Experiments are the soul of science. Several inventions exist today because someone out there failed till they finally succeeded. Believe it or not, some experiments would have to be tweaked to death to make them work.
Back in the day, science was boring. There was nothing more than textbooks and listening to professors. Surely, life didn’t give us too many chances to appreciate science. These days, it’s a different story. Yes, science can be fun.
Here are 7 intriguing science experiments for your kids to help them appreciate science and also have fun along the way.
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Table of Contents
The Fireproof Balloon Experiment
How about this? You place a balloon under the fire, and it does not burst! Yes, you literally push the balloon to its limits, and much to everyone’s surprise it holds on. The fragile balloon does not even frown. It holds its ground as if it’s smiling back at you, and saying that I am stronger than what you think of me. How is that possible? Isn’t fire supposed to be an indestructible force of nature? All it took is a balloon experiment to break this myth or what?
So, before you go mad with your imaginations, here’s how this intriguing science experiment works. First up, we will brief you with the materials needed for this experiment. All you need is a couple of deflated balloons, one candle, a matchstick and some water. So, let’s begin the experiment. First up, fill a balloon with air and hold it below a burning candle. As you might have guessed, it would burst. So, round one goes to the fire.
Now, let’s get to round two. Here’s a little twist. The rules of the game are changed in round two. The balloon doesn’t want to rely completely on air. It also needs water by its side. So, fill the second balloon with a little bit of water as well, and put it to the test. Guess what? Armed with a better companion, the balloon wins the battle. Believe it or not, the water filled balloon will not burst. Just make sure to hold the second balloon directly under the water area of the balloon.
Now, it’s time to break the news to you because you might be wondering how the balloon stole the victory despite being such an underdog. Here’s the science behind the experiment. The water inside the balloon absorbs all the heat coming from the candle. As a result, the rubber balloon is able to withstand the heat from the fire without bursting up. Interesting, isn’t it? Kids will surely find this science experiment intriguing and fun. So, let the show begin.
Straw through a Potato Experiment
Yes, you heard it right. We will unveil the sick science that will help you poke a hole through a potato by a supposedly weak plastic straw. This is actually one of the simplest experiments to do. First, you can ask your kids to try to see if it works. Surely, they will fail because they won’t have a clue about the science behind the trick, which you are about to learn in a short while from us.
All you need to do is place your thumb over one end of the straw holes and stab it on the potato. It will pierce right through the potato. That’s it. Just make sure that you are not breaking or bending the straw while covering one end of the hole.
Want to know the secret behind this experiment? It’s actually the air that does the trick over here. When you place your thumb over one end of the straw, it traps the air inside of it. The air molecules within the straw compress and provide enough strength to the straw to break through the potato and make an exit from the other side. Of course, you are not restricted to a potato to perform this experiment. Just open your refrigerator and try out different fruits and vegetables that seem best fitted to be the straw’s next victim for this cool experiment.
Water Defying Gravity Experiment
What goes up has to come down, isn’t it? That’s what has been taught to us ever since our schooling days. Turn a glass of water upside down, and the water should flow out, right? Not with this experiment. This intriguing scientific experiment is a bit offbeat because it’s determined to break the norms of gravity. Therefore, it’s named the water defying gravity experiment. What you will need for this experiment is a glass half filled with water and a cardboard. So, let’s get into the act.
Simply place a cardboard firmly on the mouth of the glass. Now, turn the glass upside down, while firmly holding the cardboard that is covering the mouth of the water. Now, slowly take away the hand that is holding the cardboard. When you take your hand away, you will notice that the card is sucked to the surface of the glass, thereby preventing the water from falling off. So, even though the glass is upside down, the water stays in place. Kudos to the water! Indeed, a gravity defeating feat.
Wondering what’s the science behind it? Ok, we won’t leave you disappointed by not sharing the mystery. Here’s what is really happening. By blocking the surface of the glass with cardboard, we are blocking the passage of air. The air pressure from the outside is greater than the pressure inside the glass. This ensures that the water stays in place. If everything falls in place, this simple science trick can be performed and taught to your kids in just about no time.
Egg and Toothpaste Experiment
Are you having a hard time motivating your kids to brush their teeth? Well, this cool experiment will show kids the importance of routine teeth care. Because of the visual similarities between eggshells and teeth enamel, we will use hard-boiled eggs for this experiment. Once kids see the obvious damage from a Halloween candy or chocolate, they will realize the importance of teeth maintenance. Plus, they will learn this cool science trick.
All we need is a few household items to conduct this experiment such as a soda can, toothpaste, toothbrush, a glass, and one hard-boiled egg. So, let’s get started. Simply place the hard-boiled egg into an empty glass. Do not remove the white shell. Now, pour a can of cola into the empty glass. Any dark brown soda can be substituted for a can of cola to perform this experiment. Leave the egg alone for at least 6 hours or overnight. Once the waiting period is over, use a spoon to carefully take the egg out of the glass.
Inspect the egg and show your kids the damage. Discuss the stains on the egg and talk about how the eggshell is similar to our tooth enamel. Tell them that the eggshell contains calcium carbonate, the same substance found in human bones and teeth. In this manner, they will be able to relate better. Kids might be alarmed to see the overnight stains. Even reluctant brushers might change their mind after being exposed to this intriguing science experiment.
Now, the big question is, how to remove the egg stains? Place some toothpaste on a brush and get your kids to act. Let them brush the egg shell like they brush their teeth. Once done, rinse off to see the difference. They will feel like a winner when they remove all the stains from the eggshell. The visual appeal does the trick. It really helps your kids practice good hygiene. Indeed, it’s a cool science experiment to show the principle of why we brush our teeth.
Tea Bag Rocket Experiment
Are you ready to undertake a mini NASA project? Ok, forget about the degrees or excuses. We can help you make tea bag rockets that can fire in the air within minutes of starting the operation. Of course, you will have to perform this scientific experiment in a fire-safe area to avoid damage to people or property. Ok, so here’s what you will need for this experiment; a couple of well-known scientists, few investors with deep pockets and a brilliant mind. Just kidding! You don’t need any of this groundbreaking stuff that can stall the project before it takes off the ground.
Here are the real ingredients that will ensure that your rocket takes flight without actually spending a dime. A tea bag, a lighter, and a fire-resistant tray are all the stuff that you will need to give life to the tea bag rocket. So, here we go.
To begin with, free the tea bag from the labels, staple, and strings. Then, simply cut the tea bags from one side and empty them. Shape the tea bags into cylinders. Make sure that the surface is flat and there’s a space in the center of the teabags. You can use your fingers to create the space. Finally, place them upright on the fire resistant tray or a granite countertop. Light the tea bag on fire from the top and let the flame go down to the bottom of the tea bag to witness it take off!
Here’s the explanation for this trick. Lightening the top of the tea bag heats the air inside of it. This causes the air molecules to spread out rapidly. As a result, the air inside becomes quite dense. Once the tea bag burns completely, it creates enough force to launch it into the air. So, the air inside the cylinder is hotter and ultimately less dense than the air outside causing the cylinder to take off the ground.
Turning Pennies Green Experiment
With the help of some chemical reactions, we can make this happen and leave our kids in a state of bewilderment. It’s a simple trick that can amaze your kids. The materials needed for this experiment are copper pennies, white vinegar, bowl, and a paper towel.
From start to finish, here’s how to conduct this experiment. Place the paper towel on a flat surface and put some copper pennies on top of them. Pour vinegar on them until the towel is completely saturated. Observe the pennies over few hours and days. You will be amazed to see them change colors. The longer you wait, the greener they turn. If you are waiting for few days, keep adding vinegar to the paper towel to ensure that it does not dry out.
Here’s the science behind the trick. When the copper pennies interact with vinegar, they form a chemical reaction that causes the pennies to turn green. The vinegar allows copper pennies to easily react with the oxygen present in the air to form a blue-green colored compound called malachite. Hence, the pennies turn green when exposed to vinegar.
Making Fake Snow Experiment
Want to know how to make fake snow in minutes at the comforts of your home? This is a no expense experiment. So, you won’t need extra money or special skills to perform this experiment. In fact, you will be blown away by the simplicity of this experiment.
All you need is salt, water, and a bowl to create fake snow. The first thing that you need to do is put some salt into the bowl. Pour a little bit of water into the bowl and mix them together. There you go. You will have realistic looking snow within minutes.
Agreed, it’s not the real deal, but kids will have a great deal of fun with this artificial snow. There is no precise measuring system over here. You will just add more water or more salt to it until you get the snow consistency that you desire.
Conclusion
Everything is literally offbeat about science experiments. That’s what essentially makes them fun and interesting for kids. The weird and wonderful part about science dabs their attention and leaves them with awe. So, why not take advantage of their curiosity and introduce them to these intriguing science experiments? Not only will these experiments blow their mind, but could also make them love science get good grades in the class.
