This lecture covers information about the energy source that powers the Sun. Since the gravitational and the electromagnetic forces are insufficient to provide the energy of the Sun, the strong and weak nuclear forces are discussed. The rest of the lecture is devoted to an explanation of the nuclear reactions that can liberate energy and the mathematics involved, which provides a method to calculate ... Full description.

This demonstration of average density uses understandable units of total mass and volume of the Earth. The required supplies are a can of beer or soda and a 1-pound bag of pretzels. By imagining, for instance, 4.4 bags of pretzels fitting into a beer/soda can, students can better visualize the average density of the Earth. Full description.

This page offers a list of materials and directions for a demonstration that allows the student to observe Rayleigh scattering of light, and to understand what makes the sky appear to be blue. A link leads to an explanation of the observed phenomena. Full description.

This presentation describes the six crystal systems used for classifying minerals. Each of the systems is represented by a diagram showing the angles and proportions of the crystallographic axes, a physical model showing the possible arrangements of faces and one or more photos of actual specimens displaying the described symmetry and some possible modifications. Full description.

This demonstration of the Earth's magnetic field requires a DC motor, ammeter, electromagnet, and DC power supply or battery. The site explains the concept of a dynamo and how if an electrical conductor is in motion within a magnetic field, a current will be generated in the conductor, and if that current flows around in a loop, it will, in turn, generate a magnetic field. Full description.

This demonstration of natural selection has students select candies from a bowl, giving them an opportunity to think about what traits brought about the survival of some candies. After this activity, students will realize that not every feature of an organism is an adaptation, but features often reflect their evolutionary history. Adaptations often persist in a population because they are in some ... Full description.

This demonstration of volcanism involves heating a beaker with wax on the bottom covered with sand and cold water. It primarily demonstrates intrusive volcanic activity and produces only a model of a lava flow on the surface. At the end of the activity students should appreciate how rising magma can cool at and below the surface of the Earth forming rocks, which we call igneous. Full description.

This slide show provides an introduction to soil and soil science. Topics include the functions of soil and its role in the ecosystem, soil management, important properties of soil, and factors that influence the location and types of soils that form. There is also information on soil surveys, possible negative impacts to soil, the soils taxonomy system, and how soil science meshes with other disciplines. ... Full description.

This demonstration is designed to demonstrate the procedures that municipal water plants use to purify water for drinking. Students will discover that water treatment plants typically clean water by taking it through the processes of aeration, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. They also learn that water in lakes, rivers, and swamps often contains impurities that make it look ... Full description.

The Curie temperature for iron is reached at about 20 km depth in the Earth, and the temperature is much higher at the outer boundary of the Earth's core so that the iron there is no longer ferromagnetic (the electron spins in the iron can no longer align). This demonstration will help students understand the magnetic field of the Earth, and can help explain the variation of the direction of the field ... Full description.