Rocket ScientistApparate/ Disapparate

 

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dobby often demonstrates his ability to appear from thin air or to vanish. When he apparates or disapparates, a loud cracking noise is heard.

In science, materials frequently seem to vanish and reappear, but, in fact, matter can not be created or destroyed.

Do an experiment to make some matter disappear and reappear.

 

StarWhat you need:

  • 2 tablespoons of salt
  • 1 cup of water
  • scale
  • flat tray

StarWhat do you do?

  1. Carefully measure and weigh the salt. Record the weight.
  2. Mix the salt with the water. The salt will dissolve and become invisible. The salt seems to disappear, but it's still there!
  3. Pour the salt/water mixture onto a flat tray.
  4. In a day or two, the water will disappear (evaporate) and the salt will reappear.
  5. Carefully remove the salt from the tray and weigh the salt again.
  6. Do you have the same amount of salt you started with?

Do a magic trick to make Dobby apparate and disapparate.

StarWhat you need:

  • two small brown paper bags
  • a picture of Dobby
  • glue

StarWhat do you do?

  1. To prepare for this trick, cut a square from one paper bag and discard the remainder of the bag.
  2. Glue the square as a pocket inside the other bag.
  3. Put the picture of Dobby inside the pocket.
  4. Now you're ready to do your trick!
  5. Show the inside of the bag to the audience.You can conceal the pocket by placing your hand at the bag's edge.
  6. Holding your fingers over the pocket, turn the bag upside down to show that it is empty.
  7. Next, place the bag upright on a table.
  8. Proclaim "Expecto Dobbyus", and turn the bag upside down to let the picture fall out.
  9. To disapparate Dobby again, hold the bag high while sliding Dobby into the pocket. Don't forget the spell!
  10. Show your audience the empty inside of the bag again.

adapted from Scholastic's Instructor Magazine, May/June 2005.