NANO SCALE SCIENCE/MATH 

for the Middle School

Presenters:Bob Neudel, Science Teacher, neudelb@albanyacademies.orgBridgett Frary, Math Teacher, fraryb@albanyacademies.org

The Albany Academies135 Academy RoadAlbany, NY 12208

Download Power Point at:www.neudelscience.net and click “nano unit” or http://www.neudelscience.net/i-power/NANO_UNIT.html

How many years has Nano Technology been used?   

How many years has Nano Technology been used? 2000 years!We now know that a cup made by the Romans 1700 years ago used nanotechnology!

Slide from Copyright April 2009 The Pennsylvania State University

We now know that the beautiful stained-glass windows made 1600 years ago by the ancient Irish also used nanotechnology.(We just found out because we just learned how to see the nano-particles they used).

Agenda

Intro 10 min-- Short videoSample Labs/activities   20 minBringing it together   20 min        Activities         ResourcesQuestions: What ever time is leftPlay some more if time permits....

Short Video-- what is a nanometer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_AFzKlAXsg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJdLJWcKNVw&feature=related

MATH ACTIVITIES

What is a Billion?Building an understanding and a mental visualization of one billion.

How many golf balls would it take to fill this room?

Materials:  golf balls, a meter sticks, calculators

Procedure: Find the diameter of a golf ball in cm. Find the dimensions of the room in meters. 

Convert the dimensions of the room from meters to golf balls. Find the Volume of the room in golf balls.

Challenge: How could you determine the size of a container that would hold one billion golf balls? What size would the container be?

How tall would a stack of a billion sheets of card stock be?Materials: 25 sheets of card stock, metric ruler

Procedure: Students measure the stack of 25 sheets then calculate the height of 100 sheets, then 1 billion sheets of card stock.

Challenge: One story building is approximately 3m high. How many stories would a billion sheets of card stock be?

How long would it take to count from one to one billion?Materials: stopwatch

Procedure: One student counts from one to 10 while being timed. Based on that time the student will calculate the number of seconds to count to 100, to 1,000, and to one billion.

Then they will calculate how many years it will take to count to one billion.

Nano Shapes: Tiny Geometry

Materials: Buckeyball template printed on cardstock. Scissors, tape

Procedure: Students will cut out the template, then fold each dark line. Connect the matching letters and tape where they meet. 

Finished Product: A BUCKEYBALL!!

Math Hanouts in Resource Materials.. End of Power Point

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES

 

Properties

Purpose: to build skills of describing characteristics for future activities. 

Directions: Introduce term 'Properties'. Ask students what they think the word means.Hand out a variety of objects (rubber ball, marble, wheel, for example)

Ask class to list properties they all share. 

Then ask them to list properties that are unique to each.

Compare answers

You can extend this activity with other objects. 

Electrical Friction on a Nano Scale

Purpose: See how electricity can be produced thru Friction.Materials: Cow (or cylinder shape) magnet, 1 copper and 1 pc piping same height and inside dimensions. Procedure: Have students hold hand under plastic tube and run magnet 

through (Vertical). Write observations. Repeat with copper tube. 

Questions: Why did the magnet 'slow down' and make noise in the copper tube?

Explanations for Electrical Friction   

Have you ever looked inside an electric motor… two main parts are coiled wire and magnets. Hook that electric motor to a voltmeter or bulb and turn motor: Presto… you have a Generator.

Electricity is produced when a magnet

runs around copper wire or copper wire wraps around a magnet. When you run the magnet down the copper tube you are moving electrons on the nano scale – while not producing usable electricity– you are producing electricity or electrical friction that slows the magnet down.

Another explanation:  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_a_magnet_is_dropped_inside_a_copper_tube_its_exit_is_delayed_by_a_few_minutes_why

Nano Scale Cotton vs cottonPurpose: to see how small size can change properties of cotton. Materials: 100% cotton cloth and pair of 'nano-tex' pants (can be purchased at Target).This material top coating is nano sized cotton fibers that water will cling to and roll off. Procedure: Have students pour 10 cc's of water on cotton material. Do the same with nano tex. take notes.  For visual effect... wear a pair of pants and pour 10 cc' of water on pants!

Explanation: The nano sized cotton is shaped something like velcro--- the ends of the cotton are so small that water will cling to the top of the fibers (lesson on water!) and roll off. 

 

Nano Scale Ferrous Fluid

Purpose: Observe how iron filings in nano scale have different properties.Materials: Magnet, Iron filings,  Commercial ferrofluid.

Procedure*: Have class make predictions, next test a magnet with iron filings. Next make predictions 

on what nano sized filings might do. Test with magnet next to tubes with nano fluid. *Goggles, please! Explanation: "Ferrodluid, first developed by NASA in the 1960's consists of nano sized magnetic particles  suspended in a liquid.  Notice different 3 dimensional images." (Explanation from Flinn Scientific)

Nano Ferrous Fluid Students Discover:

 

Sand vs Nano Size Coating

Purpose: Students make predictions and observe properties of sand and nano size particles of sand.

Procedure: Pass out fine sand particles and ask students to make predictions. Do the same for the nano-coated sample. 1. Next pour water over sand and then sample.  

2. Pour sand and Magic Sand into water.

Explanation and Where to purchase: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1331

Follow up reading: http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/21927 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_effect

UV Light Detector beads

Purpose: Observe how technology can test for UV light on the nano sclae (100--200 nm).Procedure: This makes a great lesson to discuss properties of light and UV light as well as test sun tan lotions and/or UV coated glasses. Hand students a small zip lock bag.  Ask them to make predictions of what would happen if the beads are held in front of UV light. On a sunny day for our side and test of check what indoor lights put out.  

Expanded lesson: Have research and give reports on UV light or the dangerds of UV light . Then have them design an experiment to test for UV light. Explanation and Purchase: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/00000118

UV Beads Cont.• Have students design

experiment snf test UV protection for:

• 1. Suntan lotions (brands or pf 15:30:50

• 2. Hand creams• 3. Glasses… Are your

glasses protecting you… or cheap sunglasses vs expensive ones.

• #’s 1—3 Best done outdoors in sunlight.

4. Will the beads change color on a cloudy day

Graphite... Testing properties of adding layers. This can be done at same time of the Buckyball Math Lab…examining

carbon properties.

Materials: Number 2 pencil, voltmeter (Comparing how bright a light bulb glows is an alternative to a voltmeter).Purpose: Students will observe how adding layers to small particles can increase conduction. 

Procedure: Test paper for conduction with a voltmeter. Have students design an experiment that would test how adding graphite may increase voltage.  Example: Draw one line on paper. Draw over the line. How does adding to this effect the conduction of electricity.  

 I found 1 single line, writing over line ten times, 30 times, 50 times gave measurable readings with a number 2 pencil.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Purpose: Produce hydrogen gas (with a solar panel) to collect hydrogen gas for Hydrogen Powered Car.

Materials: Hydrogen Model Car (can be purchased at  variety of science suppliers.).

Notes: Limitless activities--this is a unit in itself. 

Procedure ideas: Have students research properties of hydrogen and oxygen, H2 powered cars, solar energy. Collect Hydrogen in test tube and test with a match. Do same with oxygen. (Operational definition of H2 and O2.

Collect H2 gas and run Hydrogen powered car. Student research how Fuel Cell converts Hydrogen to electricity.

Nano Science Visit and  Career Opportunities!

1. Arrange visit to SUNY Albany School of Nano Science. e-mail: Steven Stewart at sstewart@uamail.albany.edufor information. Questions for this workshop: Science :Bob Neudel or Math Bridgett Frary

For Career oportunities for students to research:http://www.nnin.org/nnin_careers.html

Materials

Ferrofluid: Flinn Science: http://www.flinnsci.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=22304 or

http://www.carolina.com/product/physical+science/physics/magnetism/ferrofluid+display+cell.do

 

You Tube Help

What is a nanometer and Excellent introduction:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITy14zCvI8

What is nanotechnology... good for middle school students: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_AFzKlAXsg

Buckeyball Annimation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw6ihY8BqCYBuckeyball: annimation and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR3lwWhFUD4

Chem Matters-- medicine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbcn7FR3pdg

Thanks to: It would be nice to say that all these thoughts and labs are ours but they are not!

Albany College of Nano Science especially: Diana Dumesnil   Bob Gear, Stephen Stewart. Pennsylvania School of Nano Science

www.nano4me.org 

Nanoscale Science: Activities for Grades 6-12By: M. Gail Jones, Michael R. Falvo, Amy R. Taylor, and Bethany P. BroadwellNSTA Press Book: Link to book:  http://www.nsta.org/store/search.aspx?action=quicksearch&text=nano%20science. Math Resources from this book pages 13, 14, 15 and 30 for classroom use only.

   

You Tube

Cotton Fiber: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAkfMODXdgw

Iron 1   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDqsdpAF89Q

Iron 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRt5aIuCPM

 

Resources

 www.nano4me.org   you will be asked to register but all teaching materials are free.

Buckyballs explanation: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/buckball/buckball.html   andhttp://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1781

 What is Nano Science explanation: http://www.nanoscience.com/education/overview.html