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Exploring Properties - Surface Area

In this activity, learners compare the reaction rate of an effervescent antacid tablet that is broken in half with one that is broken into many pieces.

DESCRIPTION

"Exploring Properties - Surface Area" is a hands-on activity demonstrating how a material can act differently when it's nanometer-sized. Visitors compare the reaction rate of an effervescent antacid tablet that is broken in half with one that is broken into many pieces. "Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Ready, Set, Fizz" (2016) version designed for groups and community outreach.

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  • Surface Area activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.
  • A person pouring alka seltzer into two test tubes and the seltzer reacts and forms bubbles in the Exploring Properties - Surface Area activity
  • A double cheese burger image for the Exploring Properties - Surface Area activity
  • Surface Area activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.
  • A person pouring alka seltzer into two test tubes and the seltzer reacts and forms bubbles in the Exploring Properties - Surface Area activity
  • A double cheese burger image for the Exploring Properties - Surface Area activity

DESCRIPTION

"Exploring Properties - Surface Area" is a hands-on activity demonstrating how a material can act differently when it's nanometer-sized. Visitors compare the reaction rate of an effervescent antacid tablet that is broken in half with one that is broken into many pieces. "Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Ready, Set, Fizz" (2016) version designed for groups and community outreach.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

A material can act differently when it's nano-sized.

LEARNING GOALS

  • Things on the nanoscale have a lot of surface area, so they react much more easily and quickly than they would if they were larger.

NANO CONTENT MAP

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2008
OWNING INSTITUTION

Science Museum of Minnesota

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.