- The idea of conducting heat is as simple as rubbing your hands together and placing them on your face. Some materials are better than others to conduct or transfer heat. To watch heat transfer and determine which materials are the best, collect as many different kinds of metal rods of the same length, such as brass, copper, rolled steel, cast iron and aluminum, as you can find. Dip the ends of each rod in melted paraffin wax. After the wax has hardened, hold the opposite end of the rod in an open flame and time how quickly the wax melts. The rod will get hot so use caution and a holder to protect your fingers as the heat is conducted down the metal rod.
- Electric current is conducted or passed along and easily seen by its end result. Static electricity is produced, even from your own body. Go into a dark room with a light bulb, a comb and a woolen scarf. Wrap the wool scarf around your neck and run the comb through your hair 20 or more times then hold the tip of the comb to the metal end of the light bulb. The filaments will glow as the electrons from your hair are conducted through the comb to the light bulb. Put on a dark sweat shirt and, after your hair is charged, pull the sweat shirt slowly over your head and watch the static electricity light show.
- Magnetic forces attract or repel, often called push and pull. Magnets can transfer their force as heat is transferred to a cold surface. The molecules bump from the magnet to the conductor. Take a magnet and rub in on a sewing needle 30 times in the same direction. The sewing needle will become magnetized and able to pick up lightweight metal objects. Experiment with sand, crushed iron-enriched cereal and other lightweight objects. Run the magnetized needle through the sand and see what it picks up.
- A simple heat conductor project is to watch the heat transfer out of an item as it cools. Wash several rose leaves and allow them to dry. In the microwave melt a bowl of chocolate chips. Paint the dry leaves with the hot chocolate. After the heat leaves the chocolate, it will cool and harden into the shape of the leaves.
- Blow up and tie two balloons. Hang one of the balloons from the ceiling or a table with string and a piece of tape. The balloon with negatively-charged electrons should hang straight down. Take the other balloon and rub it on your hair or a wool scarf. This will positively charge the electrons. Hold it close to the negatively-charged balloon, and the electrons or static electricity will be conducted from the positive balloon to the negative one, causing it to move.
- Take a simple magnet and a paper plate. On the plate scatter three or four paperclips and several drops of washable poster paint. Put the magnet under the paper plate and drag the paperclips, through the paint, to create an art project. Explain to the kids that magnets conduct their field even through certain materials, such as paper, cardboard or glass. Paperclips can also be dropped into a glass of water and brought to the top with a magnet.
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