pvc pipes+connectors+water=physics

Last week end my husband and I were in the hardware store - buying kindergarten supplies.



We bought 2 lengths of 3/4 inch pvc pipe and a bunch of connectors.

My husband, good man that he is, cut the pipe into lengths.  After cutting up the first pipe in random lengths, he thought that the kids might like to be able to build structures. He cut the second pipe into 2 different sized lengths. 

I put the pipe, connectors, some tubing and funnels into the water table.  And then took it outside. 

The kidlets started building.


Then the water pouring began.  


It's only fun to pour water in, if that water is going to come out somewhere.  That posed a number of questions.

Where is the water?

Why is the pipe leaking?


How will gravity affect the water flow.  (We learned about gravity with Col. Chris Hadfield.)


Where will the water go if there is a closed loop?


I didn't answer any questions.  The kidlets were experimenting, finding what worked and what didn't work, and adapted the pipe structure  based on new information.  

Sounds like the scientific process to me.

And to think that we stopped at the hardware store for a lightbulb ...       




            

17 comments

  1. We've had so much fun building with PVC pipe! It's been used to make houses, tunnels, masts on a pirate ship, crutches, teepees.. Love your water experiments idea!

    Noreen
    Crafty Journal

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  2. I LOVE this idea and think that some of my left over budget for this year WILL be spent buying some pipe for just this purpose! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Love this idea and definitely going to give it a try in my class. Thanks for sharing!
    I'm in BC as well! (just outside of Vancouver)
    :-)
    Whimsy Workshop

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    1. I'm in Maple Ridge - about 45 minutes east of Vancouver. :-)

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  4. oh my boys would love this ! thanks for stopping by to share with us today!

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    1. It's lots of fun -especially on a hot day!

      Sandi

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  5. So cool! This would be such a fun project to try, thanks for sharing.

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  6. love water play with pvc! As our boys got older, we tried to create challenges to keep them interested. Such as giving them perameters: lets see if you can make the water travel from this spot to this spot, and at some point have the pipe reach a height of 3 feet, but able to get your water to flow from point A to B with just one gallon full.... etc.. They love the challenges and started challenging eachother! We had to go back to the hardware store for more fun connectors too: diverters, nozzles, spouts etc. What fun!

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    1. My kids are ready for some challenges too. I think it's time for another trip to the hardware store. Nozzles and spouts sound like fun.

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  7. I love this activity! Such great fun while developing problem solving skills. I featured you on The Sunday Showcase: http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/06/fun-in-sun-sunday-showcase.html

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  8. This looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for linking to Tuesday Tots. I've featured it this week. You're welcome to grab a featured button if you like. :)

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  9. Oh wow I bet the childre LOVE this! Thanks for sharing with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday. Hope to see you again today! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/06/eco-kids-tuesday_25.html

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  10. I didnt know physics can be more fun using this PVC pipes. Activities like this good for kids to develop their skills in solving problems.

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  11. Terrific activity for future engineers. Thanks for sharing with After School Link Up!

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  12. I love this! I need to get some PVC pipe to try this with my kids; I know they'll love it!

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  13. Thanks for the article i really like the creativity of the kids using pvc pipes

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  14. A very Nice and fun way of doing a physics related activity for kids. I will recommend PVC Pipes in the Philippines for my next class activity.

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