Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Balloon Rocket

2012-04-27T11:17:00.000+01:00

The easiest way to make a balloon rocket that travels in a straight line.

Material:
1. Balloon
2. A drinking straw
3. Sticky tape
4. A piece of smooth long string

Instruction:
1. Insert the drinking straw to the string.
2. Using a sticky tape, attach both ends of the string to any support such as walls or simply tie to a posts. Another method is to ask friends to hold each end of the string.
3. Make sure the straw is suspended above the ground or floor.
4. Blow up the balloon and hold the neck with your fingers.
5. Careful not to let the air escape, tape the balloon to the straw.
6. Move the straw with the balloon to one end of the string and let go of the balloon.
7. Watch the balloon in motion.

Explanation:
When the balloon releases its air, the air particles that escape encounter other air particles outside the balloon. Each group of air particles experiences forces from the other. That is why you can feel the air coming out of the balloon. But it's also what makes the balloon move.

Simple Balloon Hovercraft

2011-08-03T10:18:00.000+01:00

A hovercraft is capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of air.

Material:
1. Old CD or DVD
2. Plastic drink bottle top
3. Balloon
4. White glue

Instruction:
1. Glue the bottle top over the hole in the centre of the CD.
2. Inflate the balloon and twist the end to stop air escaping.
3. Stretch the end of the balloon over the plastic drink bottle top.
4. Place the CD on a flat surface and release the balloon, give the hovercraft a gentle push.

Explanation:
Escaping air from the balloon lifts the hovercraft slightly above the flat surface, allowing it to move with less friction.

Light

2011-07-15T23:44:00.000+01:00

Sarah Jane's Rani is trapped in the Spellman's Circus Hall of Mirrors! Use your knowledge of light to guide her to safety.

This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Magnets

2011-07-14T07:47:00.000+01:00

We need to stick together on this one, Agent. Use the magnets to stop the thief from stealing the priceless treasure.

This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Friction

2011-07-13T16:40:00.000+01:00

It's a race! Use your knowledge of friction to get MI High's Carrie to the Invigatron before Beryl 'The Beefcake' Bagshot steals it!

This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Shadows

2011-07-12T12:16:00.000+01:00

Help Steve to take a good picture of the king cobra for his Deadly 60 list – but stick to the shadows, or he'll get bitten.

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Sound

2011-07-11T20:01:00.000+01:00

The deadly Rakweed is threatening the UK! Help Clyde defeat it with sound in this exciting Sarah Jane Adventures game.

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Forces

2011-07-09T09:18:00.000+01:00

The Boldovians have put smoke bombs in the gym equipment! Use your knowledge of air resistance, balanced forces and gravity to help Carrie diffuse the situation.

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Electrical Conductor

2011-07-07T22:42:00.000+01:00

Deadly 60's Steve is going swimming with electric eels! Which material will protect him from a nasty electric shock?

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Electrical Circuits Mission

2011-07-04T21:37:00.000+01:00

Your mission if you choose to accept it. Use your knowledge of electrical circuits to help MI High's Oscar recover his lost camera, but be careful of the Gnome Cams!

This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Earth, Sun and Moon Game

2011-07-02T23:18:00.001+01:00

It's Clyde's birthday tomorrow, but the planets' orbits are in a mess. Hurry - help the Sarah Jane Adventures team put them back in order!

This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Characteristic Of Materials

2011-07-02T09:23:00.000+01:00

Discover the characteristics of materials. How strong is glass? How flexible is metal?

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Freeze It

2011-06-26T10:59:00.000+01:00

Water can be a liquid, solid or a gas. This is a simple experiment where water turns into solid called ice.

Materials:
1. Water
2. A narrow neck small plastic or glass bottle

Instruction:
1. Fill bottle with water.
2. Put the bottle in a freezer. Leave it until the water has frozen.
3. Take it out from the freezer and see what happens.

Explanation:
1. Ice takes up more space than water, so the ice will be above the top of the bottle.

Changing State

2011-06-24T20:24:00.000+01:00

See what happens when you cool and heat water. Try not to blow anything up!

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Multi Colors

2011-06-19T11:24:00.002+01:00

We can use water movement called Capillary Action through paper to find out what colors make up green, orange and purple.

Materials:
1. Stips of paper
2. Sticky tape
3. Pencil
4. Bowl or glass
5. Water
6. Felt tipped pen in different color (In this experiment we used green, orange and purple)

Instruction:
1. Cut a long, strip of paper.
2. Draw a dot to one end with a felt-tipped pen. Use one strip for every colors.
3. Tape the other end to a pencil.
4. Put a little water in the bowl or glass, balance the pencil across the top so the end of the paper strip is in the water. Be careful, the color dots must not touch the water.
5. Leave for an hour and Take the paper out to let it dry. See what happens.

Explanation:
Capillary Action is the ability of liquid to flow against the gravity, the water has moved up the paper and revealed the composition of the colors. In this experiment, Red + Yellow = Orange. Blue + Yellow = Green, Red + Blue = Purple.

Make A Bottle Thermometer

2011-06-18T17:40:00.000+01:00

Thermometer measures how warm or cool a place or an object is.

Materials:
1. A small glass bottle
2. Drinking straw
3. Water
4. Food dye (Darker colors are preferred)
5. Play-dough
6. Cork or other watertight bottle seal

Instruction:
1. Fill bottle with water and a couple drops of dark colored food dye.
2. Make a hole in a cork and push the straw through it.
3. Seal any gaps around the straw with play-dough.
3. Fit the cork in the bottle with half of the straw sticking out.
4. Gently, press down the cork to force a little water up the straw.
5. Place the thermometer in a warm place and see what happens to the water in the straw.
6. Now place the thermometer in a cool place and see what happens.

Explanation:
As the water gets warmer, it expands and rises up the straw. As it gets cooler, it contract and takes less space.

How to Float a Metal Pin

2011-06-16T22:18:00.002+01:00

Ask a friend or family to float a metal pin on water. It looks impossible but try this trick and you will be amazed.

Materials:
1. A bowl of water
2. A small piece of kitchen roll or toilet paper. (The thinner the better)
3. A small metal pin

Instruction:
1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Tear off a small piece of kitchen roll.
3. Float the paper and pin on the water.
4. See what happens to the pin and the paper.

Explanation:
The paper will sink leaving the pin to floating on the surface. The pin floats because it was held by water surface tension- where drops of water cling together tightly, making a see-through skin.

Friction

2011-06-07T13:24:00.000+01:00

How does friction affect the distance an object will travel on a surface? Find out!
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Electromagnets

2011-06-05T19:52:00.001+01:00

Create a magnet screwdriver. The type of magnet is known as an electromagnet.

Materials:
1. Plastic-coated wire
2. A screwdriver (Non magnetized tip)
3. Sticky tape
4. Battery (AA size)
5. A pile of paper clips
6. Scissors

Instruction:
1. First check your screwdriver is not magnetized by touching the tip to a pile of paperclips. You wouldn't want to use a magnetized tip and ruin the experiment.
2. Coil plastic-coated wire around the metal part of the screwdriver, leave enough length of wire free at each end. Use a sticky tape near each end of the coil to stop the wire from coming off.
3. Using a scissors, carefully remove the plastic to both ends of the wire. You can ask a grownup for help. You need to expose the metal wire, long enough for you to easily tape it to the battery.
4. Tape one end of the wire to the positive (+) pole of the battery. Again, tape the other end of the wire to the negative (-) pole of the battery. Be careful, the wire will get warm, sometimes hot to touch.
5. Now move the screwdriver tip close to a pile of paper clips and see what happens?

Explanation:
As the electricity flows from the battery through the wires, it creates a magnetic field. This magnetized the metal of the screwdriver and attract the paperclips.

Pointing North

2011-06-01T23:02:00.003+01:00

Compass needle always point to the north where ever you are on the Earth. Learn how to make one using a needle and a bowl filled with water.

Materials:
1. A piece of paper
2. Magnet, preferably a strong one
3. A bowl filled with water
4. A big needle.

Instruction:
1. Use a glass to draw a perfect circle outline on a piece of paper then cut out with a scissor. (Careful, ask a grownup to help you).
2. Thread a big needle through it.
3. Magnetize the needle by stroking it 20 times in the same direction with one end of a magnet.
4. Float the paper on top of a bowl filled with water. Let is settle for a while.
5. If you turn the paper now, the needle will still spin back to the same point. It will be facing on the north-south direction.

Explanation:
A needle is made of steel, which contains particles of iron, jumbled up. But when you stroke a needle with a magnet, the iron particle become temporarily magnetized.

Playdough Recipe

2011-05-28T13:26:00.002+01:00

Playdough, hand modelled by Erin

Every kids like playing playdough, including grownups. This is a very simple no-cook recipe for making your own playdough.

Materials:
1. 1 cup plain flour
2. 1/2 cup salt
3. 1 tablespoon cooking oil
4. 3/4 cup boiling water (Add more if dough is a bit dry)
5. Food dye of different colors (optional)

Instruction:
1. Mix flour, salt, oil and food dye in a mixing bowl.
2. Slowly pour in hot water, mix and knead well. (Careful, ask grownup to do this, water is hot!)

Explanation:
100% extreme fun. Try it now. More alternative recipes at www.playdoughrecipe.com.

Light and Shadow

2011-05-25T23:12:00.003+01:00

Find out why shadows change angle and size.

Tip: You can move the light source by dragging the top pink handle of the lamp. This activity requires Adobe Flash Player. Click the here to download.

Long Distance Call

2011-05-24T21:30:00.000+01:00

Make a call using two plastic cups and a long string.

Materials:
1. Two plastic cups or yoghurt pots.
2. A string (up to about 15 meters long)

Instruction:
1. Ask a grownup to punch a small hole in the bottom of the plastic cups.
2. Thread one end of the string through one cup and tie a knot inside the cup.
3. Do the same to the other end of the string and tie a knot inside the second cup.
4. Ask a friend to hold the other cup and try to stretch until the string is tight.
5. Try to whisper into the cup while your friend listen with the other.

Explanation:
The sound of your friend's voice makes the string vibrate, carrying the sound to your ear.

Rainbow Maker

2011-05-22T20:10:00.003+01:00

Can't wait for a rainbow to appear? Why not create a rainbow at home.

Material:
1. Small mirror
2. Water
3. A bowl or a deep tray
4. A sheet of white plain paper
5. A sunny spot near a window

Instruction:
1. Pick a sunny spot near a window.
2. Fill a bowl or deep tray with water.
3. Lean the small mirror at an angle to one side of the bowl or tray.
4. Carefully, adjust the mirror so the sun shines onto the underwater part of the mirror.
5. Hold the sheet of paper in front of the bowl or tray, slowly move it around until you see a rainbow reflection from the water.

Explanation:
When the sun ray passes through the water, the water makes the light bend by different amounts, which separate in different colors, namely, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The mirrors reflects the rainbow onto the paper.

Changing Sounds

2011-05-21T17:40:00.004+01:00

Make some noise! Can you change the pitch and volume?

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