WHAT is STRANGE about this picture?? Read "Photo Explanation" below to find out....

Ms. Voss
Get ready to  WONDER and ask WHY about our world!      
  

Because studying science is...

an AMAZING adventure!!
anvoss@sbsdk12.org

Current Topic: Plants

GVJH Science Night this THURSDAY 11/20 at6:30pm!!

Earn Extra Credit points just for attending!!! Lots of fun activities!!

Homework for Friday 11/21/08:
Complete Ch.12 Workbook Packets, pgs. 167-184
   
   
Parents!! Are you involved in an engineering field of Science? Would you like to offer up your knowledge to our students? Come join us at MESA - Every Thursday from 11:20am - Noon. Check out the website at http://mesa.ucop.edu/mesa_day/index.html
Please contact me if you think you would be able to assist in any way!!



Check Your Science Grade Here!!

Photo Explanation:
The Physics of Space Gardens
Credit: ISS Expedition 6 Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin

Explanation: It could only happen in space: A tiny bubble of air hangs suspended inside a droplet of water. The droplet rests in the cup of a delicate green leaf, yet the stalk doesn't bend at all.

Cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin photographed this scene on April 9, 2003. He was peering into the Russian Lada greenhouse onboard the International Space Station (ISS), and his snapshot illustrates some of the strange physics of gardening in space.

First, consider what would happen on Earth: The air bubble, lighter than water, would race upward to burst through the surface of the droplet. Meanwhile, the leaf would be busy tipping the heavy water onto the floor below. Everything would be in motion, the picture a blur.

In Earth-orbit, though, the scene is truly motionless. The air bubble doesn't rise because it is no lighter than the water around it--there's no buoyancy. The droplet doesn't fall from the leaf because there's no force to pull it off. It's stuck there by molecular adhesion.

Sticky water. No buoyancy. These are some of the factors spacefarers must take into account when they plan their gardens. Suppose Budarin sprays water onto the base of the plant. Will it trickle down to the roots? More likely it will stick to the stem or adhere the substrate in which the plant grows. And what happens to oxygen emitted by plants? Without buoyancy to stir things up, air circulation can be poor. Oxygen lingers. It doesn't waft away to make room for the carbon dioxide plants need. A plant can actually suffocate in its own emissions!

Nevertheless, plants can flourish in spaceships. Recent experiments onboard the ISS prove it.  



WEB LINKS:

Geologic Time on the Web

Geologic Time Part Two - extra credit!!

Mitosis in Action

A Great List of Beasts (with links) from the Film

Another List of Prehistoric Beasts from our Film

Build Your Own Prehistoric Beast Here!

Walking With Prehistoric Beasts Webpage

Try this fun activity and trace the genetic disorder!

Genetic Disorders

Chromosome Map

Cool Optical Illusions!

Put the Bird in the Cage Illusion!

American Flag After Image! Another cool eye trick!

Click here for a page of cool Science facts!

Powers of Ten Clip

Body, INC System Information

More Body, INC Information

Even MORE Body, INC Information

Body Systems Quiz

Fun Site on Health & Body Systems

California State Science Standards

Build a DNA Molecule

Try solving this crime !

Fun stuff on DNA and Genetics

Explore the Deep Abyss

All about amphibians

Disect a Frog...on the web!

Cell Parts

More Cell Parts

Cell Parts AGAIN

Science Fair Ideas

More Science Fair

And still MORE Science Fair

Journey Back in Time with Charles Darwin

Evolution Activities

Flashy Fish!

Map of the Major Plates

Introduction to the Plantae

Botanical Gardens Around the World

Flower Reproduction

Plate Tectonic Web Links:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/understanding.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/#
http://emvc.geol.ucsb.edu/forteachers/SeafloorSpreading.htm
http://emvc.geol.ucsb.edu/forteachers/convergence.htm
http://denali.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/lowman/Lowman_map1_lg.jpg
http://emvc.geol.ucsb.edu/animations/quicktime/sm02Pac-NoAmflat.mov
http://emvc.geol.ucsb.edu/forteachers/flashmovies/Pangea.swf
http://www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Geology/webdogs/plates/pangaea-3atonce.html