Curated Video
Solids, Liquids and Gases
What is the difference between solids, liquids and gases? How does each state behave? Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. The kinetic theory of matter states that particles are in constant motion and there are forces of...
Curated Video
Nobel and Dynamite
The story of Alfred Nobel's life work and legacy, and his little known role in the discovery of dynamite. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite in 1867. Alfred Nobel also founded the Nobel Peace Prize,...
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Acids and Alkalis: Part 1
The properties of strong acids and alkalis can be extremely harmful. Where do we find them, and how can we tell how acidic or alkaline a substance is? Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Bases neutralise acids, and if a base...
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Place Like Home: Inside a Probe
Learn how scientists overcame huge challenges to land a probe on Saturn's moon, and why Titan is of special interest to life on Earth. Physics - Universe - Learning Points. The Cassini-Huygens probe took seven years to travel over 1...
Curated Video
Water Forces
The unique force created by hydrogen bonding gives water some unique properties, which seem to defy the laws of nature. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. Hydrogen bonding is a special force of attraction between water...
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How to Make Fake Snow
Snow forms in the atmosphere as a result of water molecules attaching themselves to nuclei bacteria. But scientists have found ways to manipulate the freezing process of water and the production of these nuclei to create snow...
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Place Like Home: Life On a Moon
The discovery of Titan's atmosphere excited scientists, who believe it could hold the key to life on Earth. Physics - UniverseLearning Points. Titan is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. Titan's atmosphere is 98%...
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Ferrofluids
We compare the properties of three iron mixtures: iron and water, iron and oil and a ferrofluid - a mixture of compounds containing iron and oil. First, we look at how iron filings behave when mixed with water and then oil. We then hold...
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Citrus Fruit Battery
We use lemons and strips of zinc and copper to make a battery. First, strips of copper and zinc are added to one lemon and they are connected across a voltmeter. This is repeated, this time with more lemons and metal plates, until a...
Curated Video
Making Slime
We make slime using borax, water and food colouring. The slime is a non-Newtonian liquid. A non-Newtonian liquid can behave like a liquid or a solid depending on the pressure applied to it. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning...
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Distillation of Ink
We use distillation to remove the water from ink. The ink is heated in a conical flask with a delivery tube running to a beaker. The water has a lower boiling point and so it evaporates before the ink. The water condenses as it travels...
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Endothermic Reaction
We demonstrate an endothermic reaction by mixing hydrated barium hydroxide with ammonium thiocyanate. When these two solids react they take heat from the surrounding air. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Breaking bonds takes in...
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Clearing Oil Spills
We investigate the effectiveness of different methods to clear oil spills from water. First, we try to burn the oil in a sample of water using a gas lighter but there is no effect. Next, we break the oil up using detergent but this does...
Curated Video
Frozen Balloon
We lower a helium-filled balloon into liquid nitrogen to see how the change in temperature affects its volume. When it hits the cool liquid nitrogen, the gas inside contracts and the volume of the balloon decreases. When it is removed...
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Liquid Density
We compare the density of oil, salt water and fresh water using displacement tanks. Equally weighted measuring cylinders are placed into the three liquids and the amount of water displaced is collected for comparison. Physics - Forces -...
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Screaming Jelly Baby
We add a jelly baby to a boiling tube containing potassium chlorate. When the chemicals react, gas is rapidly produced. The screaming sound is created as the gas escapes from the tube. The sweet burns brightly as the reaction occurs....
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Dancing Polymer
We create a polymer using cornflour and water called oobleck. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian liquid that behaves like a solid and a liquid. When placed on a speaker, the vibrations cause the polymer to constantly change its behaviour and it...
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Fire Extinguisher Sublimation
We release carbon dioxide from a fire extinguisher against a dark cloth to see what happens. The expanding gas cools as it leaves the extinguisher, forming a visible dry ice solid on the cloth. As it warms, the carbon dioxide vanishes...
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The Halogens
Halogens are hazardous to human life, yet they can also be very useful. How do they react when they meet other elements? Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The halogens are the elements in Group 7 of the periodic table. The...
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Non-Newtonian Liquids
Introducing the liquids whose behaviours seem to defy the accepted states of matter. What are they and why don't they behave as we predict? Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. Newtonian liquids take the shape of their...
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Core (Earth sciences)
The central, usually hottest and densest, part of a larger structure, for example a star, planet or galaxy. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual...
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Soluble
Any substance that can dissolve in another is said to be soluble; though a substance may be soluble in one liquid but insoluble in another. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning...
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Nucleation
The beginning of physical or chemical changes on a very small scale in discrete regions of a system. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions....
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What's inside the Earth?
Let's take a journey inside the Earth and explore the different layers – crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. Our universe - Planet Earth - What's inside the Earth? Learning Points The internal structure of the Earth consists of...