INDSight Newsletter July 2016

Welcome  to our latest INDSight Newsletter. Please see below for more information, alternatively contact us on 01530 832 500 or sales@inds.co.uk.

UV Light and Clothing


New fabrics are being introduced to the clothing market that claim to block all UV light. There are additives to put in your wash to make your clothes more efficient at blocking UV light. But are these added expenses needed? How well do your current clothes and swimming suits protect your skin?

In this experiment, you will measure the levels of UVB light that can pass through fabrics. You will compare fabric colors and types. You will then get the fabrics wet and again measure the amount of UVB light passing through.

Please click here to see the full experiment
Are all sunglasses created equal?

Have you ever been sunburned? If so, you are familiar with the fact that ultraviolet (UV) light can damage your skin. But UV light can damage your eyes as well. UV light is absorbed by your eye and can cause a burn just like a sunburn on your skin. This condition, sometimes called snowblindness or welders flash, usually only lasts a few days. But UV light can also cause cataracts - cloudy spots on the lens of your eye that could require surgery or lead to blindness. So how do you protect your eyes? Do sunglasses do a good job of blocking UV radiation? Are expensive sunglasses better than cheap sunglasses? Are sunglasses better than regular eye glasses? These are some of the questions you will investigate in this experiment.

In this experiment, you will measure the UVB-blocking performance of various types of sunglasses and eyeglasses.

Please click here to see the full experiment
Using Olympic Results to Teach Graphing Skils
With the upcoming Olympics get your students to use Olympic results to improve their graphing skills and learn some kinematics. We have created a Logger Pro file that uses historic times for the 100-meter dash to simulate the finish of a race with all the Olympic winners.

The Logger Pro file also has a page with a graph comparing Olympic and world records over time. It is relatively easy to modify this file for any event that a student is interested in studying.

Please click here to see the full experiment
Solar Pizza Box Oven


In many locations, the weather will be warm and sunny. Why not take advantage of the sun's rays to engage students in a hands-on experience to learn about solar energy?

Using cardboard pizza boxes, a few items from the kitchen, and some common craft tools, students can construct a solar oven that teaches about renewable energy and the concept of energy transfer. Using a Vernier Surface Temperature Sensor can further enhance this activity. Students can use the sensor to collect and analyze data in the oven. Data, such as how long the oven takes to reach the maximum temperature, the rate at which it heats up, and the rate at which it cools when removed from the sun, can be interesting.

Please click here for the full experiment
Instruments Direct Services Limited | 01530 832 500 | sales@inds.co.uk | www.inds.co.uk
STAY CONNECTED: