Screaming Ghosts – Day #6
Hello my witches and goblins; ghosts and Draculas!
It is me Jess again with one more day of Halloween Week Spooky Science.
The spooky science today is going to be a loud (and funny) one!
We are about to make some weird and spooky ghost sounds so you can scare your mom while she is busy on her computer or make your dad think he left the window open again!
You will only need three simple materials to make your ghosts scream so loud that your neighbors will not trick or treat your house because they will think it is really haunted!
So let’s get spooky!
Ready? Scared? Go!
Materials:
- Balloons
- Hex nuts (get them in different sizes)
- Marker
I don’t think it can get any easier than that.
How to?
First, you will draw the scariest ghost face on your balloon. If you feel a little artsy, you can try a Frankenstein or a Jack-o’-Lantern on an orange balloon.
It’s so easy!
Now, you will wiggle the hex nut through the opening of your balloon, so it is loose inside the balloon. Blow the balloon up to around 15 to 20 centimeters. Now start swirling your balloon to hear the ghost scream!
Scary but funny at the same time.
Let’s talk STEM now. As you already know, we use scientific processes to test our hypotheses and predict results. In this case, look at your hex nuts and listen to the sound your ghost is making. Do you have different sizes of hex nuts? If you do, try answering some of the questions below.
How do you think the sound is being made?
How do you think the different sizes of hex nuts will affect the sound produced?
Do you think the size the balloon is inflated will change the sound?
It is not hocus pocus. It is science! And the science behind this one is pretty easy.
The sound is being made from the sides of the hex nuts hitting and vibrating against the balloon.
The shape your balloon has makes the material inside move around in a circular path. Because of the balloons smooth surface, there is little to no friction. If there was any friction, the hex nut would eventually stop.
In physics, this is called centripetal force. This is the force that makes an object move in a circular path in the direction of the center. If you stop swirling your ghost, the hex nut will stop at the center.
The six sides of a hex nut are flat, and because of that, the hex nut will bounce around and vibrate, creating the screaming sound you hear. When you change the hex nut, you also change the sound.
Science is fantastic, and I love talking about forces.
May the force be with you! You know who said it right?
Make different shapes! Create witches and monsters and make them scream as loud as you can.
And we see each other tomorrow, with our last day of Halloween Week Spooky Science, and I can say we are going out with a BANG!
Behold, goblins, and ghosts. HALLOWEEN IS HERE!
Pumpkin wishes and candy corn kisses to you all!
See you tomorrow!
Jess
