Science & technology
Wing (enter on 5th
Week in Alberta is fast
approaching. October
8—18 is officially the
time to celebrate sci-
ence and technology in
our area. Praxis will be
hosting and organizing
a number of events to
coincide with the pro-
vincial festivities.
Hopefully you will be
able to attend these
events.
Wednesday, October
13, 2004
Science Fair Know
How
Medicine Hat Public
Library
7:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is re-
quired.
All students must be
accompanied by one
ATA Science
Council Conference
There is still time to regis-
ter for the ATA Science
Council Conference. This
year it will be held in Banff
November 12—14, 2004.
Many great scientists will
be attending this year. Dr.
David Suzuki will be the
opening keynote speaker
on Friday. This is not an
opportunity you want o
miss.
If you attend, I hope that
you stop by the Alberta
Science Literacy Associa-
tion (ASLA) members
booth and say hello. I
adult.
FREE street)
10:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Thursday, October All families must have
14, 2004 one adult over the age
Small Science— of 18 in order to par-
Discover Your World ticipate. Everyone wel-
Medicine Hat Public come.
Library Lots of Prizes!
10:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. FREE
Open to children ages
4—6. Visit http://
Pre-registration is re- www.scitechweek.gov.
quired. ab.ca/events/index.cfm
All preschoolers must for more details on Sci-
be accompanied by a ence & technology
caregiver. Week or call (403) 527-
FREE
Saturday, October
16, 2004
Family Science
Olympics
Medicine Hat High
School Science
would be pleased to tell are curious about. De-
you about Praxis and how scribe how science and
ASLA can help you in the technology can help you
classroom. understand it.
Choose one of the follow-
For more information on ing formats:
the conference, visit the 1) ESSAY: 500 words or
ATA Science Council less
website @ http:// 2) DIGITAL VIDEO: One
www.atasc.ab.ca. minute or less
Who can enter?
Netera and CBC 10 Essay Grades 7, 8, and 9 students,
Challenge anywhere in Alberta.
THE CHALLENGE! To enter Entries must be
One of the things that received no later than 4 pm
attracts people to science on October 15, 2004.
and technology is curios-
ity. For example, why do ESSAY Submit essays to
bats hang upside down? www.netera.ca/essay. In-
Or how can computers structions are on the web
be made smaller? Think site.
about something you
Did you know that the foods you eat 2. Cover the egg- similar to the acid that forms in your
can have an effect your teeth? Try shell with Coca mouth. The eggshell is a simulation of
this experiment to see the effect pop Cola®. your teeth as they are somewhat similar
has on your teeth. in their makeup.
3. Cover the glass
with plastic wrap so
that the pop will not
Materials The eggshell should have began to
evaporate too
disintigrate due to the acid in the Coca
eggshell quickly.
Cola®. This is similar to how a cavity
#
Coca Cola® 4. Every forms in your mouth. If you do not brush
couple of your teeth, bacteria forms in your mouth.
clear glass or jar days, take the eggshell out and look Bacteria then feeds on the tiny particles
plastic wrap at it. You may want to pick the of food that are left in your mouth after
eggshell up with tweezers very you eat. Then they turn these small food
tweezers carefully. particles into acid. This acid is strong
enough that it eventually will eat away at
the enamel on your teeth. In the end what
Procedure What is going on? happens is you will have one of those
1. Place the eggshell in the glass. painful cavities.
The acidic nature of the Coca Cola® is

Materials 2. Place a piece of masking tape on the other and observe.

second glass. Label it “vinegar”.
chalk Explanation
3. Place an equal sized piece of chalk
vinegar In the glass marked
in each of the glasses.
“vinegar”, you should
2 clear glasses or jars 4. In the glass labeled have seen bubbling and
water water, cover the piece the piece of chalk dis-
of chalk with water. solving. This is because
masking tape Set aside. chalk is a substance
marker called calcium carbon-
5. In the glass labeled ! ate. When an acid
vinegar, pour in
(vinegar) reacts with
enough vinegar to
Procedure calcium carbonate
cover the chalk. Set "
(chalk) a gas or bubbles
1. Place a piece of masking tape on the aside. (carbon dioxide) are
first glass. Label it “water”. 6. Place the two glasses beside each released.

! " #
$#%
&'()*+,*(-*
# ". /
0# #$$
000/ / $ 1 $