Astrinos Tsoutsoudakis | Senior High School of Gazi | Heraklion, Crete | Greece

I. A wind turbine II. A quake table

(Based on upcycling and repurposing of discarded materials)

A wind turbine that uses four revolving A quake table that moves along three
cylinders (Flettner rotors) that form a cross, independent axes (x, y, z) thus possessing three
instead of blades. The rotors are spinned degrees of freedom. Various models are used
around their axes by four corresponding DC to demonstrate the impact of quakes on
motors in order to exploit the Magnus effect. buildings while some solutions that minimize
In nowadays applications the use of rotors consequences are also discussed. A QCN
provides better functional control over the sensor (Stanford University) records
power producing unit especially during rough acceleration data and plots it on screen in real
weather conditions. time.

Inspiration and ideas often arise seemingly

out of nowhere. So do the proper materials
that can come for free. Keeping a keen eye
is primarily all that is needed !
Baiba Dage| Jelgava State gymnasium | Jelgava | Latvia

Engaging pupils in motion experiments

Jet propulsion

It can be challenging to raise interest in

physics among high school pupils.
Competitions and active engagement in
experiments and exercises is one of the best
tools to motivate them.

Use accessible materials to develop simple

models that every pupil can make and thus be
more engaged in the process of learning
physics.

s, m t, s v, m/s a, m/s2

1.
2.
3.
Pupils measure distance and time of the
car’s journey and afterwards calculate
average speed and acceleration.

By releasing the balloon air flow starts movement and thus jet motion is demonstrated.
Materials - foam plastic, plastic corks from bottles, juice boxes, straws, tape, balloons,
measuring devices – timer and meter stick.
Results have proven that pupils appreciate such
activities, engage actively and develop a better
understanding of various physics themes.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember,
involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin
I. Beszeda, L. Sarka | Univ. of Nyíregyháza | Nyíregyháza | Hungary

Do it yourself – easy to prepare demonstration tools

and experiments in physics and chemistry part 1.
Science popularization events:

1. One week Summer School of Chemistry

and Physics,
2. Physicists’ Days in the Autumns,
3. More recently, the Researchers' Night,
4. Bródy Imre Physics Competition for
schools, for ages from 13-17,
5. Special physics lectures and „show“
performances, presented at our university
and also in schools, summer schools, even
outside our immediate region.
 I. Beszeda, L. Sarka | Univ. of Nyíregyháza | Nyíregyháza | Hungary

Do it yourself – easy to prepare demonstration tools

and experiments in physics and chemistry part 2.
Prepare yourself! Work and play!
• A home-made stroboscope. Example: parts of a Stirling engine:
• A vibrating jet of water, illuminated by a
stroboscope (total darkness needed).
• An automatic „cleaning machine” or
„running bug” made from nailbrush.
• An easy way to draw Lissajous curves.
• Some other demonstration tools or „toys“
made from tincan, plasic bottles or other
recycling materials, like
• Stirling engines.
• Water rocket.
• Steam turbine models.
• Franklin’s bell.
• Playing with wind turbine models – how
long wind do you have?
• Shooting with a compressed-air gun.

Many of the above things have been made by children and

students at Chemistry and Physics Summer Schools.

Do not hesitate to try these things at home!

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Daiga Krieviņa and Māra Rābante | Marupes elementary school | Marupe | Latvia

Pupils‘ night of applied sciences

THE PURPOSE OF PROJECT Responsibility
The goal of the project is to raise
pupils’ interest in science, give a
chance to get to know the practical Planning of
science and to learn the finance
demonstration of experiments and
public speech skills as well as to
observe theoretical regularities
practically. Public speech
THE BENEFITS OF PROJECT
FOR PUPILS
Interests in nature science. ICT
The skills to see relationship of
science and life.
Develop mutual
Involvement of parents in the learning
curriculum implementation.
THE EXPECTED RESULTS OF
Practical
PROJECT activities
Pupils’ ability to explain and
demonstrate simple science
experiments which are used as
examples in further study process
in various subjects.
Jolanda de Vries| Damstede Lyceum | Amsterdam | The Netherlands

Make your own 3D cell

With simple materials

Students make a 3D-model of an animal cell or plant

cell, with simple materials. They have to plan, design,
work together and make use of the theory and
pictures in their textbook and search for more
information on the internet. They also have make a
definition of the functions of the organelles.

This project will help students to understand the

form and structure of organelles and cells. They will
remember this subject better than only reading the
theory in the book.

You will learn much more than just

reading the text and pictures in the
book. And it is fun to do too!
Dobóné Dr. Tarai Éva| Berzsenyi Dániel High School | Budapest | Hungary

Small is beautiful I.
Microscale chemistry in the classroom

Hydrogel balls shrink as they dry out and

swell up again when they are placed in water.
As they swell up they retain their spherical
shape, thus forming an aqueous bead in
which chemical reactions can take place.

The solutions of the participating reagents can

be injected into a hydrogel ball using a
hypodermic needle. Due to the hydrogel ball's
spherical shape it acts as a magnifying lens
and can make the reaction more visible.

Precipitation reactions in hydrogel balls

Learn how to carry out microscale experiments for

greener chemistry teaching – and less washing up.

[email protected]
Dobóné Dr. Tarai Éva| Berzsenyi Dániel High School | Budapest | Hungary

Small is beautiful II.

Microscale chemistry in the classroom
Electrochemical reactions in hydrogel balls:
The balls are placed on filter paper soaked with the
electrolyte. The electrodes are graphite leads from a
mechanical pencil. Using a Pasteur pipette some silver
nitrate/zinc iodine/etc. solution is inserted into the hole in
each hydrogel ball where the electrodes enter it.

Electrolysis of metal salt solutions (above) and electrolysis of water using universal indicator
solution (below).

Apart from being spectacular, this way of carrying

out experiments has the advantage of using less
chemicals and thus producing less waste.
Emanuel Bettencourt| AE Dr Francisco Fernandes Lopes | Olhão | Portugal

Xico Lopes eggnaut

Movements in Earth and Space

In the middle of 1st trimester, a challenge is

•egg, size L;
made to students of the 11th grade where
•soda bottle 2L;
they apply their knowledge of Newton laws of
•air pump;
motion, to design, built and test a water
•water;
rocket as well as a recovery system.
•launch platform;
XicoLopes eggnaut is an ”astronaut” that •timer;
wants to explore other planets and so he •recovery system;
needs transportation and arrive safely. •cottom or other;
Working in groups searching solutions for the
problem, an Inquiry Based Learning activity is
held to students.
Students build a rocket from a 2L soda bottle
and a space capsule where a raw egg size L
will be put.
At the launch day the bottle is attached to the
platform. Safety procedure are checked and
air will be pumped inside the bottle (~75 psi),
that already has 200 mL of water.
Safety checked (again), timers set, countdown
and ... the egg is launched up to ~20m high.
The challenge continues since the eggnaut
must arrive intact to the ground.

More time in the air means more points.

Students are engaged, motivated, hands-on,

because its an activity that they Do everything:
design, built, test and compete.