September+BABM

September 22, 2014, Science Discovery

This week I found out what happens why a speaker makes that pulsating feeling when a song plays. A speaker (any speaker) works because when your computer first, sends an electrical signal to a magnetic coil inside your speaker. The magnetic coil makes a magnet vibrate because of the electrical signal, which in turn makes a part called the cone vibrate and make sound waves. If you put a speck of dirt or an incredibly small rock on the [uncovered] cone, you will see that speck or rock pulsate, or bounce off the cone. I also tested volume and beat of the music to see if anything changes. It turns out that the beat of the music, if it plays faster or slower, it will affect the pulsating of the rock or speck. Courtesy of period7magnets.wikispaces.com.

__ Vocab Words: __ 1. Electrical Signal 2. Magnetic Coil 3. Magnet 4. Cone 5. Sound Waves 6. Pulsate

September 15, 2014, Science Discovery

This week I found out how and why leaves burn. The leaves burn when you take a magnifying glass and put it above the leaves at an angle that receives the sun. the sun will then amplify the sun's heat and burn a hole through the leaf. Warning! Do Not Put Your Hand In Front Of An Amplified Sun Ray, It Will Burn Your Hand!!



September 29, 2014, Science Discovery

Why do apples turn brown after you take a bite (especially the soft ones)? This is the question I sought to answer this week for my scientific discovery. It happens because of an enzyme(s) in the apple, two common examples are "polyphenol oxidase" and "cathecol oxidase". These enzymes react in the air and an iron or copper cofactor, which is needed to start an enzymatic reaction. it turns out that what is happening is a chemical reaction, like what happens when iron turns to rust. The fruit oxidizes, which means that electrons in your apple get lost to the air molecules. It's like having edible rust on your apple! :-) (Cool, huh?)