Last Minute Science Fair Ideas: Vol 2 – 12 Hours & Counting...

By JB Concepts Media

Have you ever wondered how a telescope brings objects closer or how cameras take pictures? How boats float or aeroplanes fly? All of these seemingly complicated things can be explained by basic science. With the help of this book, you will construct many weird, wonderful and wacky experiments that you can have hours of fun with!
Is the deadline for your science fair project quickly approaching? Not to worry, the 'Last Minute Science Fair Ideas’ series is written in an easy to follow format that will guide you to create an exciting science project for the upcoming fair. The science projects in each of the books of this 4-volume series are conveniently sorted according to the approximate time required to complete each experiment.
The 80 projects contained in this science experiment e-book cover a wide range of scientific topics; from Chemistry and Electricity to Life Sciences and Physics... there are even experiments on earth science, astronomy and geology all designed for science students from grade 1 to 8! With this book, you are sure to find a project that interests you. When you are interested in a certain science topic, you will have more fun, and learn more, too!
Amongst many others, you will make a depth graph using the principles of echo-location to understand how sound travels, construct a simple gyro to see how objects fly, make pulleys, levers and gears to experiment with mechanics, and make a homemade electroscope to learn about the attraction & repulsion forces of magnetism!
Other fun experiments include: mixing lemon juice and baking soda to make an endothermic reaction, calculating the viscosity factor of various liquids, telling the time with your own water clock, testing if marble is present in rock samples, using a solar powered calculator to measure light levels, removing static charges in clothing, Building a simple submarine, thaumatrope, air pressure rocket and many, many more! When making these gadgets, you’ll discover that science is a part of every object in our daily lives, and who knows, maybe someday you will become a famous inventor too!
Designed with safety in mind, most of the items you will need for the experiments, such as jars, aluminium foil, scissors and sticky tape, you can find around your home. Others, such as magnets, lenses or a compass, you will be able to buy quite cheaply at a hobby shop or hardware store.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JB Concepts Media
• Release date: Feb 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370567751

JB Concepts Media

Experiland was founded in 2010 as one of JBC Media Group's subsidiaries. It started out as an on-line science experiment e-book store, dedicated to young science students, their parents and teachers and other young at heart science enthusiasts.Written by retired grade K-8 science teachers, great care has been put into each of our science projects to provide the science student of today with the basic knowledge of the scientific principles of our world.Even though the World Wide Web might be overflowing with an abundance of science project information, we realized that a need for well written and categorized science project books exist to help young students create high quality science fair projects or just have fun while learning about science hands-on.Try not to have fun – We dare you!

Book preview

LAST MINUTE SCIENCE FAIR IDEAS: 12 HOURS & COUNTING…

VOLUME 2 | 80 science projects for gradeS 1 TO 8

Revision 1.42

This edition was first internationally published in Dec 2010 by JBC Media Group (Pty) Ltd for www.experiland.com. Original fixed layouts remastered in .epub & .mobi formats (Jan 2017)

ISBN: XXXXXXXXXXX

© WWW.EXPERILAND.COM

COPYRIGHT: No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections certain sections of the International Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Centre. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to: Experiland Permissions Department, part of JB Concepts Media group, Pty (Ltd) online at http://www.experiland.com/

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Editing, Publishing & Cover Designer by: JB Concepts Media group, Inc. Int. Copyright © 2010. For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department at [e-mail] | JB Concepts Media | Experiland publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Several of the content that appears in this book is not available on our website.

TRADEMARKS: JB Concepts Media Group (Pty) Ltd, and the Experiland logo is trademarks or registered companies of JB Concepts group Pty (Ltd), and/or its affiliates, worldwide, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. JB Concepts Media Group, Pty (Ltd) is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[PREFACE]

Preface

Introduction

Let’s Begin!

A Word about Safety

How to…

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: CHEMISTRY]

Introduction to Chemistry

What is Chemistry About?

Project 01 - Secret Script

Send secret messages to your friends with your own invisible ink

Project 02 - Mixing Drinks

Learn why some liquids do not mix with each other

Project 03 - Stretch Your Imagination

Study how temperature affect the stretch of an elastic band

Project 04 - Spud Starch Test

Use iodine to test for the presence of starch in foods

Project 05 - Erupting Volcano

Use chemical power to make a shooting volcano

Project 06 - Not Up to Snuff

Extinguish a candle by removing the heat with aluminium foil

Project 07 - Hot Chemistry!

Add vinegar to steel wool to make an exothermic reaction

Project 08 - Electrochemical Plating Pleasure

Use some simple chemistry to electro-plate a nail

Project 09 - Bouncing About

Make raisins bounce up & down with this chemical reaction

Project 10 - The Chemistry of Caramel

Use a chemical reaction to make caramel from sugar

Project 11 - Sticky Situation

Learn about chemical reactions by making your own glue

Project 12 - Setting Out Solidly

Find out what happens to solid matter when it is heated

Project 13 - Semi-Permeability Test

Use iodine to test the amazing property of semi-permeability

Project 14 - Falling Time

Calculate the viscosity factor of various liquids

Project 15 - Who Passed Gas?

Find out what happens to gases when it is heated

Project 16 - Brrrr, It’s Cold!

Mix lemon juice and baking soda to make an endothermic reaction

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: EARTH SCIENCE & ASTRONOMY]

Introduction to Earth Science & Astronomy

What is Earth Science & Astronomy About?

Project 17 - Planets in Balance

Demonstrate the gravitational centre of the earth and the moon's orbits

Project 18 - Some Speed!

Calculate how fast the earth rotates in this simple science experiment

Project 19 - Swing Low, Sweet Pendulum

Prove the rotation of the earth with Foucault's pendulum

Project 20 - Earth’s Magnetic Field

Illustrate the earth's magnetic field on a piece of paper

Project 21 - Just A Bunch of Hot Air

Observe how hot air rises with a spiral

Project 22 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Make a rainbow with water and a mirror

Project 23 - What’s The Time Please?

Tell the time with your own water clock

Project 24 - Sun Gauge

Measure the height of your school with the use of the sun

Project 25 - Testing for Marble

Test if marble is present in rock samples

Project 26 - Fast Falling Objects

Learn about the speed of various falling objects

Project 27 - See-Saw Margery Daw

Make a see-saw candle

Project 28 - Weighing Things Up

Make a spring balance to compare the weight of various objects

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM]

Introduction to Electricity & Magnetism

What is Electricity & Magnetism About?

Project 29 - Feel Like Dancing?

More attraction & repulsion with static electricity

Project 30 - Fabulous Flower Fun

Make an electro-static flower to demonstrate how similar charges repel

Project 31 - What’s on Television?

Demonstrate the unseen static electricity emanating from a TV set

Project 32 - Electroscopic Energy

Make your own homemade electroscope

Project 33 - You Are Grounded!

Remove static charges in clothing by grounding them

Project 34 - Shining Silverware

Remove the tarnish off silverware using an electrolyte

Project 35 - Come into The Light

Use a solar powered calculator to measure light levels

Project 36 - The Magic of Magnetism

Propel a small ‘boat’ with magnetic power

Project 37 - Rust in Pieces

Compare the magnetic properties of iron and rust

Project 38 - Temperature and Magnetism

Study what effect high or low temperatures have on a magnet

Project 39 - 3d Magnetic Field

Display a three dimensional magnetic field in mineral oil

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: LIFE SCIENCE]

Introduction to Life Science

What is Life Science About?

Project 40 - I Spy with My Little Eye

Learn how the eye colour of different individuals vary

Project 41 - Treat Your Tongue to Some Tastes

Map the positions of tastes of your tongue

Project 42 - Life in Three Dimensions

Make a D viewer with the power of visual illusion

Project 43 - Heart Broken?

Make your own device for listening to your heart

Project 44 - Smoke & Mirrors!

Fool your eyes with these optical illusions

Project 45 - Flexing Muscles

Learn how muscle contraction causes bones to move

Project 46 - Breath in, Breath Out

See how much air can your lungs hold

Project 47 - Does It Sound Confusing?

Test your friends’ ability to judge the direction of sounds

Project 48 - Twenty / Twenty Vision

Make a Snellen chart to test your friends’ eyesight

Project 49 - Turn The Turtle

Learn how to tell whether a turtle is male or female

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: PHYSICS]

Introduction to Physics

What is Physics About?

Project 50 - Hear Me Out

Make a tin can telephone

Project 51 - Music to My Ears

Make a whistle to learn more about sound & music

Project 52 - Reflecting On Sound

Control the direction of soundwaves by reflecting it with umbrellas

Project 53 - Tick, Tock!

Use a balloon filled with carbon dioxide to amplify sound waves

Project 54 - As The Call, So The Echo

Make a depth graph using the principles of echo-location

Project 55 - Moving Upwards

Lift water in a glass by the weight of the air

Project 56 - Catching The Wind

Learn about the power of moving air by making a windmill

Project 57 - Working Under Pressure

Propel a small boat with compressed air

Project 58 - Rev Up a Rotor

Build a rotor and have some fun in the wind

Project 59 - Sir, Yes Sir!

Make your own simple submarine

Project 60 - Working Under Pressure

Propel a small boat with air pressure

Project 61 - Vertical Rocket Science

Launch your own vertical rocket with the power of air pressure

Project 62 - Wind Up a Windmill

Make a windmill do some simple work for you

Project 63 - Smooth Sailing

Drive a sailboat with this fun science experiment

Project 64 - Breathing Air

Study how air fills spaces that look empty

Project 65 - Hungry Fire

Study how fire use up air when burning

Project 66 - Elastic Effort

Make a spool ‘walk’ with the energy stored in an elastic band

Project 67 - Pulling A Fast One!

Prove you are stronger than your friends with a simple pulley system

Project 68 - Don’t Dive Too Deep

Have fun with the cartesian diver experiment

Project 69 - Swing The Lead Twice

Make a pendulum bowling game

Project 70 - Moving Matchsticks

Make matchsticks move without touching them

Project 71 - Picking Up Heavy Metal

Pick up heavy weights easily with a simple pulley system

Project 72 - Picking Up Heavy Metal 2

Pick up heavy weights easily with a double pulley system

Project 73 - Balancing Act

Balance forks on a string with the science of levers

Project 74 - Changing Gear

Make some gears out of cardboard to learn how they work

Project 75 - A Colour Wheel of White

Make colours vanish to white by a spinning colour wheel

Project 76 - Magnification Magic

Make a magnifying glass with a pin and paper only

Project 77 - If You Can’t Take the Heat

Use ice cubes to test if dark colours absorb more heat than light colours

Project 78 - Burst into Flames

Hold a match under an inflated balloon without bursting it

Project 79 - A Fountain of Colours

Make a fountain by separating colours with the rise of hot water

Project 80 - Keeping Things Heated

Study which materials works best as a heat insulator

[EPILOGUE]

Unit Conversions

Acknowledgements

Thank you

INTRODUCTION

FOREWORD

Thank you for purchasing a science experiment e-book from Experiland.com! Whether you are a parent or a student trying to find an idea for a science project, a teacher looking for ideas for the classroom, or a science enthusiast who enjoys the delight of experimentation, we trust you will find what you're looking for in this book. This book is a fascinating collection of both old and new science projects & experiments covering the whole basic spectrum of the astonishing field of science, and at the same time avoiding repetitions and similarities so often found in science project literature.

This book is not intended for serious scientists, we will not be discussing quantum physics, Astrophysical equations, or Human stem cell cyto-kinesis. Rather is it written and compiled as fun educational entertainment for the young scientist who enjoys putting their mental agility to test and curiosity to rest!

Enjoy the content and may you have many hours of fun with the experiments!

LET’S BEGIN!

GREETINGS!

Greetings fellow scientists! Welcome to the exciting exploration of the world around us...the world of science. This is a book full of fun & though-provoking science projects and experiments that will teach you, step-by-step, how to create an exciting project that not only demonstrates good scientific practice but provides a safe and fun educational experience too! With this book you will discover that science is a part of every object in our daily lives. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll create your own fascinating inventions—or even grow up to be a rocket scientist!

You can read all the books on music and guitars in the world, but that won't make you a great guitar player. You have to actually practise with a guitar to get it right! It is easiest to figure things out by getting your hands 'dirty' by doing! Science works exactly the same way. Yes, you can learn a lot in science class or by doing homework, but there's nothing quite as much fun as learning by getting your hands dirty doing some science experiments.

Science can be really simple and is actually only about understanding the world you live in! Science certainly does not need to be complicated formulas, heavy text books and geeky guys in white lab coats with thick glasses. Doing science experiments are all about testing and getting results, even if you get a surprising result than you might not have expected. But remember, even if things don't work out as you would have hoped, a good scientist is constantly asking: Why? Science is in fact only an organized system created by people to gather and store information. We use it as a way to define and understand the world we live in!

Science experiments are an awesome part of science that allows you to engage in cool and exciting hands on learning experiences that you are sure to enjoy and remember! A short introduction to each project will help raise questions in your mind, followed by step-by-step instructions for creating your project. Finally, our conclusion and learn more sections will help you understand what your project demonstrates and how this information can answer broader questions about science.

Most of the items you will need for the experiments, such as jars, aluminium foil, scissors and sticky tape, you can find around your home. Others, such as magnets, lenses or a compass, you will be able to buy quite cheaply at a hobby shop or hardware store.

When you carry out experiments, always keep notes about the things you use (materials / apparatus), what you do (method), and what happens (observations, results and conclusion). All scientists do this. If an experiment does not work first time, don’t be discouraged. Try again. You may find there is something simple you have not done. Surprisingly, by doing things wrong, you sometimes learn more than when you do things right!

Have fun experimenting!

A WORD ABOUT SAFETY

RATHER BE A SAFE THAN SORRY SCIENTIST!

Science experiments should be enjoyable, interesting, and thought-provoking, but most importantly, they should be safe to do! Some science experiments can however be dangerous. Always ask an adult to help you with experiments that call for adult help, such as those that involve matches or flames, hammers, or other dangerous materials. Don't forget to ask your parents' permission to use household items, and put away your equipment and clean up your work area when you have finished experimenting. Good scientists are careful and avoid accidents.

Before you start, remember a few do’s:

• DO ask permission from your parents or another adult before trying any of the projects.

• DO ask their advice if you do not understand what to do.

• DO make sure you have all the equipment you need before you start.

• DO carry out experiments with water over the sink or outside.

• DO wear an apron to protect your clothes and wash your hands after every experiment.

…and don’ts:

• DON’T touch anything hot with your bare hands

• DON’T use tins with jagged edges

• DON’T leave everything in a mess when you have finished

ASK AN ADULT

ADULT SUPERVISION

While this book contains a collection of tried and tested science experiment and project ideas that are safe and fun for children to do. It is nonetheless, every parent or teacher's responsibility to supervise their children whilst performing our science experiments and to choose only the experiments that they deem to be safe to do in