18 experiments in this category

An upside-down cup of blue water held closed by a plastic lid Physics, Chemistry

Gravity Defying Lid

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Cup; Plastic lid or piece of cardboard or cardstock.

Concepts: Balanced forces(Physics); Pressure(Physics); Cohesion of water(Chemistry).

An upside-down jar of blue water with a mesh screen over the mouth, and the water staying inside Physics, Chemistry

Magic Screen

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Jar with metal ring or cup and rubberband; Screen or mesh cloth; Lid o...

Concepts: Balanced forces(Physics); Pressure(Physics); Cohesion and surface tension of water(Chemistry).

Colored water drops beading up on waxed paper, pushed around with a toothpick Chemistry

Water Drops on Waxed Paper

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Waxed Paper; Dropper; Food Coloring; Toothpick; Soap;

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry); Surfactants (Chemistry)

A dropper adding blue water to a tall dome of water on a coin Chemistry

Water on a Coin

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Coin; Dropper;

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry)

Ground pepper pushed out to the edges of a bowl of blue water Chemistry

Pepper Scatter

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Bowl or cup; Concentrated Dish Soap; Pepper

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry); Surfactants (Chemistry)

A small folded paper boat floating on water Chemistry

Soap Boat

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Paper; Scissors; Concentrated Dish Soap;

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry); Surfactants (Chemistry)

A pin floating on the surface of a cup of blue water Chemistry

Floating Pin

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Bowl or cup; Pin

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry);

A paperclip floating on the surface of water in a clear cup Chemistry

Floating Paperclip

10 - 30 min

Supplies: Water; Bowl or cup; Paperclip

Concepts: Surface Tension of Water (Chemistry);

Paper towel strips hanging from a rod, with marker ink separated into bands of color Chemistry

Ink Chromatography

30 - 90 min

Supplies: Markers, Paper towels, Water

Concepts: Separation of compounds based on rate of movement (Chromatography), Solubility (Chemistry), Capi...

Paper towels carrying colored water between glasses, mixing blue and yellow into green Physics, Chemistry

Walking Water

1 - 4 hrs

Supplies: 5 cups, 4 paper towels, Water, Food Coloring

Concepts: Capillary Action (Chemistry), Siphons (Physics), Gravity

Drawing of two cups: an ice cube sinking in oil and an ice cube floating in water Physics, Chemistry

Oil Cube vs. Ice Cube

30 - 60 min

Supplies: Water, Oil, Ice cube tray, Freezer

Concepts: Density (Physics); Changes of state (Chemistry)

Drawing of a cracked block of ice pushing out of its container, showing how water expands as it freezes Physics, Chemistry

Frost Wedging

2 - 4 days

Supplies: Containers, balloons, Plaster of Paris, Water, Freezer

Concepts: Changes of state (Chemistry), Force (Physics)

Drawing of a chilled drink poured over ice and turning into slush Physics, Chemistry

Instant Slushy

2 - 3 hours

Supplies: Bottled soda, Freezer, Ice

Concepts: Supercooling of liquids (Physics and Chemistry), Changes of state (Chemistry)

A bottle of blue water and oil tipped on its side to make waves Physics, Chemistry

Ocean in a Bottle

10-30 min

Supplies: Water, Oil, Bottle with lid, Plastic beads, Toothpicks, Hot glue, Thin plasti...

Concepts: Density (Physics), Hydrophobic vs. Hydrophilic (Chemistry)

A homemade lava lamp with red bubbles rising through oil in a bottle Physics, Chemistry

Lava Lamp

10-30 min

Supplies: Water, Oil, Bottle, Effervescent antacid tablets, Food coloring

Concepts: Density (Physics), Chemical Reactions (Chemistry), Hydrophobic vs. Hydrophilic (Chemistry)

A lit wick floating in a layer of oil above green water in a glass Chemistry

Oil Lamp

10-30 min

Supplies: Oil, Water (optional), Food coloring (optional), Cardboard, Toilet Paper or P...

Concepts: Combustion (Chemistry), Density (Chemistry)

Drawing of three cube-shaped salt crystals with the words Salt Crystals Chemistry

Salt Crystals

1 week

Supplies: salt, water, jar

Concepts: evaporation, changes of state, crystals

A purple crystal geode grown inside an eggshell Chemistry

Eggshell Geodes

1 day

Supplies: alum, water, eggshells, jars

Concepts: crystal formation, solutions