Material Detail

The Classic discrepant event activity was designed looking through the lens of connecting NASA-based resources to STEM lessons. The activity, in actuality, has many STEM lesson applications from critical thinking and problem solving to specific content and process learning objects.

This activity uses a commercially available Energy Ball. This item consists of a ping pong ball shaped housing containing electronics sensitive to conducting electrons at a very low voltage. Two metal sensors on the surface of the ball act as a switch to open and close the circuit. Placing one index finger on each metal tab closes (completes) the circuit and activates a flashing light (and possibly sound on some). An extension activity is to have several people hold hands and at one point of the circle, two individuals place on index finger on each tab, closing the circuit. This has been demonstrated with 50 or more people holding hands. At any point along the circle, an individual can release hands, opening the circuit, causing the light to stop flashing.

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