Science in a washing machine?
This past week my wife’s washing machine started acting up…making wierd noises everytime the spin cycle started. How is that relevant you ask? Stay with me…
Well after fixing the machine, the repair guy left the old motor behind in a small cardboard box. For the first couple days I leave the heavy box sitting on our enclosed porch just waiting for garbage day.
This weekend I’m home alone with my son and he happens to notice the box when we wander out onto the porch.
“What’s that daddy?”
“A motor.”
“Should we take it apart?”
His eyes lit up like Christmas morning as I brought it inside and began to remove screws and brackets holding the motor together.
Soon the motor was in pieces on our living room floor (…Yes dear, I put some newspaper down first…). We spent the next 15 minutes talking about how the motor worked!
Why is it like a magnet?(one of his favorite toys),
Why do magnets stick only to iron?
How does an electromagnet work?
Moments later we were on the computer searching Yahoo for videos of a Van De Graff generator generating giant sparks. We ending up spending the next 30 minutes looking at every video on this great site we found (you’ll need broadband):
Physics experiment videos
The exploding marshmellows were one of my favorite:
SO…the next time something mechanical or electrical breaks in your house just don’t throw it in the trash.
Take it apart in front of your kids! You’ll be amazed at the curiosity for things scientific you’ll ignite in your kids.
February 26th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Hey, reminds me of many hours spent with my oldest son! Precious memories… he was always soooooooo curious about everything!! I’ll never forget those times, be glad you’re spending those wonderful moments with your child.
He passed away last May after a brief illness,an otherwise healthy young man (our fifth child was born two weeks after he died). He would be 11yrs old now. We started taking things apart when he was just over a yr old! Vacuums, VCR, toasters, computers, radios, clocks, phones, etc.
Peace and blessings for many more advevtures…Katherine
March 28th, 2006 at 8:28 am
I happened to get to this site through Mom’s View through my efforts to find coupons for a car rental. I’m not a parent or husband, but I can relate to your son’s desire to take things apart
. I remember years ago taking apart toy cars, and watches, and eventually computers. Unfortunately, in the last few years — I’m a college student in my 20’s — I’ve lost a bit of that childlike enchantment with building and breaking and re-building things. I’m sure that if I make the effort I’ll be able to do these things again, or even better, to pass a desire to understand how the world works to young children I might happen on in life.
God bless you and your family.
Peace.
November 7th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
“This past week my wife’s washing machine started acting up”
So does that imply you do not get to do your laundry in this washing machine?
Loyal fan to momsview, but doubt I will click over to dadsview again.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:55 am
Ha - I remember when i was 8 and took apart Dad’s drill to see how it worked and couldn’t put it back together again. He wasn’t pleased to loose a perfectly good drill but at least he didn’t yell at me because I was trying to learn afterall!! So be sure you also teach the kids not to take apart stuff that works!!!
May 20th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Your Wife’s washing machine ???? Amazing how that simple sentence gives away your stereotypes!