours
b) 24 hours
c) 13 minutes
1 Year on Mars is equivalent to how much time on Earth?
a) 3 months
b) 2 years
c) 12 years
“Strobe String”
What are three variables you can adjust in this exhibit?
1.
_____________________________________
2.
_____________________________________
3.
_____________________________________
“Strobe Fan”
Explain what you need to do in order to see the propeller picture appear to stand still?
____________________________________________________________________
Explain what you need to do in order to make the propeller appear to spin clockwise?
____________________________________________________________________
Explain what you need to do in order to make the propeller appear to spin counterclockwise?
____________________________________________________________________
Click Here to See Strobe Movie
How Does a Solar Cell Work? (Like the one in the Cube)
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Bead of Nails
What principle allows Mr. Papadakis to lay on a bed of nails?
_____________________________________________________________________
Answers to Questions:
Vortex
a) Counterclockwise
Earthquake Waves and Buildings
a) 2- story building
Electrical Power Consumption
(1) Stereo
(2) Swimming Pool Filter
(3) Refrigerator
(4) Television
(5) Incandescent Light Bulb
(6) DVD Player
70 Watts
900 Watts
725 Watts
150 Watts
60 Watts
25 Watts
Highest
Lowest
Bernoulli’s Bench
a) They move closer together
Bernoulli’s Blower
a) above the ball
The Science of the Planet Mars
a) 4 minutes
b) 24 hours
b) 2 years
Strobe String
 Tension in string
 Rotational speed of motor attached to string
 Blinking rate of Strobe Light
Strobe Fan



Match the strobe frequency with the frequency of the rotating fan blade
Reduce the strobe frequency
Increase the strobe frequency
How Does a Solar Cell Work?
Bed of Nails
The principle of pressure explains how this works. Because the weight of the person is spread out over a large area the
force created by any one nail is not very much and therefore the pressure created by the nails is also small. Start removing
the nails one by one and the force and pressure will gradually increase. Pressure = Force/Area
or
Pressure =
Force/
Area
References & Links:
Discovery Science Museum: http://www.discoverycube.org/
Image of the Planet Mars: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/mars.jpg
California State Science Standards:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scmain.asp