Friday, December 30, 2005
The Next Science Project
Since he was quite small, Max has loved science experiments. He's predicted that a key will sink and a pencil will float and then tested his hypotheses in a big mixing bowl. He's learned how to create green and orange and purple by blending inky drops of food coloring in a water glass. He knows that a magnet will pick up a paper clip and a spoon but not a rubberband or a toothpick. Some day Max is going to create an amazing science fair project. And in the process, I'm afraid I'll be about as useful to him as flippers on a tennis court.
A couple of weeks before Christmas, Max asked to make a time machine. He wanted to see for himself whether crocodiles really lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. For several days, he beseeched anyone who would listen to take him to the toy store for the necessary parts. Finally, Babee broke the disappointing news to Max: it isn't really possible for any of us to go back in time. His dream shattered, Max abandoned the idea of time travel.
But he continues to search for answers to life's big questions. Walking to our car after dinner, he pointed out a lone star peeking through some fast-moving clouds. (It's the middle of Houston, people. You want the Milky Way or an entire constellation? Better take a long drive.) The star got Max thinking.
Max: Why are there meteors?
Me: Well, there are lots of rocks flying around in outer space, and that's what meteors are.
Max: And some of them crash into the earth?
Me: Well, most of them aren't anywhere close to the earth. And the ones that come close to us usually fly right by without hitting anything.
Lee: Or they burn up in the atmosphere before they reach the earth.
Max: But some of them hit the earth?
Me: A few of them do, yes.
Max: And that's why the dinosaurs died? Because a meteor hit the earth?
Me: That's right. A really big meteor.
Max: I want to see a meteor.
Me: Well, sometimes we can see meteors at night, when they're big enough and close enough to us. That's what shooting stars are.
Max: Oh. I want to see the planets, too.
Me: That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
Max: Yes. I want to see Saturn.
Me: Saturn! It would be incredible to be able to see Saturn, wouldn't it? Saturn's a very special planet. Do you know why?
Max: It has round things around it. Like circles.
Me: Right. They're called rings. And they're beautiful.
Max: We need a telescope so we can see the rings around Saturn. Mommy, can we make a telescope?
Me: Max, what a wonderful idea! That sounds like a great project for you and your dad.
Max: And the telescope needs to have a camera attached to binoculars.
Me: Good thinking. So then we can take pictures of the things that we see far away through the binoculars.
Max: Right.
I've got good news for Lee: at least a telescope will be easier to make than a time machine.
A couple of weeks before Christmas, Max asked to make a time machine. He wanted to see for himself whether crocodiles really lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. For several days, he beseeched anyone who would listen to take him to the toy store for the necessary parts. Finally, Babee broke the disappointing news to Max: it isn't really possible for any of us to go back in time. His dream shattered, Max abandoned the idea of time travel.
But he continues to search for answers to life's big questions. Walking to our car after dinner, he pointed out a lone star peeking through some fast-moving clouds. (It's the middle of Houston, people. You want the Milky Way or an entire constellation? Better take a long drive.) The star got Max thinking.
Max: Why are there meteors?
Me: Well, there are lots of rocks flying around in outer space, and that's what meteors are.
Max: And some of them crash into the earth?
Me: Well, most of them aren't anywhere close to the earth. And the ones that come close to us usually fly right by without hitting anything.
Lee: Or they burn up in the atmosphere before they reach the earth.
Max: But some of them hit the earth?
Me: A few of them do, yes.
Max: And that's why the dinosaurs died? Because a meteor hit the earth?
Me: That's right. A really big meteor.
Max: I want to see a meteor.
Me: Well, sometimes we can see meteors at night, when they're big enough and close enough to us. That's what shooting stars are.
Max: Oh. I want to see the planets, too.
Me: That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
Max: Yes. I want to see Saturn.
Me: Saturn! It would be incredible to be able to see Saturn, wouldn't it? Saturn's a very special planet. Do you know why?
Max: It has round things around it. Like circles.
Me: Right. They're called rings. And they're beautiful.
Max: We need a telescope so we can see the rings around Saturn. Mommy, can we make a telescope?
Me: Max, what a wonderful idea! That sounds like a great project for you and your dad.
Max: And the telescope needs to have a camera attached to binoculars.
Me: Good thinking. So then we can take pictures of the things that we see far away through the binoculars.
Max: Right.
I've got good news for Lee: at least a telescope will be easier to make than a time machine.
2 Comments:
Even with a telescope, it will be difficult to see Saturn and lots of stars because of all the city lights. Madisonville might be a much better place for star gazing. An even better place is in the Davis Mountains in west texas, where the UT McDonald Observatory is located. Perhaps Max could be taken there where he could really see lots of stars and the rings of Saturn.
The Perseid meteor shower is sometime in late July / early August each year, and western Washington usually has a good view. Several years ago, Paul and I took a blanket out to the play field next to our little neighborhood playground, and saw lots of shooting stars... and that was in the middle of the city. Perhaps you could time a visit next summer to coincide with the meteors' return, and we could go out in the country somewhere for a really good view.
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