By BRYNNE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley Library blasted off again this week as local children had the opportunity to learn about space and rocketry. Storytime began with the librarians reading books about stars and planets.
Then the countdown really began when Doctor Einstein Von Moustache and his scientist accomplice Professor Wilhelm Friedrich showed up and taught the children about propulsion.
To demonstrate this principle, the two scientists set up a race course using string and straws and raced balloon rockets across the storytime room.
The scientists chose a small balloon and a large balloon and had the kids make predictions as to which balloon would win the race. Of course, the majority of the audience chose the larger balloon. Everyone was surprised, however, when the smaller balloon ran faster and farther than its larger counterpart. The scientists then explained that the air pressure was greater in the little balloon, causing it to go faster and reach the goal first.
Next, the experiments moved outside as the pair showed the children other ways that air pressure can be explosive. Using film canisters and some water, the scientists showed the kids that adding Alka Seltzer tablets to the water would cause a chemical reaction that created pressure. When the air pressure became too great for the film canister, it would explode by shooting off the table into the sky. The kids were amazed at how high the small canisters could fly.
Next, they moved to something a little bigger. Von Moustache began by filling a water bottle part way with water. Next they fitted the water bottle with a cork with a specially attached valve into the bottle. They put the water bottle upside down in a harness and hooked the valve up to an air pump. The pump filled the bottle with air, which displaced the water and increased the pressure. When the pressure got too high, the air fought to go somewhere else through the path of least resistance. In this case that was the cork. The effect was explosive as the bottle flew out of the stand and into the air spraying water behind it.
The kids were all impressed, but the professors decided there was more fun to be had. They needed a bigger boom!
The audience stood in awe as the duo moved to a soda bottle filled with baking soda and vinegar. It produced the bang everyone was waiting for, shooting up an amazing 150 feet into the air!
After the demonstrations, the kids were each given a bag of treats and toothpicks and were sent off to create their own edible rockets and space rovers.
Sydney Landini, a child who attended this week’s presentation, said, “Storytime was fun. I learned a lot this week. My favorite part was when the scientists launched rockets. I really enjoy reading and I like the Summer Reading program.”
Joy Hull, a Summer Reading parent said, “The Summer Reading program is awesome and a lot of fun for the kids. I really enjoy the scientists. They have awesome costumes and fun personalities. I love their jokes and sense of humor. The program really provides a fun learning experience. Not only is it fun, but I feel like the kids learn a lot, too.”
The mad scientists will be examining the science of color at next Friday’s program, at 11:15. Also, mark your calendars for a special program on Wednesday, July 23, as children’s magician Tony Daniels will be putting on a special library program at the Overton Community Center.
