Troop 4: Meeting 9

Troop Leaders: Yati, Ash, Ain, Daniel with new Troop Leaders, Qila and Azni

Senior Science Scouts: Ummeesh, Khavishini, Darshwini, Desmond

Abracadabra! The Science Scouts were introduced to befuddling science experiments that tricks our senses into believing the unbelievable. These science experiments are often seen to be 'magical' but with the right knowledge and a proper investigation into the phenomena, Science Scouts will discover that the underlying 'secrets' are essentially basic scientific principles.

Hot, Cold, and...
There are three bowls of water on the table, one's hot, one's cold but what's the third? The Science Scouts discovered that our sense of touch and how we perceive temperature can be tricked. Science Scouts who first dipped their hands in hot water will describe the mystery bowl of water as cold and those who first dipped their hands in cold water will say that the mystery bowl of water is warm! This is a simple phenomenon that is also observed whenever we feel chilly when stepping out of a very warm shower.



Disappearing Water
Water goes into a cup and as it's poured from cup to cup, suddenly it disappears! Science Scouts saw first hand the super absorbent quality of 'sodium polyacrylate' a chemical found in baby diapers.



Defying Gravity
A plastic bottle full of water is turned upside down but the water does not flow out! The outlet is unobstructed so what's going on? Science Scouts explored the properties of surface tension, strengthened in this experiment with a fine (but porous) netting at the cover. When tilted, water flows out freely but when the net is covered with water, the surface tension forms a seal strong enough (and helped by the outside air pressure) to hold in the remaining water in the bottle.



Fizzy Potions
The Science Scouts made fizzy potions by combining sodium bicarbonate with lemon juice, creating a chemical reaction resulting in the release of carbon dioxide gas. A dash of soap and water creates a frothy and bubble-filled fizzy mixture!

Secret Pages
A piece of paper has only two sides but this specially folded paper reveals two more secret pages inside! A simple paper folding trick that's simple to do and easy to learn.



Illusions
Newly trained illusionist Ash showed off numerous card tricks that uses mathematics (and some showmanship) for impressive acts of clairvoyance! Ash also demonstrated other visual illusions using straws and string.




Science Scouts were then given the opportunity to try these experiments and activities on their own.