0:00:05 > 0:00:08# If you've got a question and you don't know where to go
0:00:08 > 0:00:12# Ask Nina for some help Cos she's got a science show
0:00:12 > 0:00:15# She makes sense of her senses While helping all her fans
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# By doing her experiments With potions and with bangs
0:00:17 > 0:00:19- # Touch your tongue - Tongue
0:00:19 > 0:00:20- # Fingers - Fingers
0:00:20 > 0:00:21- # Eyes - Eyes
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- # Ears!- Ears! - Nose!- Nose!
0:00:23 > 0:00:27# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:27 > 0:00:29# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:29 > 0:00:32# Luke he helps us with our eyes And Felix with our touch
0:00:32 > 0:00:36# Ollie sniffs our smells and scents And Belle, she hears so much
0:00:36 > 0:00:38# Bud is Ollie's brother He helps us with our taste
0:00:38 > 0:00:41# They're Nina's little Neurons And they're coming to your place
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- # Touch your tongue - Tongue
0:00:43 > 0:00:44- # Fingers - Fingers
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- # Eyes!- Eyes! - Ears!- Ears!
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- # Nose!- Nose!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:50 > 0:00:53# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know! #
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Hello! I've collected some seeds from my sweet peas,
0:01:00 > 0:01:04and put them in this container, ready for planting.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I've written a label, to remind me what they are.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11BEEPING
0:01:11 > 0:01:16I hear a beep, I see a flash. I wonder what they're going to ask!
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Hi, Nina!
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Hi, guys!
0:01:24 > 0:01:27We've got a question for you. How does a pen work?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30That's a great question - how does a pen work?
0:01:30 > 0:01:35A pen is a useful invention. You can write all sorts of things with it.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Come down to my workshop and we'll check it out.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41See you soon, Nina, bye!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Bye!
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I'm going to need some help to answer this, and I know who to ask.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51OK, Neurons, time to get to work.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Neurons at the ready, Nina.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Today's question is - how does a pen work?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Which Neuron will help us find the answer?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20ALL: Me, me, me!
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Will it be fabulous Felix?
0:02:23 > 0:02:27I can help so very much If you need the sense of touch.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Beautiful Belle?
0:02:29 > 0:02:33I send messages to brain from ear If there's sound I'll help you hear.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Will it be lovely Luke?
0:02:35 > 0:02:38For looking and seeing day or night
0:02:38 > 0:02:40I'll help you with your sense of sight.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Will it be awesome Ollie?
0:02:42 > 0:02:45If it's pongy or whiffy but you can't tell
0:02:45 > 0:02:47My messages help your sense of smell.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Or will it be baby Bud?
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Sour, salty, bitter or sweet
0:02:51 > 0:02:54I'm your taste buddy whenever you eat.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- It's Luke.- Yes!
0:03:01 > 0:03:04ALL: Go Luke, go Luke, go Luke,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07go Luke, go Luke, go Luke,
0:03:07 > 0:03:08go Luke!
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Cool, Nina. I'll be looking out to help you!
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Today's question is - how does a pen work?
0:03:15 > 0:03:19We need to see what a pen is writing, so Luke is helping.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21But, stand by, Neurons, I may need help.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26I need to get the workshop ready before the inventors arrive!
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Ross, Toni and Olivia want to find out all about pens -
0:03:31 > 0:03:35chunky pens, dinky pens, multi-coloured inky pens.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40So, for one day only, Ross, Toni and Olivia become The Inventors!
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Hi, guys!
0:03:44 > 0:03:45Hi, Nina!
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Oh, welcome to my workshop, come on in!
0:03:48 > 0:03:50It's lovely to see you all.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53So, your question was - how does a pen work?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Why do you want to know that?
0:03:56 > 0:04:01Because I know pens use ink, but I don't see how the ink comes out.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Well, I've got lots of pens here,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07so maybe we should try them out and see what happens. OK?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I like their drawings.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15The ink is really flowing.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18So let's go with the flow!
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Nice work, Inventors! We know that ink comes out of a pen,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and that it lets us write or draw with it.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29But how does it do it? We need to get inside and have a closer look.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Taking things apart can be dangerous,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33so don't do this yourself.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38That's right, Nina's been specially trained to do this.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Taking things apart can get very messy!
0:04:41 > 0:04:48OK. Now, I'm going to take the pen out of its hard plastic cover...
0:04:48 > 0:04:53And inside is a bendy tube.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55And the tube is filled with ink.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58And you write at this end of the tube, here.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01What's this little metal thing called?
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Is it called the nib?
0:05:04 > 0:05:05That's right!
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Nib? What a funny little word! Hm! Nib!
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Let's do an experiment.
0:05:13 > 0:05:19I wonder what will happen if I cut the nib off the bottom of the tube.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21There we go.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Now, let's see how it writes.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Here comes the messy bit...
0:05:25 > 0:05:27OK.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- Oh!- It's a little bit gloopy and globby.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37It's very messy, and it scratches the paper.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Yeah. I can't really draw properly,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44because the pen keeps sticking.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48I think we can safely say that a pen doesn't really work
0:05:48 > 0:05:49without the nib at the end.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52So the nib must be very important.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Here it is, here.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59Let's have a really close look using the Nina-cam.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01What can you see?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03There's a tiny ball.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08That's right. And there's a piece of metal holding the tiny ball.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10But what does the tiny ball do?
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Well...
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Here are lots of metal balls.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20They're just like the ball in the pen, but a bit bigger.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22They're called ball bearings.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24So look at this.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Whoo-hoo!
0:06:30 > 0:06:34If I put this little book on here,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36and give it a little push...
0:06:36 > 0:06:39See how easily it moves over the ball bearings,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41all the way to the other side?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43It's very smooth!
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Yes. Ball bearings are used to help things move smoothly
0:06:46 > 0:06:48against each other.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51So, they help the book move over the tray smoothly
0:06:51 > 0:06:55in the same way as they help the pen move over the paper smoothly.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59That reminds me of something else that uses ball bearings,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02only it's much bigger and very exciting.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- Shall we go and see another invention in action?- Yeah!
0:07:05 > 0:07:07OK, let's go!
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Off they go. I really enjoy seeing the big inventions.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20What other big thing uses ball bearings?
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Hey! Do you think we're going to see a big, enormous pen?
0:07:25 > 0:07:30I really don't know, Bud. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be exciting.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Looks like we're here!
0:07:34 > 0:07:38OK, guys, I want you to look at...this!
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Wow!
0:07:40 > 0:07:43This is a wind farm, turning wind into electricity.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47The more they spin, the more electricity they make.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52- Wow! They're cool! - They're definitely something to see!
0:07:52 > 0:07:57Now, have a look at this.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- It spins! - Yeah, and it spins really smoothly.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- Do you see those balls?- Yeah.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Those are ball bearings, like the ones we saw earlier,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10and like the one at the end of a pen, only much bigger.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14And these ball bearings let these two metal rings
0:08:14 > 0:08:16spin really smoothly and easily.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21And there's something very similar to this in a wind turbine.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24So ball bearings help wind turbines to spin round!
0:08:24 > 0:08:29Exactly! So the same technology that helps the wind turbine spin round,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32helps a pen move smoothly across paper.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37OK, inventors, I think it's time to get creative.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39- So let's go back to the workshop! - Yeah!
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Pens are so useful!
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Everyone uses them, but who actually invented the pen?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Ooh! I know that.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The ballpoint pen that we've been looking at today
0:08:55 > 0:08:58was invented by a man named Laszlo Biro.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00He was working for a newspaper,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03and got fed up with his old-fashioned pen.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09He didn't like all the smudges it made,
0:09:09 > 0:09:14and sometimes it even scratched and tore his paper. How annoying!
0:09:17 > 0:09:19One day, he had an idea,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23and he invented the ballpoint pen.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Your question was - how does a pen work?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39We've discovered that a ballpoint pen
0:09:39 > 0:09:41has a tube of ink with a nib at the end.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43And the nib is a piece of metal
0:09:43 > 0:09:46that holds a ball between the ink and the paper.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50And the ball helps the pen move smoothly across the paper.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Let's get inventing to find out more.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57So today, we are going to make a chunky ballpoint pen.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01The first thing we need to do is take our deodorant bottle
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and make sure it's empty and clean.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08Yes, it's important that you clean it out very well.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12And you'll also need an adult to help you pop the ball out.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14We've already done that.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16So our bottle is ready,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20now we just need to fill it with some of the poster paint.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Take the balls off the top of your bottle...
0:10:23 > 0:10:27I'll go first. Now, just a little bit of paint...
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Just a little bit in the bottom's all we need. On you go.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Go for it, Ross. That's it, bring it towards you.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40Very good.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44That's plenty, well done.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46And Olivia...
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Now, guys, we can put the ball back on.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Now, gently, just give it a little squeeze...
0:10:58 > 0:10:59Excellent!
0:10:59 > 0:11:04Great! And now it's time to write with it, Nina!
0:11:04 > 0:11:08So, this is the super-fun part. Give it a gentle shake...
0:11:08 > 0:11:10And turn it upside down...
0:11:10 > 0:11:12And let's draw!
0:11:31 > 0:11:34So the ball rolls against the paint,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37and then carries it evenly onto the paper.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40This is great fun.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45Well done, Inventors, you've made your very own chunky ballpoint pen!
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Your question was - how does a pen work? I think we've answered it!
0:11:54 > 0:11:57We've found out that inside most pens
0:11:57 > 0:11:59is a tube of ink with a nib at the end.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01And the nib holds a ball.
0:12:01 > 0:12:07And the ball helps the pen move smoothly over the paper.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11It also takes the ink from the tube and puts it evenly on the paper,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14without any blobs or gooey bits.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16And that is how this pen works.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Thank you for your great question.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Thanks, Nina, bye!
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Bye!
0:12:28 > 0:12:30To make today's invention,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33go to the Nina section on the CBeebies website.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36That'll give you all the instructions you need.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41Or, you may have other ideas of what you want to invent.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- Bikes!- Trains!- Binoculars!
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- Televisions!- Speakers!- And cars!
0:12:47 > 0:12:50# We all love inventing
0:12:50 > 0:12:53# Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh Go inventing!
0:12:53 > 0:12:55# We all love inventing
0:12:55 > 0:12:58# Why don't you try it too?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01# Inventions make life easier
0:13:01 > 0:13:03# And help us get things done
0:13:03 > 0:13:05# Go inventing!
0:13:05 > 0:13:08# I always like to take a look
0:13:08 > 0:13:10# At how they work and run
0:13:10 > 0:13:11# Go inventing!
0:13:11 > 0:13:13# We all love inventing
0:13:13 > 0:13:17# Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh Go inventing!
0:13:17 > 0:13:23# We all love inventing Why don't you try it too? #
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Ah, it's been such a great day, man.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31I like to see all the ink moving smoothly across the paper.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33It's been a marvellous day.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Nina got messy taking the pen apart,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39but she didn't forget her rubber gloves.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Oh, I've had a brilliant day!
0:13:41 > 0:13:46I liked the sound of all those ball bearings moving together.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48I've had a fabby day,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52especially when they all went out and had fun.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I really enjoyed myself today.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00The chunky ballpoint pen invention is really simple, but very clever.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05Our day's been bursting with inventions. I hope you enjoyed it.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- See you again soon! Bye!- Bye!
0:14:11 > 0:14:13E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk