| Objective |
To identify the internal structure and
identity of various fruits. |
| Purpose |
This interesting metaphor demonstrates
how scientific research is done in some cases. Students should investigate
how Ernest Rutherford deduced the structure of the atom in the period
around 1911 |
| Participants |
Teams of up to four. |
| Materials |
Fruits, knitting needles (pre-determined
numbers) |
| Rules |
- Information about the fruit can only be obtained by inserting
knitting needles. Contestants must be blind folded when inserting
knitting needles.
- The fruit must be firmly held, laid on its side in a box.
- All insertions must be parallel.
- Students may not touch the fruit in any way except with the
knitting needles.
- Students must draw a diagram of the fruit showing the needle
insertions and draw a conclusion about the internal structure.
- The winners will be those who correctly identify the internal
structure of their assigned fruits with the fewest knitting needles.
|
| Judging |
- 5 points will be awarded for each fruit correctly identified,
plus one extra point will be added to the score for every needle
that was not used in the identification.
- The team with the most points will win.
|
| Source |
Youth Science Foundation Science Olympics
Manual. |
