Making an air pressure powered drinks dispenser is easier than it looks, and a fantastic hands-on air pressure demonstration. What is air pressure? Air and its particles are crashing into us all the time. What we call air pressure is the force of these particles hitting a surface. When you suck a straw you reduce…
This activity uses Skittles to demonstrate radioactive decay. The rate of decay depends on the isotope of the element and is referred to as the half-life. Radioactive decay is a random process. To understand the concept of a half-life, we’re going to pretend Skittles are radioactive atoms. Skittles that land with the S upwards are…
A singing balloon experiment is a great way to learn how sound works. If you put a small coin inside a balloon and spin it, the coin spins around the balloon, making the balloon vibrate very quickly. Objects that vibrate quickly make a high pitched sound. As the coin slows down, the pitch of the…
You’ve probably seen lightning flash across the sky, but do you know why and how it happens? This simple science activity teaches how lightning forms and how to make a small spark using static electricity. What is lightning? Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere. It happens when electricity is discharged between…
There are lots of great air pressure demonstrations around, but a leaky water bottle is one of the simplest. It looks impressive and costs almost nothing. Air is made up of several different gases. Air pressure is caused by gravity pulling air molecules towards Earth. We don’t really notice air pressure as it’s balanced inside…
A stacked ball drop demonstration is a brilliant way to demonstrate momentum transfer between objects. The compression of the bigger two balls bounces the smallest ball much higher than it would normally bounce. You’ll need A basketball A tennis ball or small basketball/football Table tennis ball or golf ball Stacked Three Ball Drop Instructions Hold…
If you were to drop a table tennis ball and a basketball, which do you think would hit the ground first? This sporty science activity is an eye-opening demonstration with lots of opportunities for learning and exploration. Sporty Science Ball Drop Investigation You’ll need 4 different balls – for example, table tennis ball, golf ball,…
The colour of an object is the colour it reflects, while other colours are absorbed. White reflects all the colours of the spectrum, while black absorbs all the colours, reflecting very little back. Visible white light from the sun consists of seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. When white light hits…
Have you ever wondered why balls bounce? This activity uses differently shaped balls to investigate how and why balls bounce differently. I’ve included FREE instructions for a science investigation to find the bounciest ball with a handy table for recording results. Balls to use: Look at the differently shaped balls and try bouncing them on…
In this science activity, you can put a balloon into a candle flame without it popping! How is that possible? It’s all about heat transfer. A balloon filled with air will pop when it gets too close to a flame as the heat from the candle warms the balloon’s skin and weakens it. The trick…
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