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Heat & Temperature

Science activity that demonstrates temperature perception
Cold Metal
"Cold" metal and "warm" wood may be the same temperature.
Science activity that demonstrates convection
Convection Currents
Make your own heat waves in an aquarium.
Science activity that demontrates the movement of a fluid undergoing convection
Convection Detection
Create a convection cell inside a CD case.
Science activity that demonstrates effect of temperature on density
Cool Hot Rod
Objects change size when heated or cooled.
Science activity that demonstrates the Curie point phenomenon
Curie Point
When a piece of iron gets too hot, it loses its attraction to a magnet.
Science activity that demonstrates a heat engine
Dipping Bird
A dipping bird seems to go forever—but it's not perpetual motion.
Science activity that demonstrates the kinetic behavior of gas
Gas Model
Caged molecules do their thing.
Science activity that explores the properties of gases and the anatomy of an egg
Gassy Eggs
Eggsplore gas properties while making a Snack.
Science activity that demonstrates how geysers work
Geyser
Just spew it—build your own cyclic hot water fountain.
Science activity that explores heat absorption by different-colored materials
Give and Take
Dark-colored materials both absorb and emit energy more readily than light-colored materials.
Science activity that shows the effect of temperature on pressure
Hand-Held Heat Engine
Make the liquid in this toy rise and fall in a cycle.
Science activity that explores infrared radiation through a parabolic mirror
Hot Spot
Focus the invisible light from an electric heater.
Science activity to investigate convection
Inverted Bottles
Watch the rise and fall of hot and cold fluids.
Science activity that visualizes convection cells
Pie-Pan Convection
It’s cool to be dense—just watch these convection cells.
Science activity that explores the twinkling of stars by beaming a laser pointer over a hot plate
Scintillating Little Star
How I wonder what you are?
Science activity that explores the relationship between filament and flashlight bulb
Sensitive Filament
Use your breath to create a visible change in an electric circuit.
Science activity that demonstrates a short circuit
Short Circuit
What happens when you blow a fuse?
Science activity that explores the relationship between the temperature and volume of a given amount of gas
Sizing Up Temperature
Explore Charles’s Law—in a syringe.
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Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute