K-BLOG 2: Water is Strange: Part 1 Outer space

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The Challenge:

You could teach a course on water as a main topic. It touches all our lives, is a precious resource and is always in the news (e.g., drought, floods, pollution). It is a topic that is scientific, social, geographic and political. yea What are some ways to introduce the science behind this interesting and odd substances that has some unique properties?

 A Solution:

The amazing properties of water (cohesion/adhesion/high heat capacity/high heat of vaporization/less dense as a solid than a liquid, is polar and an excellent solvent) are all related to hydrogen bonding of the polar water molecule. I must mention two cool videos that tell part of the story of water. As a Canadian, I especially love the video featuring the Canadian hero astronaut, Chris Hadfield, with an unbelievable demonstration aboard the International Space Station – a must watch and a great way to introduce the topic of water. It also clearly explains the behavior of water in space. The other video is from a video series called Crash Course Biology which provides a detailed explanation of the unique properties of water.




Hydrogen Bonding - Chemistry LibreTexts

chem.libretexts.org

 

Wringing water out in space YOU GO TO WATCH THIS CANADIAN ASTRONAUT

Wringing our a towel in space

Water – Liquid Awesome: Crash Course Biology #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVT3Y3_gHGg

 

 

Richard Kurtz

Richard Kurtz is an award-winning science educator, teaching in New York for almost 40 years. Richard has had extensive experience working with teachers and students in developing hands-on science activities in biology, science research and inventing both in person and virtually. He is currently a semi-retired educational consultant who is passionate about helping teachers and parents learn and apply strategies to help their students unlock their potential as innovators.

https://www.k12stemspace.com
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K-BLOG 3: Water is Strange: Part 2 Abracadabra Water Tricks

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K-BLOG 1: Launching My Blog and the Boy Who Harvested the Wind