Exploring Materials - Thin Films

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 4 - Adult
TOPIC: Nanotechnology
In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water.
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DESCRIPTION

"Exploring Materials - Thin Films" is a hands-on activity in which visitors create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. They learn that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

Explore Science - Zoom into Nano "Rainbow Film" (2016) was a version of the activity designed for groups and community outreach.

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  • Exploring Materials - Thin Films activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.
  • photo of activity components including flexible solar cells and peacock feathers.
  • Exploring Materials - Thin Films activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.
  • photo of activity components including flexible solar cells and peacock feathers.

DESCRIPTION

"Exploring Materials - Thin Films" is a hands-on activity in which visitors create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. They learn that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

Explore Science - Zoom into Nano "Rainbow Film" (2016) was a version of the activity designed for groups and community outreach.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES

TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

The way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale.

LEARNING GOALS

  • The way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its stucture on the nanoscale.

  • The thin film reflects differently depending on how thick it is, so you can see different colors

NANO CONTENT MAP

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 4 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Engineering and Technology Nanotechnology Physical Sciences Light and Optics Materials Science Societal Topics Art, Music, and Literature
KIT: Explore science zoom into nano logo in full color with leaf, atom, and Saturn logo Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2010
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

Science Museum of Minnesota

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.