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Ear Sort
Survey a wide variety of earlobes and decide for yourself if sorting their shapes into two groups—“free” or “attached”— is as simple as it sounds.
Earth and Moon
Use different-sized spheres to explore the relative sizes of the earth and moon and the distances between them.
Eddy Currents
When a magnet is dropped down a metallic tube, the changing magnetic field created by the falling magnet pushes electrons around in circular, eddy-like currents. These eddy currents have their own magnetic field that opposes the fall of the magnet. The magnet falls dramatically slower than it does in ordinary free fall inside a nonmetallic tube.
Electric Current Model
Model the motion of electrons through a wire by pushing on a circle of small magnets around the rim of a large magnet.
Electrical Etching
The chlorine in saltwater can corrode many metals, including stainless steel, leaving them pitted and rough. Speed along the process with electricity, and rapidly etch a pattern onto stainless steel.
Electrical Fleas
Static electricity makes the sparks when you comb your hair on a cold day, and it makes balloons stick to the wall at a birthday party. Here, static electricity makes electric “fleas” jump up and down.
Electromagnetic Antigravity
A current-carrying wire changes the weight of mounted magnets resting on an electronic scale—simple but dramatic proof of the Lorentz force, the phenomenon at work in most electric motors.
Electroscope
By suspending pieces of tape from a straw, you can build an electroscope—a device that detects electrical charge.
Everyone Is You and Me
Looking for Everyone Is You and Me? Your Father's Nose is an alternate Snack that relates to the same general principles.
Eyedropper Hydrometer
Construct a simple hydrometer that you can use to compare the densities of different solutions.
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Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute
