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A Book of Experiments Vol. 2
A Book of Experiments Vol. 2
Volume II
For use in teaching elementary
School science
Differentiation between properties of objects (e.g. size, shape, and weight) and
properties of materials (e.g. color, texture, hardness):
Paper Chromatography
Black Rainbow
Compare and contrast solids, liquids, and gases based on the basic properties
of these states of matter:
Collapsing Cans
Dancing Raisins
Raisin the Roof
Floating Raisins Harney
Bouncing Raisins
Egg Suction
Egg in a Bottle
Moving Pepper
The Power of Pressure
Moving Drop
Dropping Pennies
Sugar Volcano
Sinking Sodas
Three Layer Float
Flubber
Rubber Egg
Tie Dye Milk
Suspended Egg
Slime!
Homemade Balloon Pump
Match Stick Speedboats
Quicksand
Identify the basic forms of energy (light, sound, heat, electrical, and magnetic).
Recognize that energy is the ability to cause motion or create change:
Anti-gravity Water
Can You Separate Salt and Pepper?
Excited Salt
Secret Bells
A Ruler Attracts Water
Disappearing Colors
Give examples of how energy can be transferred from one form to another:
Identify and classify objects and materials that conduct electricity and objects
and materials that are insulators of electricity:
Recognize that magnets have poles that repel and attract each other:
Create a Compass
Recognize that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels
from one medium to another, and that light can be reflected, refracted, and
absorbed:
Materials
Water
15 identical strips of paper
Ruler
Pencils
Three different types of markers (including one
permanent marker)
A wide-mouth jar for the solvent
Procedure
Materials
coffee filters
washable black marker (may use
more colors)
beaker of water
easily washable surface
Procedure
1. Fold a coffee filter in half and then fold it in half again so that
it takes the shape of a cone.
2. With the black marker, color in the tip of the cone.
3. Dip the colored region in the water, and then place it on the
surface.
4. Wait and observe. What happens?
Materials
Procedure
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
Procedure
The carbon dioxide gas bubbles released from the Sprite soda
attaches to the rough sides of the raisins. The bubbles decrease a
raisin’s density, thus the buoyancy of the raisins will increase. The
more buoyancy an object has, the more able it is to float. The gas
bubbles float the raisins to the top of the soda. Then the carbon
dioxide bubbles are released into the air, and the raisins float back
down to the bottom of the cup. The process keeps repeating itself.
Egg Suction
Materials
1 hardboiled egg
1 glass bottle or jar with an opening smaller than the egg
Wooden kitchen matches
Procedure
Materials
Boiled Egg
Paper towel
Matches
Erlenmeyer flask or glass
bottle
Procedure
1. Shell the hardboiled egg
2. Shred the paper towel
3. Stick the shredded paper towel inside the flask/ bottle
4. Light the match
5. Drop the match into the flask so the paper towel catches on
fire
6. Put the egg on the rim/opening of the flask so that it is sealing
off the air flow
7. Watch as the egg is sucked into the flask
The Scientific Explanation
Materials
Procedure
Mug
Manila Folder
5 Gallon Bucket
Water
Scissors
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
1. Fill the cup with water until the water level is even with the
top of the cup.
2. Slowly drop a penny into the cup of water.
3. Observe what happens to the water level.
4. Continue dropping pennies slowly into the cup until the water
overflows down the side.
5. Record how many pennies are in the cup when the water
overflows.
The Scientific Explanation
Procedure
1 can of Coca-cola
1 can of Diet Coke
Cans of other assorted diet and regular sodas
Plastic cooler or container (about 6 liter size)
Water (about 5 ½ liters)
Procedure
Cup of water
Cup of vegetable oil
Cup of honey
A penny
A grape
A cork
Tall drinking glass
Procedure
Materials
4 teaspoons of
sodium borate
¼ teaspoons of food
coloring
2 1/3 cups of water
2 cups of glue
3 wooden mixing
bowls
1 wooden mixing
spoon
1 Microwave
Procedure
Materials
• 1 egg
• 1 plastic cup
• Vinegar
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
When the food coloring is dropped onto the milk, it does not
sink or spread out. This is because the food coloring is less dense
than the milk. Because of this, it can just float on top, and the food
coloring and milk do mix together. When the soap is added, a
reaction takes place. The soap helps to break the surface tension of
the water in milk by breaking apart fat molecules. This is why it is
best to use whole milk rather than skim milk. The milk that has not
been touched by the soap has a higher surface tension than the milk
that touches the soap. Because of this, it is able to pull the surface
away from the soap. This is why it looks as though the color travels
away from the soap. The food coloring moves with the milk creating
a tie dye effect.
Suspended Egg
Materials
A tall glass
A raw egg
Tap water
Table salt (at least 10
table spoons)
A plastic stirrer
A teaspoon
Procedure
Why does the egg float in salt water but sink in fresh water? This
happens because of density, which defines how much mass an
object for a given volume. Density is expressed by the equation:
Density = Mass/Volume. The denser an object is the more compact
its molecules are. Salt water is denser than fresh water, which is
why the salt water sinks to the bottom. But because the egg has a
density between salt and fresh water the egg floats in between the
two liquids.
Slime!
Materials
1 Teaspoon Borax
1 ½ cups water
½ cup of Elmer’s glue
Food coloring
(optional)
Measuring Cup
Medium size bowl
A spoon
Small plastic bag
Procedure
The slime that you just made is a material called a polymer, which is
a long chain of molecules that are connected to each other. Borax
links the glue molecules to each other. As more molecules become
linked together, the more putty-like the slime becomes.
Homemade Balloon Pump
Materials
Procedure
When the vinegar mixes with the baking soda, a chemical reaction
occurs. In this case, vinegar (CH3COOH) combines with baking soda
(NaHCO3) to make carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and sodium
acetate (CH3COONa). The carbon dioxide is a gas that is created
by the mixture of vinegar and baking soda, which fills up the balloon
in this experiment.
Matchstick Speedboats
Materials
3 matches
A large container full of water
Dish washing liquid (one teaspoon)
Procedure
1. Place the container of water on a level surface.
2. Place the three matches on the surface of the water.
3. Pour a teaspoon of dish washing liquid into the water next to
one of the matches.
4. What happens to the matches?
The Scientific Explanation
Procedure
Materials
Procedure
When you spin the cylinder, you exert a force on it. This means that
there is something pushing on the cylinder. This force points toward
the bottom of the cylinder, so the water is pushed against the
bottom. The faster you spin it, the greater the force. This means
that the faster you spin the cylinder, the more force is pushing on
the water to keep it from falling out. If you spin the cylinder fast
enough, the push on the water to stay in is greater than the pull of
gravity. This force is what keeps the water in the cylinder when you
spin it.
Can You Separate Salt
and Pepper?
Materials
Comb
Salt
Pepper
Wool (or hair)
Procedure
Rubbing the comb against the wool or through your hair gives it a
negative charge, like any plastic object that is rubbed against cloth
or fur. The salt and pepper both have positive charges, and because
opposite charges attract, they will try to move toward the comb
because of the force of static electricity. When the comb is
lowered above the mixture, the pepper particles fly up to the comb
because of this attraction. Because the pepper particles are much
lighter than the salt, they are attracted to the comb more easily
than the salt, without the comb having to be lowered as close to
them. This causes the pepper to separate from the salt and stick to
the comb. If you move the comb closer to the salt and pepper
mixture, the salt will eventually fly up and stick to the comb as well
as the pepper.
Excited Salt
Materials
A latex balloon
Salt (about ¼ teaspoon)
A volunteer with long hair
Procedure
Materials
String
Scissors
Wire hanger
Metal Spoon
Procedure
Materials
2 plastic rulers
1 clean sock
Paper towel
a sink
Procedure
By rubbing the sock on the ruler, the ruler becomes charged. There
are positive and negative charges, which attract each other;
however, two positive or two negative charges will repel each other.
When the charged ruler is close to the water, the charges that are
opposite to the charge of the ruler move closer to the ruler, and
the others move away from it. Therefore the force between the
water and the ruler will make the water flow move closer to the
ruler.
Disappearing Colors
Materials
Procedure
Flaps
Finished Product
Materials
Basketball
Tennis Ball
Procedure
1. Hold the basketball and the tennis ball next to each other at
about shoulder height.
2. Drop both balls at the same time.
3. Notice how high each ball bounces.
4. Hold the tennis ball on top of the basketball at shoulder height.
5. Drop both balls at the same time.
6. Notice how high each ball bounces.
The Scientific Explanation
The tennis ball bounces very high because of momentum, the mass
of a system multiplied by the velocity of a system. Momentum in a
system is always conserved, so the mass and velocity are inversely
proportional. In other words, as the mass decreases, the velocity
increases while the momentum stays the same. In this case, the
tennis ball and basketball form a system. When the two balls are
dropped on top of each other, the mass of the system is the
combined mass of both of the balls. When the balls hit the floor,
only the tennis ball bounces up. The mass of the system decreases
to only that of the tennis ball, so velocity increases.
A Simple DC Motor
Materials
Different-sized brand-new batteries
(AA, AAA, C, D)
Different-sized flathead screws
(about 1”-2” long)
Assorted circular magnets (slightly
larger than the head of the screws
and between 1/16”-1/4” thick)
Some wire
Wire strippers
Some tape
Procedure
Materials
The heat from the water travels up the metal spoon, plastic
spoon, and popsicle stick because they can each conduct heat, but
to varying degrees. As the utensils warm up, the butter on each of
them is melted, which makes the candy fall off. The faster a candy
falls off, the better a conductor its utensil is because the heat was
able to travel through it more quickly.
Mini-Hovercraft
Materials
A large balloon
Scissors
Pull out cap (such as those
found on water bottles and
dish soap containers)
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
a CD
Procedure
The hovercraft travels easily because the air released from the
balloon creates an air cushion below the CD and lifts the device
slightly off the ground. This cushion of air helps to separate the
hovercraft from the surface it’s gliding over, which reduces friction
between the mechanism and the surface. Less friction means less
resistance, and this allows the appliance to travel longer distances
with less force applied to it. In addition, the CD helps to keep the
apparatus parallel to the surface it’s traveling over, and distributes
the weight of the craft over a larger area. This enables the
hovercraft to be moved with a smaller amount of force.
Making a Series Circuit
Materials
Procedure
Take 4 pieces of wire, and tape each end to the ends of the
batteries (so each battery has two wires on either side)
Take the other 4 pieces and tape them to each contact on the
light bulbs.
Make a simple series circuit by attaching the battery wires to
the light bulb wires in a loop. Why does the light bulb light up?
Add another light bulb into the circuit. Does the first light
bulb get dimmer? Why?
Instead, try adding the second battery. Why does the light bulb
get brighter?
Try adding the light bulb back in, on top of the additional light
bulb. Record your observations.
The Scientific Explanation
Materials
A lemon
A knife
Stiff copper wire
10 Smooth test clips
4 U.S. pennies
4 Galvanized nails
Wire cutters
2.4V LED light
Procedure
Materials
AA Battery
Aluminum Foil
Small Flashlight Bulb
Sticky Tape
Procedure
1. Cut the aluminum foil into two rectangles of the same size. They
should be about 5 centimeters by 3 centimeters.
2. Roll the rectangles of foil the long way so they become round 5-
centimeter wires.
3. On each wire, press one end so that it appears to be flat. Then,
roll the other end in your fingers so that it is pointy, round, and
smooth.
4. Tape the flat side one wire to the negative side of the battery,
and tape the flat side of the other wire to the positive side of
the battery.
5. Tape the wire from the negative end of the battery to the metal
on the bulb, and just touch (not tape) the wire from the positive
end of the battery to the bottom of the bulb.
6. What happens when both wires are connected to the light bulb?
What happens when just one is connected?
Materials
100mL of water
2 Styrofoam plates
4cm needle
2cm needle
1cm x 2cm cylindrical magnet
Procedure
LED
Magnifying Glass
Meter Stick
Printer Paper
Tape
Pencil
Procedure
The light from the LED passes through the magnifying lens and is
redirected towards a focal point on the other side. If the light hits
the paper before reaching this point, a circle is formed. The closer
the distance of the lens gets to the focus, the smaller the circle
becomes. But after passing through the focal point, the circle of
light will grow larger.
Growing Sugar Crystals
Materials
Procedure
1. Tie one end of the string to the pencil. Make sure the
paperclip is clean and then tie the other end of the string to
the paperclip
2. Boil 1 cup of water. Make sure an adult is in the room or ask
one to boil the water for you.
3. Once the water is boiling, add the 3 cups of sugar.
4. Carefully stir the sugar until it dissolves in the water.
5. If you want, you can add food coloring at this point to make
your sugar crystals colorful.
6. Once the sugar is completely dissolved pour the mixture into a
glass jar. Be careful, it will be very hot!
7. If you have extra mixture you can save it for later or throw it
out.
8. Place the pencil with the string and the paperclip across the
jar top so the paperclip and the string are underneath the
water and sugar mixture. Make sure they don’t touch the
bottom or the sides. You can wrap the string around the pencil
a couple times if the paperclip touches the bottom.
9. Put the jar in a place where it won’t be disturbed. Wait a
couple days to a week until you can see crystals on the string
and paperclip.
Water
Sugar
Popsicle stick
Microwave oven
Yarn
Bowel
Plastic cup
Procedure
Materials
12 popsicle sticks
Procedure
Materials
String
2 222mL aluminum cans
1 straightedge with centimeter markings
At least 2 large books greater than 20 cm tall
1cm diameter straw
Procedure
The cans should clink together because an area of low pressure has
been created between the two. Bernoulli’s Principle says that when
the velocity in a fluid increases, the pressure decreases. When the
air velocity between the two cans increases, an area of low pressure
is created, and thus the two cans move towards this area of low
pressure because it is similar to a vacuum.
Floating Ping Pong Balls
Materials
A Hair Dryer
1 or more ping-pong balls
Procedure
Procedure
5. Unfold and make holes with the pencil along the smallest
creases
6. Trim off the tip with the scissors.
7. Take the remaining bottom strip and fold it twice the long way
to divide it into four sections
8. Cut along the creases formed but not all the way, alternating
sides
10. Tie the ends of the string through the two holes
11. Hold the center of the string and walk around the class quickly
to see the kite fly behind you
12. What makes the kite stay in the air? What happens if you cut
holes in the kite? How would making the string longer affect
the kite?
The Scientific Explanation
Airplanes also divert the air to create lift in order to fly. They
have been designed to optimally control the flow of air around them
to be as aerodynamic as possible. Aerodynamics is the branch of
science dealing with the motions of air and other gases around
bodies passing through them.
The Lincoln High Dive
Materials
- A Lincoln Penny
- A Piece of Card Stock
(at least 3x45 cm)
- Small container that a penny
can fall into
- Regular Pen or Pencil
- Scissors
- Tape
Procedure
1. Cut the card stock so it is about 3-4 centimeters wide and 40-
45 centimeters long.
2. Tape the card stock at the ends forming a hoop.
3. Take the container and tape it to a stable surface.
4. Place the hoop on the container and place the penny on top of
the hoop directly above the container.
5. Using the pencil, quickly pull the hoop from under the penny
and watch as Lincoln lands safely into the container.
The Scientific Explanation
The penny will fall into the container every time because of
Newton’s First Law of Motion, or The Law of Inertia. The Law
of Inertia states that an object in motion will stay in motion and
an object at rest will stay in rest, unless acted on by another
force. When the hoop is pulled out from under the penny, there
is not enough friction to move the penny, and it is left in the
same position above the container. The penny is then pulled into
the container by gravity.
Impulse
Materials
A cardboard box
One water bottle (with water in it)
A sheet of aluminum tinfoil
An analog clock
A meter stick
A scale
Procedure
When the water bottle comes into contact with the aluminum
tinfoil, a force equal and opposite to the direction of motion is
exerted on the falling mass. This force acts to decelerate the
container as it accelerates downward, extending the time taken for
the object to complete the drop. In addition, when the water bottle
is dropped into the box without the aluminum tinfoil covering the
opening, the total time for the drop decreases because no force
opposite the direction of motion is being added to the falling
object. In other words, when the force of gravity on a falling mass is
opposed by another force, then the downward force acting on the
object decreases. This causes the time for the fall to increase.