07 Jul Energy Release: A Fun Educational Science Activity
Energy Release
Rediscover your childhood while you help your student learn about the wonderful diversity of African-American inventors. This time, you will both be learning about Lonnie G. Johnson, who invented a toy that you probably used when you were a kid in the backyard amidst the summer heat.
What You Need:
- An empty milk jug
- A roll of scotch tape
- A nail (or a small device to make a pinhole)
- A gallon of water
- A large piece of butcher paper
- A marker
- Information about Lonnie G. Johnson (you can find some information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_G._Johnson)
What To Do:
- Put three small holes in the empty milk jug: one on the bottom, another one a couple of inches above that, and the third a couple of inches above that hole.
- Cover the holes so that they won’t leak (using tape).
- Have your student fill the jug with water.
- Discussion: talk about which stream of water will shoot the furthest when you uncover the holes.
- Take it one step further, repeating steps 3 & 4. Have your student draw some targets on a piece of butcher paper. Where does she think the streams of water will hit?
Enrichment/Variations/Modifications:
- Talk about Lonnie G. Johnson (who invented the supersoaker) and talk about the concept of water pressure. That is what causes the water to shoot out when you press the trigger on a water gun. Another example of man-made water pressure is with the Hoover Dam.
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