EONS LEARNING

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Classroom
    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Classroom
    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Donate

The Atmosphere: EIS 15

Activity 1: Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Beyond being important for, you know, sustaining life, the atmosphere’s density makes it a lot of fun to hang out in (literally). It’s density is low enough to walk through, fall through, and jump through, but just high enough that, with enough surface area around us, we can float on top of it and FLY! A nice gust of wind will also give us an extra boost of air buoyancy to make staying in the air easier. Because of this nice balance of density and wind, there are all sorts of cool things you can do in the air: parachuting, hang gliding, flying airplanes, taking a hot air balloon, waving to the birds, and doing lots of other things that are terrifying if you’re afraid of heights. Down here on the ground and at sea we can enjoy air density in other ways: sailing, windsurfing, enjoying a nice breeze in the summer sunshine, and (a personal favorite) flying kites!

Flying a kite really operates on the same principles as flying an airplane (or parachuting, or hang gliding). The goal is to stay up in the air as long as possible. In order to do that, the downward pull of gravity must be less than the upward push of buoyant force.

To review our density sink-or-swim activity back from chemistry, buoyant force is what keeps things from sinking, either through air or water. If you’ve ever been swimming, you’ve felt buoyant force: it is the water molecules pushing you up. The more surface area you have, the more water molecules will be pushing you up. That means more force pushing up! The buoyant force also increases with density (of the air/water). This has the same effect as surface area: by squishing more air molecules into the same amount of space, you know have more air molecules pushing something up. The force of gravity has to do with mass: more mass = more gravitational force. So, lighter things have less force pulling down.
Picture
Picture
Paper beats rock! (at flying)
(If you really want to know, buoyant force occurs because pressure gets higher as you go deeper in a fluid like water or air. That’s because there is more fluid pushing down on it from above, squishing the molecules together. Because of this, there will be more pressure pushing up on the bottom of, say, your swimming body than the top of it. So, the net pressure--that is, the upward pressure minus the downward pressure--is upward. Pressure is just force divided by the surface area. So, bigger surface area with the same pressure means more upward force! Yay, physics!)

So, without much further ado:

Let’s Go Fly a Kite! Up to the highest height! Up to the ATMOSPHERE! Up where the air is clear! Let’s Go….. Fly a Kiiiiiiiiite! (That would be Disney’s Mary Poppins, ladies and gentlemen. I will take my applause now.)

Materials

  • Paper or fabric (of your choosing). Some types to consider:
    • Tissue paper
    • Printer paper
    • Construction paper
    • Cardstock
    • Wrapping paper
    • Poster paper
    • Cardboard
    • Newspaper
    • Fabric
    • Etc.
    You can also use multiple types, if you want.
  • Rod supports. Some types to consider:
    • Wooden dowel rods
    • Pencils
    • Straws
    • Sticks
    • Metal dowel rods
    • Cardboard
    • Etc.
    You can use multiple types, if you want. You can also opt for a design with no supports.
  • String. This must be long enough to hold onto your kite (usually at least 20 feet)
  • Something to hold it all together. For example:
    • Tape
    • Glue
    • Additional string
    • Staples
    • Etc.
  • Any decorative flourishes you want (optional).

Procedure

1. Design your kite. Consider the requirements for flight as you’re making your design. Draw your design out on paper. We recommend drawing multiple designs and choosing which one to build once you have several ideas, but this is not required.

This is a classic kite design:

Picture
We encourage you to think creatively and critically about your kite design, but you are also welcome to stick to tried-and-true-methods (note that it does take some skill and precision to get the exact geometry down, though). 

2. Decide what materials to use for your kite. Consider availability (do I have this around my house? If not, can I get it easily?), cost, and effectiveness (will my kite fly if I use this material?). If you’re using something from around the house, check to make sure it’s okay for you to use.

3. Build your kite, according to your specifications. Be sure to attach a string to the bottom of your kite so you can fly it! You’ll want to be sure the string is attached very securely.

4. Take a picture of your kite. Do this now because it might get ruined when you fly it.

5. Fly your kite. This works best on a slightly windy day in an open area without a lot of trees or buildings. To fly a kite, wrap the string around your hand in circles and hold on tightly. Then, push the body of your kite into a gust of wind. As your kite starts to fly, start unwrapping the string a little bit at a time to give it a longer “leash”. You can unwrap it up to the point that you’re just able to hold on tightly. You can pull back to get more control (This is especially important if you’re around trees: you don’t want your kite to get stuck).

6. Count how long your kite is able to stay in the air. You can use a stopwatch if you want. The time doesn’t have to be exact, but it should be a good rough estimate. Try flying it a couple of times to see if it stays up longer. 

If you’d like, consider what was good and bad about the design of your kite. Then, design and build a second kite based on what you’ve learned. Repeat all the other steps.


If you build a kite you love, we want to see it! If you have an Instagram and the permission of your relevant responsible adult, share a photo or video @kast_edu, #KitesKASTEdu

Activity 2: Being a Citizen of Your Environment

We encourage you to find or start a local project in your area and get involved with taking care of your environment. This can be as simple as getting outside and cleaning up your nearest park, possibly with a few friends, or can be as elaborate as getting involved with a youth advocacy group promoting political change around climate laws. There are many options in-between! For example:

  • Creating art or a useful engineered product out of upcycled (trash) items.
  • Planting trees or becoming involved in a gardening project.
  • Start a home-compost system or visit a local recycling plant to learn about recycling.
  • Participate in a park conservation or park clean-up event.
  • Fundraise for a climate organization that does good.
  • Get involved in a climate organization that does good.
  • Learn about career paths in green energy, environmental regulation, and engineering.
  • See what it takes to go zero-waste for a day (or a week!)

And many more!

If you’re doing something meaningful that you love, we want to see it! If you have an Instagram and the permission of your relevant responsible adult, share a photo or video @kast_edu, #EarthDayEveryDay

Bonus Activity: Solar Energy

In this lesson, we talked a lot about the ways that burning fossil fuels is bad for our environment. Fossil fuels, like gasoline, oil, and coal, are common sources of energy, and burning them releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, cause climate change. Switching to green energy sources, like wind, solar, water, and nuclear power is one important step in slowing climate change and reversing the damage it has caused.

This video will teach you more about green energy sources:
​


​You may have heard of solar power before, and you may have even seen solar panels in action. But, did you know that you can make your own solar panel right at home?


Note: this activity requires some supplies that are not found in every household. It is not a required activity, but can be a fun way to learn about alternative energy—and recycling those old CDs!

Materials

  • 1 CD (that you no longer want). You may scale up this activity to make more solar panels with more CDs, which will provide more power.
  • Approx. 3-4 feet of copper wire. This can be easily and inexpensively acquired at most hardware stores or online. Anywhere between 20 and 30 gauge should work well for this activity. You may wish to have extra on hand.
  • 3 Zener diodes. These are commonly sold in electronics supply stores (such as RadioShack) and may be found at certain hardware or hobby supply stores. They are easiest to find online, such as on Amazon.
  • Super glue or hot glue.
  • Soldering iron. You may find it possible to do this activity without one, but it is easiest with one. These are commonly found at hardware stores, hobby supply stores (check the jewelry section), or online. Soldering irons are very hot and caution should be exercised. The supervision of your relevant responsible adult is recommended.
  • LED light bulb. The lower the voltage, the more easily you will see the effect. Flashlight light bulbs are recommended.
  • An old cell phone charger (optional). This should be a phone charger that you don’t mind ruining.

Procedure

This video will be helpful to you in going through the procedure:
​

​
  1. Cut 3-4 12-inch pieces of copper wire (the exact amount you need will depend on how tightly it is coiled). 
  2. Strip the ends of your copper wires.
  3. Wrap your first copper wire around the shiny side of your CD, making zig-zaggy U-bends as you go. This will somewhat resemble a flower around the center of your CD. Glue down the copper wire as you go with super glue or hot glue. Ensure a good connection between the CD and the copper wire. This should cover ¼ to ⅓ of the CD face.
  4. Leaving a small gap between each set of coils, repeat step 3 for your remaining copper wires.
  5. Connect the stripped ends of copper wire using a Zener diode. This is most easily done with a soldering iron, but you may be able to get an adequate connection by tightly twisting the end of copper wire several times around the Zener diode. Leave one gap unconnected—this is where you will be attaching your lightbulb.
  6. Either using additional copper wire or simply by connecting the existing ends of copper wire to the lightbulb, wrap one end of copper wire (connected to one of the final, unconnected stripped ends that is attached to the CD) around the metal base of the lightbulb. Connect the other end of copper wire to the bottom flat metal part of the lightbulb. You can do this either permanently, as shown in the video, using hot glue, or you can simply tap the end of copper wire to the bottom of your lightbulb. If you are familiar with integrating switches into circuit boards, that is another option.
  7. Set your CD solar panel out in the bright sunlight. Are you able to light your lightbulb?
  8. If your lightbulb works and you have a spare phone charger that you’re willing to part with, cut the phone charger so that the wire is exposed. Connect the spare bits of copper wire on your CD solar panel (in place of the lightbulb) to the exposed wire on the phone connection half of the phone charger. Then, set your CD solar panel out in the bright sunlight and try to charge your phone with it! Some phones require more power than a single CD solar panel can provide, but this works well for others. You may also consider making more CD solar panels (all connected with the same copper wire and additional Zener diodes) to get more power to charge your phone.

If you get your CD solar panel to work, we want to see it! If you have an Instagram and the permission of your relevant responsible adult, share with us @eons_learning, #SolarPanelEons

© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.