Magic Sand / Nanosurfaces

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Overview
Standards
Resources
Evaluations
Comments

Overview

Description:

“Magic Sand” is a cart demo that demonstrates how changing nanoscale changes in a material can affect how that material behaves at the macroscale. Visitors learn that hydrophobic surfaces repel water and that “magic” sand repels water because of a nanoscale hydrophobic coating on the grains of sand. During the program, compare how magic sand and regular sand interact with water.

Objectives

Big Idea:

Nanoscale changes to the surface of sand make it repel water.

Learning goals:

See how nanotechnology can change everyday materials
Learn that magic sand is"afraid" of water because it is covered with a nanoscale monolayer of oil-like molecules.
Many materials exhibit startling properties at the nanoscale.

NISE Net Content Map:

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

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Credits

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.

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

Fundamentals, Materials, tools, and applications

Audience

7 and up

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Standards

Physical science:

K-4: Properties of objects and materials

5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter

9-12: Structure and properties of matter

Science and Technology:

K-4: Abilities of technological design

K-4: Understanding about science and technology

5-8: Abilities of technological design

5-8: Understanding about science and technology

9-12: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Understanding about science and technology

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

K-4: Science and technology in local challenges

5-8: Science and technology in society

9-12: Environmental quality

9-12: Natural resources

9-12: Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Resources

Download all files (ZIP)

Files:

Magic Sand - Lesson Plan

Magic Sand - Poster

Magic Sand - Poster

Links:

Magic Sand Training Video

See FAQ #10 to learn more about downloading NISE Net video

Exploring Materials: Nano Sand (NanoDays 2011)

Video:

Evaluations

Year 5 Summative Evaluation of Exhibits and Programs

As part of the overall summative evaluation of the first five years of the NISE Network, the Year 5 Exhibits and Programs Study examines the measurable impacts of these public products on museum visitors. Read more

Comments

modification for small children or clasroom-size groups

Submitted by Greta Zenner Pe... on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:30.

Using plastic shot glasses (aka communion cups) that are available at party or grocery stores is an easy and cheap alternative to buying a glass beakers or flasks. You don't have to worry about breaking them with small kids, and you can have each students (or pair of students) do their own experiment in larger groups. I use cheesecloth for draining off the water when I do this approach.

Magic Sand

Submitted by Resident_Eccentric on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 15:23.

Magic Sand is amazing.
Can anyone tell me how they go about making each grain of sand hydrophobic? Lots of visitors ask this question, and I'm curious about it myself.

making magic sand

Submitted by Greta Zenner Pe... on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:28.

I don't know exactly how they make it, but the sand particles are coated with a silicon compound - so something slipper. It is possible to make your own hydrophobic sand using sand, heat, and Scotchgard. To find instructions, just Google "make your own magic sand", and you'll come up with a lot of videos and instruction guides. One place is: http://www.chymist.com/Magic%20sand.pdf. (Disclaimer - I haven't vetted any of the make-your-own videos and guides!)

You guys ROCK!!! The

Submitted by Ruth Cavins on Mon, 12/22/2008 - 09:38.

You guys ROCK!!! The Stillwater Children's Museum is developing a "nano" program for 4th graders. The State PASS (Priority Academic Student Skills) for this grade include science scopes for properties of earth materials and electricy. We can cover both areas with this very cool hands-on activity! Thank you!!!!