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Bubbles
Explore the fantastic physics of foamy films! Bubbles of all sizes and shapes are made using our Questacon bubble mix. There will even be a bubble big enough to fit over a volunteer’s head!
Experience:
- Cubic bubble: Is it really possible to make a box-shaped bubble?
- Giant bubble-tube: Say goodbye to one of your classmates!
- Bubble handshake: Learn the secret society bubble handshake!
Learn about:
- Properties of water
- Geometry & shapes
- Elasticity
- Bubble films
- Why small bubbles last longer than big bubbles (area minimisation)
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-2)
Holiday Programme (ages 5-12)
Post-visit activities:
Bubbles
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S3.4
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
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Christmas
Get into the Christmas spirit with a sleigh-load of the most amazing science demonstrations from the Questacon Science Squad’s repertoire of shows. This fun show is packed with tinsel, Christmas songs and plenty of laughter. This show is available from 23 November to 18 December of 2009.
Experience:
- Bernouilli leaf blower: Be amazed as a beach ball is suspended in mid-air.
- Balloon blow-out: Liquid nitrogen warms up to make nitrogen gas in a balloon. Will the balloon be big enough to handle the pressure?
Learn about:
- Changes of state
- Expansion & contraction
- Jet propulsion
- Action & reaction
- Static electricity
- Electrical & light energy
- Air pressure
- Pitch & amplification
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Duration: 60 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-6)
Post-visit activities:
Activities
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
M: ES1.3, ES1.4, M1.1, M1.4, M1.6
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S2.4, S3.4
PS: S1.5, S2.5
ES: S1.6, S1.6, S3.6
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
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Climate Change
An awesome exploration of the atmosphere, the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change using multimedia, where audience members make decisions that could change the world.
Experience:
- A balloon in a flame: Will it pop?
- Candle staircase: Watch as carbon dioxide extinguishes the flames!
- Audience response system: Students enter answers into electronic clickers and their combined results are displayed for everyone to see.
Learn about:
- The Earth’s atmosphere
- The natural and enhanced greenhouse effect
- Climate change
- Acidic oceans
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years 3-6)
Post-visit activities:
Climate Change
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
BE: S3.1
LT: S2.3
PP: S2.4, S3.4
PS: S3.5
ES: S2.6, S3.6
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
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Electricity
Prepare to be shocked and amazed as two teams arc up and battle it out in the ‘Electricity Show’. Compete for ultimate glory while watching exciting demonstrations using small-scale lightning, powerful electromagnets and electric charges.
Experience:
- Plasma ball: Let the electricity flow through you.
- Janice (the doll) and the Van de Graff generator: Talk about a bad hair day!
Learn about:
- Electric charge
- Attraction & repulsion
- Electrical & light energy
- Static electricity
- Magnets
- Energy transfer
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience: Primary Schools (Years 3-6)
Post-visit activities:
Electricity
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
LT: ES1.3, S2.3, S3.3
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S2.4, S3.4
PS: ES1.5, S1.5, S2.5, S3.5
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
COGS: S2F, S3F
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Freaky Forces
Do you know how to defend yourself against the freaky forces? Don’t let gravity get you down any longer and say goodbye to friction holding you back in this dramatic and entertaining show.
Experience:
- Upside-down table tennis: Who will win friction or lubrication?
- Bed of nails: Witness a volunteer attempt to defy gravity by sitting on a bed of nails!
Learn about:
- Friction
- Lubrication
- Gravity
- Centre of gravity
- Support base
- Rotational inertia
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-6)
Holiday Programme (ages 5-12)
Post-visit activities:
Forces
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S2.1, S3.1
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
COGS: S1F, S3F
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Liquid Nitrogen
The COOLEST show on Earth! Watch as this super-cold liquid transforms everyday objects in ways you couldn’t imagine. Examine temperature in a show that’s thrilling, explosive and seriously cool.
Experience:
- Boiling liquid nitrogen: But I thought you said it’s COLD?!
- Liquid nitrogen volcano: liquid nitrogen + soapy water = mess
Learn about:
- Change of state (gas, liquid, solid)
- Energy
- Temperature
- Thermal expansion & contraction
- Frost bite
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-6)
Holiday Programme (ages 5-12)
Post-visit activities:
Temperature
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S3.4
PS: S1.5, S2.5, S3.5
ES: ES1.6, S1.6, S3.6
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
COGS: S1C, S2B, S3F
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Senses
How much do you know about native Australian animals? Discover how you use your five senses as well as some of the strange ways a few of our native fauna use theirs in this fun show that’s great for younger children.
Experience:
- Bat and moth: Imagine if you could only use your ears to find your lunch!
- Dress up: Have fun dressing up as native Australian animals.
Learn about:
- Micro bats & hearing (echolocation)
- Brush turkeys & touch
- Wedge-tailed eagles & sight
- Australian monarch butterflies & taste
- Dingoes & smell
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience: Primary Schools (Years K-2)
Post-visit activities:
Senses
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
IC: S1.2
LT: ES1.3, S1.3
PP: ES1.4, S1.4
INV: ES1.7, S1.7
COGS: ES1E, ES1C, ES1F
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Slime
Gross! Check out the properties of fluids (viscosity, elasticity, stir-thickening and stir-thinning) through experiments with slime and other messy things! Hosted by a wacky witch or warlock, you’ll be enthralled and disgusted by the utter sliminess of this show.
Experience:
- Animal slime: Are you brave enough to search for ‘dead’ animals in slime?
- Cornflour slime: Try to SPLAT your friends by punching a container filled with a disgusting stir-thickening fluid!
- Gunkamena the Witch: She loves to rhyme, all of the time.
Learn about:
- Fluids
- Viscosity
- Temperature
- Living things
- Change of state
- Stir-thickening & stir-thinning fluids
- Newtonian & non-Newtonian fluids
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-6)
Holiday Programme (ages 5-12)
Post-visit activities:
Fluids
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
IC: ES1.2, S1.2
LT: ES1.3, S1.3
PP: ES1.4, S1.4
INV: ES1.7, S1.7
COGS: S1E, S2F
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Sound Effects
Sounds spectacular! Learn how vibrations make sounds using straws, cups and a bucket. Play an instrument in our silly band and help us make sound effects to tell a spooky story. Your laughter will amplify during this comical show.
Experience:
- Sound wave splash: Get up close and personal to a sound wave.
- Mooing bucket: Pull on the string and hear it moo!
Learn about:
- Sounds as vibrations
- Vocal chords
- Pitch
- Amplification
- Anatomy of the human ear
- Sound waves
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience:
Primary Schools (Years K-6)
Holiday Programme (ages 5-12)
Post-visit activities:
Sound
NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
IC: ES1.2, S1.2, S2.2, S3.2
LT: ES1.3, S1.3, S2.3, S3.3
PP: ES1.4, S1.4, S2.4, S3.4
INV: ES1.7, S1.7, S2.7, S3.7
COGS: ES1E, S2F, S3F
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Extreme Energy
See energy tricks and transformations in this collection of dramatic demonstrations. Be astounded by the cooling effects of liquid nitrogen, listen as potential energy turns into sound, watch a chemical reaction generate light and be shocked by the power of electricity. This one hour show takes an entertaining look at the forms of energy and how energy can change from one form to another. This show is suitable for students in years 7 to 10 and when combined with the post-visit worksheet provided, the ‘Extreme Energy Show’ can help fulfil NSW Junior Science syllabus requirements.
Experience:
- Flaming bubble: Put flammable gas inside a bubble and light it!
- Sonic boom: Cover your ears as a balloon bursts from the pressure of nitrogen gas.
- Forensic scientist: Check for traces of blood using luminol.
- Foam snake: Watch us make a catalyst reaction, with some very messy results!
Learn about:
- Forms of energy
- Conservation of energy
- Non-renewable & renewable energy
- States of matter
- Change of state
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Animal adaptations
- Magnetic fields
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Duration: 1 hour
Recommended audience: Secondary Schools (Years 7-10)
After our visit, have your class try our Extreme Energy worksheet.
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Super Science Show
The ‘Super Science Show’ is a specially designed show featuring wacky characters and 30 minutes of the Science Squad’s most amazing demonstrations. The young and the young-at-heart will be astounded by a rainbow of dry ice, a liquid nitrogen volcano, racing helicopter and rocket balloons and gigantic bubbles.
The ‘Super Science Show’ has been performed at shopping centres all over Sydney, such as:
- St Ives Shopping Village, 2007, 2008 and 2009
- Westfield Miranda, 2008 and 2010
- Carlingford Court, 2007
- Westfield Hurstville, 2007
- Narellan Town Centre, 2007 and 2009
- Centro Bankstown, 2010
- Centro Seven Hills, 2007
- MarketPlace Leichhardt, 2006
- Macarthur Square Shopping Centre, 2005
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Duration: 30 minutes
Recommended audience: All ages, shopping centres and other special events.
Download the ‘Super Science Show’ flyer
Contact us for further information or a quote |
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