We created this cache mainly to please the kids, but we hope that the grown-up geocachers will also enjoy it. The idea came one afternoon when we were doing some funny scientific experiments with our 4 years old son. We presented them as magical tricks, because he is too little to understand the physical laws. We chose 6 of them for the task of the cache.
The task
The coordinates above are not the coordinates of the cache container, but of the nearby History of Science Museum. I recommend you to see all these excellent installations outside the building. The cache is located at N 46° 13.ABC' E 006° 09.DEF'. You need to transform the letters A, B, C, D, E, F to digits. Each letter identifies one of the 6 experiments. Corresponding digits are assigned to six key words (verbs) written below. In order to link an experiment to a key word, you should first complete all 6 experiments. Then for each experiment pick the word which best characterizes it, i.e. which best answers to question "What happens?".
EXPERIMENT A
You will need: a square of paper, a pencil, scissors, a bowl full of water
Fold the paper in half one way and then in half again. Draw a petal shape outwards from the folded corner. Cut out and open the paper flower. Fold the tip of each petal to the center point. Lay the flower on top of the water in the bowl. What happens?
EXPERIMENT B
You will need: black pepper, a shallow dish full of water, detergent (dishwashing liquid or a soap)
Sprinkle fine ground black pepper on the water. Put small amount of detergent on the tip of the finger and touch the surface of the water with the finger. What happens?
EXPERIMENT C
You will need: paper, a plastic ruler, a sweater
Tear off small pieces of paper. Lay them on a flat surface. Rub the plastic ruler on your sweater for about a minute. Move it closer to the paper pieces. What happens?
EXPERIMENT D
You will need: a dish, safety matches, modeling clay/a chewing gum or a small candle, clear glass, water (colored is better).
Stick the match in the modeling clay/chewing gum or use the candle instead. Put the match in the middle of the dish. Pour the water around it. Light the match and while it is still burning, place the glass over. What happens after the light goes out?
EXPERIMENT E
You will need: an unopened bottle of sparkling water or clear fizzy lemonade, a tall glass, small raisins
Open the bottle and carefully pour the sparkling water into the glass until the glass is about 3/4 full. Drop one or several raisins into the water. It may take few minutes before the process starts. What happens?
EXPERIMENT F
You will need: a stronger magnet, a big needle, a piece of thin paper, a pencil, scissors, a small glass, a bowl full of water
Draw around the glass on the piece of paper. Cut out the circle. Thread the needle through the circle. Stroke the needle 20 times in the same direction with one end of the magnet. Float the paper on top of the water in the bowl. What happens after a moment? And after you turn the paper and wait a while?
The Words with Their Numerical Values:
open up = 4,
suck out = 0,
stick onto = 2,
point = 1,
scatter away = 3,
bouncing = 4.
Interesed in? Hungry for more? This Water Rocket is quite fun. Have a look also at these: Whisky&Water trick, Anti-gravity bubbles or Cork out of the bottle. Find out more at: Usborns activity books, http://www.metacafe.com, http://www.wonderhowto.com or ask Google. Enjoy it.