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Science Problem Page
Some of these problems come from the Science on the Underground posters that were on the Tube trains a few years ago.
FORCES
This problem is all to do with FORCES. If you are still in year 7, you might not be able to work out the answer to this, but anyone who has done the forces topic in year 8 should be able to give an answer. If you are in year 11, you should give two answers! One to say what happens to the people when they first jump and another to say happens when the bungee ropes start to tighten.
Mr Clift's Clues
It is all to do with Newton's Laws of motion. If it is gravity that pulls them down, then think about which person experiences the greater pull of gravity (or 'weight'). Then measure that against which person has more 'bulk' to move in the first place.
You year 11s thinking about what happens when the rope starts to tighten, then use the equation for kinetic energy and Hooke's Law for the extension of elastic ropes.
If you want to know what to do with your answers, then see below.
EARTH AND SUN
The seasons, like summer and winter, are all to do with the relationship between the sun and the earth, but which answer is the right one?
Mr Clift's Clues
Get a model of the Earth, it has to be one of those on a stand that tilts the Earth at exactly the right angle from the vertical. Now use a lamp (like a bedside table lamp) as the sun and rotate the Earth round the sun. Keep the side of the stand pointing the same way all the time. Stop the Earth going round every quarter of the way and look at where Britain is compared to the sun. Now, if it takes a year for the Earth to go the whole way round the sun, where is the summer for us and where is the winter. Now go back to the problem.
ECOLOGY
This problem is to do with a part of science called ECOLOGY, which is to do with how different living things live together. You will do this topic in year 8, and there will be an opportunity to visit the Ecology Galleries at the Natural History Museum.
Mr Clift's Clues
Think about what a plant needs to live and grow (these things are very different from what an animal needs), now apply these thoughts to your problem. There are no small plants growing on the floor of the forest. What is not present on the floor of the forest that is present higher up for the trees (trees are plants too!)
SOLIDS, LIQUIDS AND GASES
This problem is to do with solids, liquids and gases. These three things are called the three states of matter and you will learn about them in a topic called Particles 1 in year 7.
Mr Clift's Clues
Two clues:
- Water is appearing on the side of this glass, but would the same thing happen if the drink in the glass was not cold?
- One of the answers on the poster is right
Still hanging on to your answers? Look below for what to do with them.
If you think you know the answer to any of these problems, then send the answer to Mr Clift. Better still: e-mail your answer to me.
 Click here to send e-mail.
The best answers will be posted on the science department homepage. But don't forget that all answers must contain a explanation of why you think your answer is right.
 Click here to return to the Science Department home page.
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