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
g EAST on
toward LINDLEY 3.0 miles
Merge onto I-405 S.
Map
4.9 miles Map
Merge onto US-101 S toward LOS
19.9 milesMap
ANGELES.
US-101 S becomes I-5 S.
25.7 milesMap
Merge onto CA-22 E via EXIT 107A
1.1 miles Map
toward ORANGE.
Take EXIT 15 toward MAIN ST.
0.2 miles Map
Turn RIGHT onto W TOWN AND
COUNTRY RD.
0.2 miles Map
Turn LEFT onto N MAIN ST / S
MAIN ST. Continue to follow N
MAIN ST.
0.4 miles Map
Endeavor’s Rocket Engines for Changing Direction
hour, 3 minutes
End at Discovery Science Ctr:
2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705, US
Map
Total Est. Distance: 55.86 miles
The Solar Cell Cube
Topics addressed:
The topics addressed by the exhibits at the Discovery
Science Center include:
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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 or described.
Otherwise, the answers can be taken with them in a sealed
Standards Addressed by the Exhibits
envelope, which can be opened at the conclusion of the trip.
the questions in the study guide are designed
California State PHYSICS Standards Alternatively,
so that they can be answered before going to the museum
and then as they interact with the exhibits, they can check
Grades 9-12
the answers they have already selected.
Motion and Forces
Additionally, after going to the museum, students can be
given the assignment of working in groups of two to three to
1. Newton’s laws predict the motion of most objects. duplicate the exhibits from the museum in the classroom, by
As a basis for understanding this concept, students using the equipment and supplies that are available at school.
This could be done in preparation for Open House in the
know:
Spring, so that other students and even the younger brothers
 when forces are balanced no
and sisters of the students can have the opportunity to
acceleration occurs, and thus
examine the science principles demonstrated by the exhibits.
an object continues to move at
a constant speed or stays at
rest (Newton's First Law)

circular motion requires application of a
constant force directed toward the center
of the circle.
Conservation of Energy and 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
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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?
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?)
(f) 150 W
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
“Strobe String”
What are three variables you can adjust in this exhibit?
1.
_____________________________________
2.
_____________________________________
3.
_____________________________________
c) 12 years
“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
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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