5 Fun Science Experiments for Kids
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2013-10-09 14:23:52 UTC
Everyone knows science is awesome, but did you know you can do science right in your own kitchen? Ok, maybe you did, but if you're not sure where to start, we've got five really fun experiments that demonstrate the scientific principles of buoyancy, surface tension, density, chemical reaction and non-Newtonian fluid. Best of all, families can do these easy experiments with common, household items.
Sesame Street's fuzzy, blue scientist Grover stopped by the #5facts studio to teach us a few things about the scientific method. Watch the adorable video above to see the experiments in action, then use the instructions below to gather everything you need for your home science lab.
Looking for more amazing experiments families can do together? Check out Sesame Street's Little Discoverers site, which is full of videos, guides, games and other resources for astute young scientists and educators.
Be sure to tweet your discoveries with the hashing #5facts, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more fun trivia about science, history and pop culture.
1. Orange: Sink or Swim
This experiment is a great way to explain the principle of buoyancy and also to get your kids to voluntarily wash your fruit.
What you'll need:
One of these oranges will sink and one will float. Which is which? You might be surprised by the results.
Drop each orange into the water separately. While the orange with the peel is certainly heavier, it will float while the peeled orange sinks. This is because the orange rind retains air. The air bubbles give the orange a lower density than the surrounding water, causing it to float. This principle is called buoyancy.
2. Pepper on the Run
Send pepper running with this simple surface tension experiment.
What you'll need:
Pepper
Dish soap
A bowl of water
Pour a generous amount of pepper into the bowl of water. Most of it should float on the top. Put a drop of dish soap on your finger and touch the surface of the water. The pepper will scatter to the edges of the bowl!
This is due to surface tension — a property of water that allows it to resist outside forces. Common dish soap decreases water's surface tension, causing the water in your bowl to spread out and take the pepper with it.
3. Dancing Oobleck
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid made from a combination of corn starch and water. At rest, it acts as a liquid, but if you push or pinch it, it feels solid. Think Flubber, except not sentient.
What you'll need:
Large bowl
Plastic wrap
Masking tape
Water (1 cup)
Corn starch (2 cups)
A subwoofer or large speaker
A 40 Hz tone (via YouTube or audio file)
A device to play the tone (an iPod, tablet or mobile phone)
A stereo cable to connect your device to the speaker
Create the oobleck by mixing one part water with two parts corn starch. Test out its properties. If you punch it, the oobleck will act as a solid and repel your fist. When you greet the oobleck with a soft touch like you would an old friend, it acts like a liquid.
Sound waves will have a similar effect. Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the cone of the subwoofer or speaker and tape the edges on the side. Pour a bit of the oobleck over the plastic and let it settle into the cone. Connect your device and play the 40 Hz tone. You might have to turn the volume up pretty loud or adjust the tension of the plastic, but if you get it just right, your oobleck will start to dance!
The sound waves cause enough pressure to give the oobleck solid properties. When your experiment is complete, pack your little oobleck creatures a lunch and release them into the wild.
4. Rainbow in a Jar
Somebody tell the Double Rainbow guy that science is the key to his eternal happiness. You can make a rainbow (or two) right in your own kitchen.
What you'll need:
Prepare each layer of the rainbow in separate jars. Use equal amounts of each material (two cups of each will give you nice thick color bands).
Add red food coloring to the corn syrup
Add green food coloring to the water
Olive oil is already yellow.
The dish soap is already blue.
Pour the liquids one by one into the large mason jar in this order:
Red corn syrup
Blue dish soap
Green water
Yellow olive oil
The liquids won't mix together. Instead, you'll get separate bands of each color. This experiment works because each liquid has a different density, and certain liquids (like oil and water) refuse to mix.
5. Sparkly Volcano
Combine the terror of an erupting volcano with the joy of glitter to create a sparkly version of a classic science experiment.
What you'll need:
A tall vase
Baking soda
Vinegar
Red food coloring
Blue glitter
A tray to hold the mess
Pour a good helping of baking soda into the bottom of the vase. Add a healthy dose of red food coloring and toss in the glitter —the more sparkles, the better! When you're ready, pour in the vinegar and stand back. Your volcano will erupt in all its glittery glory.
It works thanks to a chemical reaction. The baking soda is a base and the vinegar is an acid, and when those two meet, look out! The glitter is just for fun.
Images: Mashable
Topics: 5facts, Family & Parenting, How To, Lifestyle, Science, science experiment, sesame street, Video, Work & Play
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