Local scientists visit elementary schools

Students at Beaumont, New Eagle and Valley Forge elementary schools in the Tredyffrin/Easttown SD enjoyed hands-on science experiments led by scientists from Johnson Matthey, a local specialty chemicals company. According to the district’s newsletter, second-grade students observed changes to liquids and solids when liquid nitrogen was used as a catalyst. They also witnessed how frozen tennis balls no longer bounced due to a chemical reaction. For third-graders, the scientists demonstrated the difference in density of cans of regular cola and diet cola when placed in a container of water. The students also created a density diver in a water bottle and witnessed how added pressure changed the density causing the diver to rise and fall. The experiments correlated with the science curriculum for each grade.