>> WHAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A SCIENTIST?

GETTING A CHANCE TO ST.

PETER'S SQUARE.

YOU CAN LEARN A LOT BY JUST GIVING IT A TRY.

STAY TUNED OF THE SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PUT TOGETHER SOME SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

"DIALOGUE FOR KIDS" IS NEXT.

>> HELLO, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB.

>>> ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT BEING A SCIENTIST IS THAT CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT.

SOMETHING REALLY HANDS-ON.

EXPERIMENTING CAN TEACH ALLOT ABOUT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE, OR IT CAN JUST MAKE YOU QUESTION WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU.

SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON "D4K."

TWO PHYSICISTS ARE GOING TO CONDUCT SOME SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS.

WE STILL WANT YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTION, BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED IF WE ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS TOO.

JOINING US ARE STEVE SHROPHIRE, A PHYSICS INUNINSTRUCTOR AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY, AND DEWEY DYKSTRA FROM BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR DRIVING ACROSS TOWN.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL, TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION OR ANSWER ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS, YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A D.V.D.

PLAYER AND SOME OTHER PRIZES.

STEVE, WE'RE GOING TO TOSS THE FIRST QUESTION AT YOU.

E FIRST QUESTION IS, WHY DO SCIENTISTS EXPERIMENT?

>> OH, TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US.

THIS WORLD IS A MAGICAL, WONDERFUL PLACE, AND BY GOING THROUGH WHAT WE CALL THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IS HOW WE LEARN ABOUT IT.

>> SHOW US THE FIRST EXPERIMENT.

>> A SCIENTIST NOTICED THIS, HE HAD FINISHED TALKING TO HIS CLASS, HE HAD THESE COMPASSES LYING AROUND.

HE WAS GOING TO DO SOME EXPERIMENTS ABOUT ELECTRICITY.

WHEN HE SENT SOME ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH A WIRE THAT WAS NEAR A COMPASS, HE PRODUCED THE MAGNETIC FIELD.

THE COMPASS NEEDLES FLIPPED.

THAT TOLD FOLKS THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM.

BEFORE THAT NOBODY HAD A CLUE.

THIS TURNS OUT TO TELL US WHERE MAGNETISM COMES FROM.

IT COMES FROM MOVING ELECTRIC CHARGES.

IN THIS CASE IT'S THE CHARGES MOVING THROUGH THE WIRE THAT GIVE US ELECTRICITY.

WE CAN MAKE SOME OF THE STRONGERS MAGNETS AROUND FOR THIS IDEA.

I HAVE A WIRE WRAPPED AROUND A NAIL, AND YOU CAN MAKE THIS QUITE EASILY AT HOME.

AND IF YOU TAPE ONE END OF THE WIRE TO A BATTERY, A D BATTERY, FLASHLIGHT BATTERY WORKS WELL, IT'S THE EASIEST TO HANDLE.

I'VE GOT PAPER CLIPS AND THIS NAIL ISN'T DOING MUCH AT ALL, BUT IF I SEND ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE WIRE BY TAPPING ON THE BATTERY, LOOK AT THAT.

S THAT NOW A REALLY STRONG MAGNET.

>> YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN MAGNET AT HOME.

>> YES, JU LIKE THIS.

>> SO WHAT PRINCIPLE IS THIS TEACHING ?US.

>> IT TELLS US MAGNETISM COMES FROM MOVING ELECTRIC CHARGES.

THIS ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC INTERACTION ARE JUST DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE SAME THING.

THE ELECTRIC CHARGES ARE INTERACTING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY IF THERE'S RELATIVE MOTION.

YOU'VE GOT CHARGES MOVING THROUGH THE WIRE INTERACTING WITH THE CHARGES THAT PRODUCE THE MAGNETISM IN THOSE PAPER CLIPS.

BUT WE CAN USE THIS TO MAKE SOME REALLY COOL TOYS.

I HAVE -- MY FAVORITE EXAMPLE ARE MOTORS.

I'VE GOT A LOOP OF WIRE, JUST A TEENY ONE.

>> IT'S JUST SIMPLE COPPER WIRING?

>> JUST TOOK ME ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO WIND THIS AROUND A TUBE.

IF I SEND ELECTRICITY THROUGH THIS IT WILL BECOME A MAGNET JUST LIKE THIS.

IF YOU GET TWO MAGNETS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, THEY PUSH ON EACH OTHER OR THEY PULL, DEPENDING ON THE NORTH ENDINGS AND SOUTH ENDS, IF THEY'RE ON THE SAME DIRECTION OR OPPOSITE.

I'VE GOT ANOTHER BATTERY HERE, AND PAPER CLIPS HANGING FROM IT.

IF I CAN MAKE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ACROSS THE PAPER CLIPS WITH THIS WIRE, I'M GOING TO HAVE ELECTRICITY GOING THROUGH THIS WIRE.

AND THAT WILL MAKE THIS A MAGNET.

BUT ON THE BOTTOM I'VE GOT ANOTHER MAGNET.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE A STRONG ONE.

HERE I'LL HAVE ONE MAGNET NEAR ANOTHER.

I GET IN THERE AND START IT TO FLIP JUST A LITTLE.

NOW IT'S ALL IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

THIS IS THE BASIC IDEA BEHIND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

YOU HAVE ONE MAGNET NEAR ANOTHER MAGNET AND THE ONE MAGNET IS FREE TO MOVE AND IT'S BASICALLY A MAGNET BECAUSE YOU'RE SENDING ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE WIRE.

>> THIS IS BASICALLY HOW GENERATORS WORK AND HOW YOUR CAR -- YOUR PRIUS -- .

>> IT'S RELATED TO HOW GENERATORS WORK, BUT YOU HAVE STUFF LIKE THIS IN TOY CARS, HAIR DRYERS, FANS.

THIS IS HOW A BASIC MOTOR WORKS.

YOU HAVE A MAGNETIC FORCE ON A CURRENT CARRYING WIRE.

BASICALLY THE WIRE IS LIKE A MAGNET WHILE THE CURRENT IS GOING THROUGH IT.

>> OUR QUESTION FROM MRS.

HUNT'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS, THE QUESTION, ALEC WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT KIND OF EXPERIMENTSES DO YOU DO IN YOUR WORK?

>> THE KINDS OF EXPERIMENTSES I'VE DONE ARE INVOLVED LOOKING AT THE NATURE OF MATTER.

AND THE THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER.

SO IF WE PUT A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT INTO SOMETHING, HOW DOES THIS TEMPERATURE CHANGE.

AND IT TURNS OUT THIS ENDS UP BEING ABLE TO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE MATTER.

>> YOU BROUGHT LIGHT EXPERIMENTS.

WHY DON'T WE DO YOUR FIRST ONE.

>> OK.

I THINK THE FIRST ONE IS -- >> COLOR.

>> I HAVE TWO FLASHLIGHTS.

ONE HAS A PIECE OF RED CELLOPHANE ON IT, AND THE OTHER HAS A PIECE OF GREEN CELLOPHANE ON IT.

IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE RED SPOT AND THE GREEN SPOT, BASICALLY WE CAN MAKE A RED CIRCLE ON A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER AND A GREEN CIRCLE ON A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER.

AND I'M -- WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU IS, IF WE WERE TO ALLOW THESE TWO COLORS TO OVERLAP, WHAT COLOR WOULD WE GET?

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WE'D LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF I OVERLAP THE RED LIGHT WITH THE GREEN LIGHT, WHAT COLOR WOULD WE GET IN THE OVERLAP?

>> I'VE GOT MY PHONES CLEARED.

LET ME -- WE'LL JUST PICK A RANDOM PHONE CALL HERE.

WHO IS THERE?

I'M SORRY?

>> Caller: TYSON.

>> WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM?

>> Caller: ST.

ANTHONY.

>> CAN WE ASK YOU A QUESTION?

>> Caller: WHAT WAS THE FUNEST EXPERIMENT YOU DID?

>> YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR GUEST IS WHAT WAS THE FUNEST EXPERIMENT?

BEFORE YOU GO, BEFORE WE ANSWER THAT QUESTION, LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CROSS A BLUE LIGHT -- A GREEN LIGHT AND A RED LIGHT, AND YOU MIX THOSE TWO LIGHTS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> Caller: IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

>> IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

>> DO YOU HAVE A GUESS WHAT COLOR IT WILL BE?

>> Caller: NO.

>> OK.

SO LET'S ASK -- >> I'VE DONE SO MANY EXPERIMENTS THAT ARE FUN, IT'S HAR TO IDENTIFY THE MOST FUN ONE.

ONE OF THE ONES THAT I'M CONTINUALLY AMAZED AT, ACTUALLY, IS TO DARKEN A ROO.

COVER THE WINDOWS COMPLETELY AND FOCUS ON A SMALL HOLE IN ONE OF THE WINDOW COVERS.

AND ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY YOU TURN THE ROOM INTO IN EFFECT A CAMERA.

EVERYTHINGS THAT GOING ON OUTSIDE YOU CAN SEE, AND ALL YOU HAVE IS JUST A LITTLE HOLE IN THE WINDOW COVER.

S THAT IT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

SHALL WE GO INTO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION?

WHAT HAPPENS -- >> CAN WE SEE IF SOMEBODY ELSE CAN GUESS THE COLOR?

>> LET'S TRY KATELYN.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> Caller: GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M GOOD.

YOU'RE AT SHADOW HILLS IN GARDEN CITY?

>> Caller: YES.

>> LET'S ASK YOU A QUESTION -- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX THAT -- THE RED LIGHT AND THE DWREEN LIGHT -- GREEN LIGHT?

>> IT -- >> Caller: IT WILL CHANGE INTO PROBABLY A DIFFERENT COLOR.

>> WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK?

>> Caller: PROBABLY ORANGE.

>> WHY ORANGE?

>> Caller: BECAUSE IN ART CLASS I LEARNED THAT IF YOU MIX RED AND GREEN TOGETHER THEY KIND OF MAKE ORANGE.

>> OK.

S THAT A GOOD -- OK.

AND WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR SCIENTIST?

>> Caller: WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

>> STEVE, LET'S TOSS THAT TO YOU.

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

>>S THAT ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

S THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE PARTICLES IN THE SKY THAT REFLECT LIGHT, KIND OF THE SIZE OF THE PARTICLES.

AND A LOT OF THE STUFF WE HAVE FLOAT CAN IN THE AIR IS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE TO REFLECT BLUE LIGHT.

AND SO NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE SKY WE LOOK AT, IT'S GETTING HIT BY SUNLIGHT, AND MOST OF THE LIGHT JUST GOES STRAIGHT FLEW, BUT THE BLUE LIGHT IS SCATTERED.

AND SINCE -- IT'S BOUNCING IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

SOME OF IT TOWARDS YOU.

NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE SKY YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BLUE FROM THE SKY BECAUSES THAT WHAT HAS BEEN SCATTERED FROM THAT PART OF THE SKY THAT YOU CAN SEE.

>> LET'S GO TO BROGNA.

>> Caller: I'M HERE.

>> I'M SORRY, I DON'T THINK I GOT YOUR NAME PRONOUNCED RIGHT.

>> Caller: BROGAN.

>> YOU'RE AT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY IN ST.

ANTHONY?

>> Caller: YES.

>> WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR SCIENTISTS?

>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU MAKE A BATTERY TURN INTO A MAGNET.

>> WE WERE DOING IT EARLIER.

WE CAN TURN THAT BATTERY INTO A MAGNET.

STAY ON THERE, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE LIGHTS.

HOLD ON.

>>S THAT WHAT WE DID RIGHT HERE.

I USED A BATTERY TO MAKE ELECTRICITY TO TURN THIS WIRE WRAPPED AROUND THIS NAIL MOO A MAGNET.

>> DOES IT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU WRAP AROUND?

>> THE MORE TIMES THE BETTER.

>> AND ANY KIND OF NAIL?

>> PRETTY MUCH ANY KIND OF NAIL.

IT TURNS OUT IT'S THE IRON I THE NAIL THAT CAN BE MAG NECESSITY TIESED.

YOU SAY THE WIRE PRODUCES THE MAGNETIC FIELD, BUT THE NAIL ACTS LIKE AN AMPLIFIER.

IT MAKES THE FIELD STRONGER.

>> YOU CAN'T USE A PAPER CLIPS THAT MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM?

>> WELL, THERE'S MORE IN THERE BESIDES ALUMINUM.

THERE'S NICKEL INSIDE THE PAPER CLIPS, AND IF THE PAPER CLIP DIDN'T HAVE EITHER IRON, 96 OLE, OR COBALT IT WOULDN'T BE ATTRACTED BY THE MAGNET.

I BELIEVE IT'S THE NICKEL GIVING THE WEAK ATTRACTION HERE.

AND YOU CAN MAKE A PAPER CLIP INTO A MAGNET, BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WHEN YOU PUT THE TWO -- THE GREEN AND THE RED TOGETHER, WHAT COLOR ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE?

>> Caller: I THINK IT WOULD MAKE PURPLE.

>> WHY PURPLE?

>> JUST BECAUSE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> OK.

>> THERE'S A COLOR ANSWER.

>> LET'S GO TO ROGER.

WHERE ARE YOU SCALG FROM?

ARE YOU THERE?

WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM?

WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE?

>> Caller: I THINK IT WILL BE ORANGE.

>> YOU THINK IT WILL BE ORANGE TOO?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> WHY?

>> Caller: BECAUSE WHEN YOU MIX THEM TOGETHER THEY'LL TURN ORANGE.

>> OK.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD, THANK YOU FOR CALLING, LET'S GO AHEAD AND REVEAL THE ANSWER.

>> WHEN WE COVER THEM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE GET YELLOW.

>> WHY YELLOW?

>> WELL, THE REAL QUESTION IS, HOW TO EXPLAIN THE YELLOW.

IT'S YELLOW BECAUSE IT IS YELLOW.

S THAT WHAT WE SEE.

SO THE CHALLENGE IS, HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THAT, AND ONE GOOD WAY TO DO IT IS TO BEGIN EXPERIMENTING BY COMBINING OTHER COLORS AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF PATTERN TO IT.

IN SCIENCE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR IS NOT TO EXPLAIN AN INDIVIDUAL EVENT, BUT TO EXPLAIN LOTS OF EVENTS WHERE WE SEE A PATTERN.

>> SO TAKE -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS AT HOME, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO REMEMBER TO DO?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE A FLASHLIGHT THAT GIVES THE SAME BRIGHTNESS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BEAM.

IT'S HARDER TO DO, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT FLASHLIGHT.

WITH ONES THAT DON'T DO THAT, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE OTHER THING IS, YOU NEED A SOURCE OF DIFFERENT-COLORED CELLOPHANE.

AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR THERE IS PLASTIC WRAP THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT YOU CAN BUY IN THE GROCERY STORE AND SOME OF IT'S RED AND SOME OF IT'S GREEN.

IT'S HANDY TO HAVE BLUE ALSO, SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT ISN'T MUCH ARAFAT CHRISTMAS COLOR.

SO WHERE WITH YOU GET DIFFERENT COLORED CELLOPHANE?

IT MAY BE AT AN ARTS AND CRAFTS STORE, OR IT'S POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE GOT A PARENT OR ADULT WHO CAN HELP YOU, YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO A STORE THAT SUPPLIES MATERIALS FOR THE THEATER.

AND THEY SELL THESE PIECES OF PLASTIC, A LITTLE CATALOG WITH THESE PLASTIC PIECES LIKE THIS.

HERE'S ONES THAT RED, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S KIND OF PURPLE.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND YOU, JUST USE THESE LITTLE PIECES OF PLASTIC OUT OF THE LITTLE COLOR CATALOG AND THERE ARE A JILLION COLORS, AND YOU CAN EXPERIMENT TO SEE WHAT PATTERNS YOU SEE.

>> LOU FROM MRS.

HUNT'S CLASS, AND SAMANTHA AND COLE AT HAYDEN MEADOWS.

LOU IS OUT OF MRS.

HUNT'S CLASS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE FIRST SIMPLE EXPERIMENT WAS.

WE DON'T KNOW BEFORE WRITTEN TIMES, BUT WHAT'S YOUR GUESTU GUESS ON ONE OF THOSE EARLY FAMOUS FIRST SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS?

>> THIS WOULD BE A GUESS.

THE FIRST PEOPLE WE KNOW OF THAT DID WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER EXPERIMENTS, WHERE THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL IN THEIR OBSERVATIONS, AND THE SORT OF PREDICTIONS THEY MADE AND HOW THEY CONDUCTED THE ACTIVITY THAT WE WOULD CALL AN EXPERIMENTS WERE THE GREEKS.

AND THE FIRST FAMOUS ONE THAT I WOULD KNOW OF WOULD BE PROBABLY EITHER HERE OR OR ARCHIMIDES.

I'M SURE THERE ARE EARLIER, BUT THOSE ARE THE FIRST I KNOW OF.

>> LET'S GO TO CALEB.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> Caller: GOOD.

>> WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION TODAY?

>> Caller: HOW DOES A BATTERY WORK?

>> HOW DOES A BATTERY WORK?

>>S THAT AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

INSIDE A BATTERY YOU HAVE DIFFERENT CHEMICALS, AND THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE A CHEMICAL PASTE.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT METALS.

AND REALLY, YOU'VE GOT THESE PASTES ONE THIS CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE METAL, AND THERE'S REALLY TWO KIND OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE.

ONE REALLY CANNOT PROGRESS UNLESS IT CAN FIND A WAY TO GET RID OF EXTRA ELECTRIC CHARGE, EXTRA NEGATIVE ELECTRIC CHARGE, EXTRA ELECTRONS.

THERE'S ANOTHER REACTION THAT IN ORDER FOR IT TO PROCEED, IT NEEDS TO SUCK UP EXTRA ELECTRONS OR NEGATIVE CHARGE.

WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO FIND A PLACE TO DUMP THAT NEGATIVE CHARGE OR BE ABLE TO GRAB SOME EXTRA, THOSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS DON'T OCCUR.

BUT IF YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO CONNECT THE TWO ENDS, THIS END IS CONNECTED TO A PIECE OF METAL THAT WANTS TO HAVE A REACTION THAT WILL SUCK UP ELECTRONS, THIS ONE IS CONNECTED TO THE METAL THAT WOULD WANT TO HAVE THAT REACTION WHERE IT PRODUCES EXTRA ELECTRONS.

SO WHEN YOU CONDUCT A WIRE ACROSS THEM, LIKE I HAD WITH THIS ELECTROMAGNET, YOU MAKE THOSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS HAPPEN.

YOU CAN KIND OF MAKE THE CHEMICAL HAPPY BY FINDING A WAY TO DUMP THE CHARGE FROM ONE END OF THE BATTERY TO ANOTHER.

>> SHOW US YOUR EXPERIMENT WITH THE RADIO.

>> THIS IS A FUN EXPERIMENT.

I HAVE A RADIO HERE -- * YOU CAN HEAR THE MUSIC.

BUT I'M GOING TO PUT THAT OUTPUT -- NORMALLY WE'D SEND THIS TO A SPEAKER, BUT WHAT IS A SPEAKER?

AND I'VE GOT SOMETHING REALLY SIMPLE TO SHOW YOU.

I'M SENDING THE OUTPUT TO THIS LITTLE LOOP OF WIRE HERE.

AND IF YOU SEND ELECTRICITY TO THIS LOOP OF WIRE, IT BECOMES A MAGNET.

>> THIS IS THE -- THIS IS LIKE A COIL OF WIRE.

>> LIKE THE WIRE THAT WE HAD WITH THE MOTOR.

BUT IF YOU SEND A SIGNAL THAT CHANGES IN TIME, LIKE THE SIGNAL THAT COMES FROM THE RADIO, THE MAGNETIC FIELD PRODUCED BY THAT LOOP CHANGES IN TIME.

ALL WE NEED IS ANOTHER MAGNET.

AND IF I BRING THIS MAGNET NEARBY, THE MAGNET THAT LOOP IS GOING TO GET PUSHED AND PULLED BY THIS.

IF YOU SEND A SIGNAL THAT ALTER NAITS IN TIME TO THAT LOOP, WELL, THE MAGNETIC FIELD IS ALTERNATING.

AT ONE POINT IT MIGHT BE PULLED TOWARD THE MAGNET, ANOTHER TIME IT MIGHT BE PUSHED AWAY.

SO IF I CAN GET IT SO IT DOESN'T STICK TO THE CLIPS, I THINK I BROKE THE CONNECTION.

>> WHILE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT I WILL ASK THE QUESTION THAT SAVANNAH WANTS TO KNOW FROM MRS.

HUNT'S CLASS.

IS IT FUN BEING A SCIENTIST OR IS IT HARD?

>> WELL, I WOULD ANSWER YES, IT'S THAT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD, IT TAKES SOME PERSEVERANCE, AND -- BUT IF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO FIND OUT AND YOU RECOGNIZE FINDING OUT IS REALLY A LOT OF FUN, THEN YOU CAN PUT UP WITH THE HARD PART AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IN THE END YOU END UP REMEMBERING THE FUN OF ACTUALLY DISCOVERING THINGS.

AND AS SCIENTISTS MANY TIMES WHEN WE'RE DOING EXPERIMENTS WE'RE TRYING TO DO NEW EXPERIMENTS.

AND SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT YOU KNOW SOMETHING NOBODY ELSE KNOWS, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A BRAND-NEW EXPERIMENT AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY YET.

SO YOU KNOW SOMETHING NOBODY ELSE KNOWS.

>>S THAT THE FUN PART.

HERE WE GO.

YOU GET THE SIGNAL THAT WOULD ORDINARILY BE GOING FM HEAD PHONE JACK.

>> NOT THE BEST SOUND, BUT YOU CAN HEAR IT.

BASICALLY THAT LOOP IS BEING PUSHED AND PULLED BY THE MAGNET ANDS THAT MOVING THE BOX.

AND THE BOX MOVES THE AIR.

AND INSIDE EVERY SPEAKER YOU HAVE WIRE LOOPS CONNECTED TO SOME SORT OF DIAPHRAGM OR SOMETHING THAT -- LIKE A DRUM HEAD.

AND A MAGNET NEARBY.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> TAKE AWAY THE MAGNET, NO MUSIC, ADD THE MAGNET YOU GET MUSIC.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>>S THAT HOW -- THAT'S HOW MICROPHONES WORK TOO.

>> BOBBY FROM MRS.

LAMB'S CLASS IN POT LATCH WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU HEAT A BATTERY TOO MUCH WILL IT EXPLODE?

>> YES.

>> SO DON'T DO THAT.

LET'S GO TO OUR PHONES, LET'S GO TO MARK.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: ME?

I'LL NOT MARK, I'M NICOLE.

>> I'M SORRY, NICOLE.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: OH.

I WAS WONDERING IF A BATTERY -- A MAGNET THAT ISN'T, LIKE, CONNECTED TO A BATTERY, HOW DOES IT GET MAG NECESSITY TIESED?

MAGNETIZED?

>> IT HAPPENS NATURALLY.

THE EARTH PRODUCES A MAGNETIC FIELD.

THE MAGNETIC FIELD GOES FROM THE SOUTH POLE TO THE NORTH POLE, AND THE GREEKS FOUND ROCKS THAT WERE NATURALLY MAGNETIC.

AND THE ROCK WERE RICH IN IRON, AND AS THEY WERE SLOWLY COOLED IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD, THEY ALIGNED.

YOU SEE, MAGNETS WANT TO ALIGN TO EACH OTHER, THEY WANT TO ATTRACT TO EACH OTHER, IF THEY CAN FLIP THAT WAY AT ALL, AND THESE ROCKS, THEY COOLED SLOWLY IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD.

THOUGH FROZE IN THE MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE EARTH AND THEY WOULD ATTRACT OTHER ROCKS.

S THAT HOW WE MAKE PERMANENT MAGNETS.

THE MAGNETS I HAVE HERE ARE CERAMIC, BUT THEY COME FROM -- THEY WERE MADE FROM A VERY HOT SORT OF CERAMIC GLASS PAISES.

IT WAS EXPOSED TO INCREDIBLY STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD FROM AN ELECTROMAGNET AND ALLOWED TO SLOWLY COOL.

AND THAT FROZE IN THE MAGNETIC FIELD THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE ELECTROMAGNETS.

SO BASICALLY A SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WAS, YOU ALLOW A MAGNET TO COOL IN THE PRESENCE OF A VERY STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD, OR YOU EXPOSE IT TO A STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD.

>> AND THAT BECOMES A MAGNET.

>> YES.

>> IN FACT, THE NAIL THAT STEVE IS WORKING WITH WITH THE BATTERY, IF IT'S LEFT OPERATING AS A MAGNET FOR A WHILE, IT WILL BECOME ON ITS OWN MAG NECESSITY TIESED, AT LEAST SLIGHTLY, AND IT HAS SOME STRENGTH TO PICK UP THE PAPER CLIPS.

NOW WITHOUT THE -- WITHOUT BEING CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY THE NAIL PICKS UP -- >> IT WASN'T DOING THIS BEFORE, BUT JUST BY CONNECTING IT THOSE FEW TIMES TO THAT BATTERY, WE'VE NOW MAGNETIZED THAT NAIL.

>> I WANT TO SHOW YOU A SECOND EXPERIMENT WITH LIGHT.

>> OH, OK.

IN THIS SECOND EXPERIMENT, I HAVE A LAMP, AND THE BULB IN THIS LAMP, I BOUGHT IT AT ALBERTSONS, IT'S AN APPLIANCE LIGHT BULB, A 40-WATT, AND IT HAS A SHAPED FILL AMOUNT.

AND THEN BEYOND THE BULB IS A LENS, THERE'S A SHOT OF THE BULB.

BEYOND THE FILAMENT IS LIKE A LENS, AND IT'S LIKE A REGULAR MAGNIFYING GLASS.

IT'S THIN IN THE EDGES AND THICK IN THE MIDDLE.

IF WE ADJUST THIS JUST RIGHT, THEN WE CAN END UP WITH AN IMAGE OF THE FILL AMOUNT THROUGH THE LENS ON TO A SCREEN.

AS WE SEE IN THE PICTURE.

SO MY QUESTION IS THIS.

IF I TAKE A BLACK CARD, ONE THAT NO LIGHT CAN GO THROUGH, AND I COVER HALF OF THE LENS, THE TOP HALF OF THE LENS, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN?

IF ANYTHING?

>> LET'S GET OUR NEXT CALLER.

IS THIS BRIAN?

>> Caller: YES.

>> OK, YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR SCIENTISTS?

AND WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR THE SCIENTISTS?

>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, IF YOU -- IF YOU'RE IN A ROOM AND THEN YOU TURN OFF THE LIGHT, HOW COME IT DISAPPEARS?

>> WHERE DOES THE LIGHT GO?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> LET'S HAVE OUR PROFESSORS ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK, IF I WERE TO COVER THIS LENS HALFWAY WITH THE CARD, NO LIGHT CAN GO THROUGH, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN?

>> Caller: IT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH.

>> SO YOU SEE NO IMAGE AT ALL?

>> JUST COVERING IT UP HALFWAY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Caller: I DON'T KNOW.

>> JUST TAKE A GUESS.

>> Caller: WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

>> OK.

SO WE COVER THE LENS HALFWAY WITH A CARD THAT NO LIGHT CAN GO THROUGH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN ON -- TO THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN?

>> Caller: IT WILL DISAPPEAR HALFWAY.

>> IT WILL DISAPPEAR HALFWAY, OK.

>>S THAT A GOOD GUESS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK SO?

>> Caller: BECAUSE THE LIGHT WON'T BE ABLE TO REACH IT.

>> OK.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT CALLER.

LET'S TRY JOSIE.

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> YOU'RE AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY?

>> Caller: MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR SCIENTISTS, AND THEN WE'LL ASK YOU A QUESTION.

>> Caller: WHERE DOES THE SUN GET ITS ENERGY?

>> HOW DOES THE SUN GET ITS ENERGY?

WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

WE'LL MAKE THIS REAL QUICK.

>> FUSION.

IT'S THE FUSION PRIMARILY OF HIGH ENERGY ATOMS THAT YOU CAN HAVE TWO ATOMS COME TOGETHER AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY LOWER THEIR ENERGY, BUT IN THE PROCESS THEY RADIATE THE ENERGIES THAT THE DIFFERENCE.

>> THE ENERGY ISN'T LOST, IT'S JUST CONVERTED IT'S CONVERTED FROM THE ENERGY THAT WAS THERE, PRESENT AND JUST THE EXISTENCE OF THE HYDROGEN COMBINES TO MAKE HELIUM, AND IT'S LOWER IN ENERGY AND IT EMITS THE DIFFERENCE.

>> WE GO AHEAD AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE COVER THE LENS HALFWAY WITH THE CARD.

THERE IT IS.

>> SLOWLY.

>> NOW IT'S HALFWAY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IMAGE?

ALMOST NOTHING.

>> SO IT DOESN'T -- >> THIS IS REALLY STRANGE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO IS TO EXPERIMENT WITH THIS AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE CAN SAY ABOUT THE LIGHT FROM THE FILAMENT ONTO THE LENS ONTO THE IMAGE.

>> ALSO ON THE "DIALOGUE FOR KIDS" WEBSITE WE HAVE OUR QEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS EXPERIMENT IN OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

SO GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG, CLICK ON "D4K" AND WE'LL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IN OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE WEB.

I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS, STEVE SHROPHIRE AND DEWEY DYKSTRA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE STUDENTS FOR CALLING IN WITH THE QUESTIONS.

>> THEY DID GREAT.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE, GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG, AND THEN GO TO THAT SPECIAL WEB-ONLY PROGRAM AND YOU CAN SEE MORE ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION AND A COUPLE OTHER SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS.

THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

NEXT TIME WILL BE JANUARY 16, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT NUTRITION.

SO GO AHEAD AND CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND OF COURSE IF YOU CALL IN WITH A QUESTION YOU WIN -- YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN OUR SET.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "DIALOGUE FOR KIDS."

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