Science

Electricity

in Science

ImageWatch a bolt of lightning flash across the sky. Flip a switch and light up your bedroom. Click the remote and see the TV come on. What do all of these things have in common? Electricity.

WHAT IS ELECTRICITY?

Electricity is a powerful force of nature. Electricity is everywhere in the universe. Electrical forces hold water, metals, and all other kinds of matter together. You can walk and run because electric signals go through your nerves from your brain to your muscles. The signals tell your muscles where to move.

Industrial Revolution

in Science

ImageIt changed the world so much that people called it a revolution. The Industrial Revolution forever transformed the way people live and work in most parts of the world.

WHAT WAS THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION?

The Industrial Revolution began when power-driven machines started doing work that people had always done by hand. It started more than 250 years ago, in about 1750. The Industrial Revolution is still going on today in some parts of the world.

Movies

in Science

ImageHow is it possible for something right in front of your eyes to be completely invisible? It’s possible when that thing is too small to be seen with your eyes.

We can see drops of water from a pond or lake. But we cannot see the thousands of tiny creatures that live in the water. Drops of blood contain tiny structures called cells, but we can’t see them either. Microscopes allow us to see invisibly small things.

What is your favorite movie? Maybe you like cartoon-like movies. Maybe you like a movie that is full of action. Movies are a wonderful kind of make-believe.

Magnets

in Science

ImageHold a refrigerator magnet close to your refrigerator door. Let go of it. If you are close enough to the refrigerator, the magnet will jump across empty space and stick to the refrigerator. This action might seem kind of mysterious. But it makes sense when you know what magnetism is.

Magnetism is an invisible force. Magnetic force can attract (pull toward) or repel (push away). Magnetism comes from magnets. Magnets make things move without touching them. Some magnets are weak. Other magnets are much stronger.

Weights and Measures

in Science

ImageHow tall are you? How much do you weigh? You can find out using weights and measures.

MEASURING LENGTH

Measurements of length tell how tall you are. The inch, foot, yard, and mile are units used for measuring length in the United States. This is called the English measurement system. There are 12 inches in a foot, and 3 feet in a yard. A mile is equal to 5,280 feet.