Secondary Catalogue

Every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce roughly 35 times more electricity than humanity uses each day. And unlike coal or oil, this resource is totally renewed each day. So how can we harness this incredible amount of energy, and is it possible to create a world powered entirely by wind? Rebecca Barthelmie and Sara Pryor dig into the science of wind turbine technology. Show Less

By 2050, it’s estimated that over 65% of the world will be living in cities. We may think of nature as being unconnected to our urban spaces, but trees have always been an essential part of successful cities. Humanity has been uncovering these arboreal benefits since the creation of our first cities thousands of years ago. So what makes trees so important to a city’s survival? Stefan Al explains. Show Less

How does a musical instrument make a sound, and how does that become notes and music? The best way to find out is to make some instruments and test them out. There are simple science versions of woodwind, percussion, and strings (even a sort of bagpipes?) to show the concepts of how vibrations and frequency can make for a (hopefully) musical time. Show Less

How does a musical instrument make a sound, and how does that become notes and music? The best way to find out is to make some instruments and test them out. There are simple science versions of woodwind, percussion, and strings (even a sort of bagpipes?) to show the concepts of how vibrations and frequency can make for a (hopefully) musical time. Show Less

Drag can be a real drag, except when you have a parachute, then it is a lifesaver. The experiment explores the action of gravity and how wind resistance (or drag) also plays a big part in how something falls. Parachutes are made, dropped, and measured to try and work out the best features for the design. Show Less

How do plants seemingly defy gravity when they take a drink? Water soaks in their roots and heads up the plant. But then what? In this experiment, students will see how water travels up a plant and measure its progress. They can also investigate some of the factors that might affect the rate at which this occurs. Show Less

Consider the classic white t-shirt. Annually, we sell and buy 2 billion t-shirts globally, making it one of the most common garments in the world. But how and where is the average t-shirt made, and what’s its environmental impact? Angel Chang traces the life cycle of a t-shirt. Show Less

A light beam can do some very interesting things when it hits something. There is reflection, absorption and refraction, not to mention scattering, polarisation and diffraction. Students will be introduced to these concepts and conduct investigations into absorption (colours) and reflection (mirror maze). Show Less

From the humble log across a stream to the 'Giant Coat-hanger' over Sydney harbour, bridges and the science that helps them stay up is fascinating. Students will be given an introduction to bridge architecture and the forces at work within a bridge. They will then have to design, build and test their own model bridge that complies with guidelines given on length, load bearing and materials they can use. Show Less

Do ballet dancers get dizzy? How does our 'sense' of balance work? It turns out there are quite a few things that feed into what we call balance. In the experiment, students will have the chance to test each other and see just how much balance can be affected. Show Less

The weather is pretty important to life on earth (and not just because we don’t want to get wet, or sunburnt). Students will predict and then measure the weather across selected days, learn how scientists predict the weather, and find out how the weather affects more than just their own day. Show Less

The fact that a tiny seed can grow into a full-size plant with just a little help is quite amazing. So let's see it in action, and find out what are some of the things that affect a seed's germination and growth. An experiment that will take a little time and patience, but will have students measuring the growth of their plants or seeds as they change the light, salinity, or even music! Show Less

3, 2, 1 - we have lift-off! It is often said that something is not rocket science, well, this is. During the experiment, students will make and test small rockets powered by a simple chemical reaction. They will measure the maximum lift-off height and see how changes they make to the rocket's design affect its flight. Show Less

Explore chemical change and the main three phases of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) all in the one bubbling experiment. Students will measure their experiment ingredients (the solid and liquid), then observe what happens as they mix and measure the gas that is made. There's also an interesting introduction to a fourth state of matter, plasma. Show Less

Batteries are fairly ubiquitous in our lives, even to the point where some homes are now battery-powered, but how does a battery work, and did you know you can make one? Students will build and test various batteries made from bits of different metals combined with fruit or vegetables. It is the science of the stalwart 'lemon battery' but with quite a bit of extension and measurement. Show Less

How does an aeroplane stay in the sky? This experiment introduces the four forces of aerodynamics (thrust, lift, gravity and drag) and explains how they impact a flying craft. Students then make their own rather peculiar flying creation and test it out. Show Less

Whether it is trying to keep your water bottle cold all day, or a seal is needing to stay warm in the icy Antarctic waters, both things rely on insulation. Students will experiment with how quickly heat is transferred through different materials and even find out that there may be more than one way that the heat is being transferred. Show Less

A simple machine to demonstrate a simple machine (the lever). The concept of gravity and how it affects the path of objects hurtling through the air is introduced and then students build their own mini-catapult to test it all out. They'll hurl a variety of objects and measure the changes in flight that result. Show Less

Take a look around you, how many different materials can you see and name? The chances are there is some metal, wood, cloth, plastic, glass, and probably more. Different materials suit different uses because of the different ways they handle pressure and temperature. Students will test how different materials respond to twisting, stretching, and bending, and a teacher-led section will explore the temperature response. Show Less