12 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).

Two stacked pairs of bottles: in one, yellow and blue water stay in separate layers; in the other, they have mixed to green Physics, Ecology

Hot and Cold Water Cups

10 min to 6 hours

Supplies: Water of different temperatures; Identical-sized clear cups; Food coloring; ...

Concepts: Density(Physics); Thermohaline circulation(Ecology); Lake turnover(Ecology).

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 a bent straw siphoning water out over the rim of a cup Physics

Straw Siphon

10 - 20 min

Supplies: Bendable drinking straws, Cups, Water

Concepts: Siphons (Physics), Momentum (Physics), Gravity

Drawing of an upside-down bottle with a tube, and water spraying up inside like a fountain Physics

Fountain in a Bottle

30 - 90 min

Supplies: Plastic Bottle, Plastic Tubing, Drill or knife, Glue and Tape

Concepts: Siphons (Physics), Momentum (Physics), Air Pressure (Physcis), 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)

An egg floating in the middle of a jar, between a layer of salt water and a layer of fresh water Physics

Halocline Eggs

10 min

Supplies: salt, water, eggs, jars

Concepts: density