ACTIVITIES

The Power of Steam

Want to learn more about steam power? Try this experiment to make steam-powered "Rocket Boat (source: www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/steamboat.html). We'll make a boat rather than a train for this experiment because water provides a better surface for ease of movement.

Materials:
1. metal tube (closed on one end-a cigar tube is perfect)
2. two pieces of strong stiff wire (a coat hangar works well) about 18 inches long
3. a cork that fits snugly in the end of the tube
4. two food warmer candles in metal cups
5. a piece of balsa wood, 4" by 8", about ?' thick
6. masking tape
7. a hammer and three nails
8. pliers
9. matches

Procedures:
1. Put the cork into the end of the metal tube and make sure it's very tight. Carefully poke a hole in the cork with a nail.
2. Take the two 18-inch lengths of wire. Wrap the wire around the metal tube about one-inch from each end of the tube and twist the wire tightly with the pliers so that the tube is firmly held by the wires and won't slide.
3. Cut a boat shape out of the balsa wood, making a triangle bow at one end. Hammer two large nails in each end, about 1 inch from the end. The nails will provide stabilization.
4. Mount the two candles about one and ?" from each end of the wood. Use loops of masking tape to stick the metal cups to the wood.
5. Take the tube with the wire and mount the tube so the wire will hold the tube just above the candles. Wrap the ends of the wire around the end under the board and twist the ends neatly on the underside.
6. Carefully remove the cork from the tube and fill it about ?" full with very hot water. Tightly replace the cork. Test to make sure that water will drip out of the hole in the cork.
7. Fill up a bath tub or large sink with water.
8. Put your boat in the water and ask an adult to carefully light the candles.

What Happens?
The heat of the candles causes the water in the tube to boil. The water will change to steam and the steam will escape out the hole in the cork, pushing the boat forward in the water.

Some questions to think about:
1. Why use hot water in the tube? What would happen if you used cold water?
2. What would happen if you didn't put the hole in the cork? (Don't try this!)
3. What would happen if the hole in the cork were larger?

Think Tank

Discussion questions for the whole family to consider:
Some model railroaders look upon their hobby as a sort of time machine that lets them visit a distant time or place through the trains and layouts they create. Trains have figured prominently in history all over the world-from the circus trains of the American West to the Orient Express in Europe. Where and when would you like to go? What would the train be like? How about the buildings and the landscape?

Wheels Are Turning

Parents and Caregivers: These activities can help your child meet Arizona’s educational standards. The standards addressed here include:

1M-E3 Demonstrate proficiency with the operations of multiplication and division of whole numbers (grades 4-5)

5M-E2 Select and use appropriate units and tools to measure to the degree of accuracy required in a particular problem-solving situations (grades 4-5)

5M-E4 Develop and use formulas and procedures to solve problems involving measurement (grades 4-5)

5SC-F3 Demonstrate and explain that materials exist in different states (solid, liquid, and gas) and can change from one to another (grades 1-3)

5SC-E4 Identify and predict what will change and what will remain unchanged when matter experiences an external force or energy change (e.g., boiling a liquid; comparing the force, distance, and work involved in simple machines) (grades 4-5)