If you’ve completed the Soaking Up Rays experiment, you might still be a bit baffled as to why there’s a difference between black and white. Here’s a great way to actually “see” radiation by using liquid crystal thermal sheets.
You’ll need to find a liquid crystal sheet that has a temperature range near body temperature (so it changes color when you warm it with your hands.)
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That paper has special liquid crystals that are not quite solid and not quite a liquid, but they move between smaller phase shifts with the heat of your hand. This is why the paper goes from black to rainbow. And also why you need it as a way to indicate temperature for this experiment.
why that paper.
Did you try Educational Innovations? I think they were the ones listed on the shopping list. You can find them at any scientific store, like Edmund Scientific, American Science & Surplus, and Carolina. You only need a 4″ x 4″ piece.
Where can I buy the liquid crystal sheets? They seem really expensive when I looked on Amazon ($37 for a 12X12), does that sound right?
amazon
70-90 degrees F is a good range for our experiments.
What should the temperature transition be on these sheets?
Thanks!
Where can I buy this?