Investigating With Science

Introductory Information

All Experiments Included

Gas Experiments

Magnetic Experiments

Water Experiments

Motion Experiments

Electricity Experiments

Light Experiments

Heat Experiments

Physical Changes Experiments

Cooking Experiments 

Gas Experiments

Gas Expansion Using Tempature Changes

Materials

Note: this experiment requires a freezer.

Steps

  1. Place the empty bottle in a freezer for about 2 minutes. 
  2. While you are waiting, mix the water and dishwashing liquid together in the saucer. 
  3. Remove the bottle from the freezer. Dip the open end into the soapy water. 
  4. Stand the bottle on a flat surface and observe what happens. 

Expected Results

A soap bubble will form at the mouth of the bottle. If it does not, dip the bottle again. 

Explanation

The tempature decrease slows the molecules, and increases their cohesive forces, thus, pulling them closer together. This allows more air to enter the bottle. Once the bottle was removed from the freezer, the tempature increased, and the extra air escapes, getting trapped in the soap film across the mouth. Forming a soap bubble. 

Density Differences Amongst Objects With The Same Mass

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill the jar 3/4s full with water. 
  2. Place a marble inside each balloon. 
  3. In one balloon, tie a not as close to the marble as possible. 
  4. Inflate the second balloon slightly with air, and tie a knot close to the lip. 
  5. Drop both baloons in the water, and observe.

Expected Results

The inflated balloon will float, while the deflated will sink. 

Explanation

Density is the measure of how much mass is packed into a given volume, and calculated by dividing an object's mass by its volume. While each balloon has the same amount of air, the inflated balloon had more volume. Giving it a lower density than the surrounding water, which caused it to float. 

Musical Straws

Materials

Steps

  1. Make a 1/2 inch cut on each side of the straw's end to from the reed of the flute. 
  2. Place reed in your mouth, push on it with your lips, and blow. 
  3. Experiment with pressure and air flow to create different sounds. 
  4. As you play, gradually cut the end off and observe any changes in pitch. 

Expected Results

The pitch will get higher as the length decreases.

Explanation

Sound is produced by the vibration of the straw and air passing through. The longer the air is inside the tube, the lower the pitch will be.

Why Do People Snore?

Materials

Steps

  1. Measure and cut a 6-inch square of wax paper.
  2. Place your hands on the sides of the paper square.
  3. Hold the paper against your lips, and hum your favourite song. 
  4. Then, hum the same song without the paper.

Expected Results

The paper will vibrate when humming.

Explanation

Sound is produced by vibrations. Snoring is the vibration of soft tissue inside your mouth. As you sleep, gravity pulls your tongue, uvula, and other soft tissue in your mouth downwards, causing your airway to be partially blocked. On an inhale, the air moves through this small passage, causing the soft tissue to vibrate. This, is snoring.

Demonstrating Air Pressure

Materials

Steps

  1. Connect together plastic straws to make a Long Straw. 
    1. To get an airtight seal, make two small slits on the end of each straw, then mesh the straws together at the slits, so they overlap. Tape the connection. 
    2. We suggest starting with a two or three piece straw. 
  2. Put your straw into your beverage and try to drink. Add more straws until you cannot drink normal amounds through the Long Straw.

Expected Results

The beverage cannot be fully transported up the straw to drink. 

Explanation

Liquid is sucked through a straw by lowering air pressure. When the air pressure is lowered in your mouth to be less than the pressure on the liquid outside the straw, the liquid escapes into the nearest low pressure area: your mouth. But, your lungs have to work harder to lower the air pressure when you increase the straw distance, and the liquid has to travel farther. This demonstrates air pressure fluxuations. 

Fun Fact: The longest usable straw is six feet.

Magnetics Experiments

What is Magnetism?

What is a magnet?

What are magnets used for?

What types of magnets are there?

What affects a magnet's magnetism?

A magnet can be affected by the material it is made of, temperature (being heated up or cooled down), physical impact (hammering or dropping the magnet), and demagnetizing fields (areas of energy that has a particular magnetism that can remove the magnetism from a magnet). 

What Materials Attract Magnets?

Materials

Steps

  1. Make a chart with spaces for each item you test and its level of attraction to the magnet.
    1. Write either "weak, strong, or none" in the magnetism column. 
  2. Take the magnet and wave it next to the various items, seeing if the two items become attracted to each other. Make sure to try different directions and angles too. 

Expected Results

Some items are attracted to the magnets, others are not. 

Explanation

Iron, steel, nickle and cobalt are naturally attracted to magnets. They are temporary magnets because they act magnetic when they are around magnets, but hold no magnetic charge. 

Hematite, magnetite, lodestone, franklinite, chromite, limenite, pyrrhotite, cobalite, and pyrite, are all magnetic. Chromite, hematite, and magnetite all have iron in them. Magnetitte was actually used in ancient Greece as the first magnet, and thus, started the study of magnetism! Franklinite has zinc in it, which is sometimes magnetic, and limenite has iron and titanium in it, related too hematite. Pyrrhotite and pyrite both have signficant amounts of iron in them as well, leading to their magnetism. 

Cereal that is iron fortified actually has finely powered iron flakes mixed in. When you mix a half-serving of cereal with water and stir a magnet (covered in a plastic bag) in the water, the iron flakes will stick to said magnet. Appearing as dark specks. If you turn the plastic bag inside out, the magnet stays dry and you've captured some cereal iron!

Donut Magnets

Materials

Steps

  1. Secure the wooden dowel into the wooden block using glue or other material.
  2. Place seven magnets on the top of the dowel with their opposite poles facing. 
  3. Beneath the north poles of those magnets, place another set of seven, with the two same poles of the sets facing. 
  4. Now, place three magnets on the dowel north to north, south to south, and north to north. 

Expected Results

The top three magnets will float, not touching the other magnets. the seven bottom magnets will be stuck together.

Explanation

The top three magnets are repelled from each other, because their poles are the same. Due to this, they do not attract each other and leave a space in-between themselves. The equal force of repulsion between the magnets is due to the distance. The botom seven donut magnets are attracted to each other because they have opposite magnetic poles. 

Paperclip Adventures

Materials

Steps

  1. Draw a maze on a piece of cardboard—it can be as complicated or simple as you want.
  2. Place the paperclip on top of the maze, and the magnet on the other side of the cardboard, so the magnet moves moves the paperclip.
  3. Now, attempt the maze.

  1. Fill the glass with water and drop the paperclip inside the glass. 
  2. Place the magnet on the outside of the glass, close to the magnet. 
  3. See if you can pull the paperclip to the side of the glass and out the top, without getting wet. 

  1. Hold your ruler on an angle, with one end resting on a flat surface. 
  2. Place the magnet beneath the ruler, closest to the flat surface. 
  3. Place the paperclip on top of the ruler above the magnet.
  4. Move the magnet toward the top of the ruler.

Expected Results

The magnet will attract the paperclip, and nothing else. Through this magnetic attraction, you can maneuver the paperclip through a broad manner of adventures.

Explanation

Magnets pull on magnetic materials, such as metal, but pull through non-magnetic matierals, such as cardboard, wood, plastic, glass and water.

Water Experiments

Archimedes' Success!

Materials

Steps

  1. Place the cup on the saucer.
  2. Fill the cup to the brim with water. 
  3. Drop one penny into the water at a time, until the water spills over the lip of the cup.
  4. After each penny is added, look at the water's surface from the side. 
  5. Record how many pennies it took to spill. 

Expected Results

The water rises above the rim of the cup. After each penny is added, the water rises a little bit, until, eventually, the water is displaced over the lip.

Explanation

Water is made up of water molecules that are attracted to each other. This attraction is strong enough to hold the surface of water together as it rises. When the molecules aren't strong enpugh to hold against the forces pulling them apart, the water spills over the edge.

Solutes and Solvents

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill glass with water.
  2. Use the wide end of the flat toothpick to scoop up some of the powdered drink. 
  3. Gently shake the powder into the water.
  4. Observe the glass from the side as the powder disolves. 
  5. Continue to add powder until water is completely coloured. 

Expected Results

Colourful stripes appear in the water.

Explanation

When the powdered drink meets water, the crystals dissolve. These crystals are a solute, which breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces to spread evenly through the solvent, or hte material that it is dissolving into. The solute dissolves into the solvent, making a solution. An evenly disolved solution is called homogeneous. An unevenly disolved solution is called heterogenous. 

Floating Eggs

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill both cups 3/4 full with water.
  2. Add the milk to one cup. 
  3. Add and stir in the salt to the second cup. 
  4. Place an egg in each cup.

Expected Results

In the salt solution, the egg will float. The egg will sink in the milk solution. 

If the egg does not float in the saltwater, add more salt.

Explanation

The milk was added only to give the water a cloudy appearance like the saltwater, but the egg does not float in it, due to the milk-water's low density. The saltwater has a higher density than the egg, thus, supporting the egg. 

Motion Experiments

Blast Off Balloon

Materials

Steps

  1. Measure and cut a 4-inch piece from the drinking straw.
  2. Cut about 3 1/2 feet of string. 
  3. Thread the end of the string through the straw piece. 
  4. Position the chairs about 4 feet apart. 
  5. Inflate the balloon and twist the open end. 
  6. Move the straw to one end of the string. 
  7. Tape the inflated balloon to the straw. 
  8. Release the balloon.

Expected Results

The straw with the attached balloon jets across the string. The movement stops at the end of the string, or when the balloon is totally deflated. 

Explanation

Newton's Law of Action and Reaction states that when an object is pushed, it pushes back. When the balloon was opened, the walls of the baloon pushed the air out. When the balloon pushed against the air, the air pushed back and the balloon moved forward, dragging the straw with it. The string and the straw keep the balloon rocket on a straight course.

Penguin Shuffle

Materials

Steps

  1. Pour the rice into the sock. 
  2. Tie a knot in the sock.
  3. Stand with your feet together.
  4. Place the sock of rice on top of your feet.
  5. Try to walk without dropping the sock off your feet.

Expected Results

The sock stays on your feet, only if you take short, careful steps. 

Explanation

Female emperor penguins lay 1 egg, which the mate rolls on top of his feet. The egg stays in this position until it hatches, about 2 months later. To move around without dropping the egg, the penguin must peform a slow shuffle. However, the emperor penguins have extra help in the form of a flap of skin, that folds over the egg. This skin helps keep the egg warm and in place. Which is necessary, as the Antarctic winter can drop to -62°C, with winds up to 100 miles per hour. 

After the egg hatches, the male and female take turns carrying their chick around on their feet for another 2 months. This keeps the chick from freezing until its fat layer and protective feathers come in. 

Kite Tail

Materials

Steps

  1. Measure and cut a 2-inch by 12-inch strip from the sheet of paper.
  2. Use tape to attach an 18-inch length of string to one end of the strip.
  3. Hold the free end of the string, and whip the paper back and forth in front of you. 
  4. Cut 1 1/4-inch by 12-inch strip from the paper and attach it with tape to the free end of the wider strip.
  5. Again, move the strip back and forth in front of you.

Expected Results

The paper twirls around, but the smaller strip has a smoother movement.

Explanation

The paper moves forward at an angle, causing the air to flow faster over the top-side. A smaller tail leads to a faster movement, due to lower pressure, which lifts the kite underneath. Thus, the angle of the paper is not constant, resulting in erratic air pressure. A larger strip is more constant, so the air moves smoother and with less twisting. 

Round and Round

Materials

Steps

  1. Stand outdoors, or in an open area indoors. 
  2. Turn around rapidly five times.
  3. Sit on the ground.

Expected Results

You will feel dizzy after you stop turning.

Explanation

The liquid in the canals of your ears move as the body turns. When you stop moving, the liquid continues to slosh. This motion is interpreted by the brain as the body continuing to move, so you feel dizzy.

Two of a Kind

Materials

Steps

  1. One person will pat the top of their head with one hand, and their stomach with the other.
  2. Have them continue to pat their head, but rub their stomach in a circular motion. 
  3. Reverse the movements. 

Expected Results

It's easy for your hands to perform the same pattern of movement, but you have to concentrate harder to move your hands simultaneously in two different patterns.

Explanation

Through repetition of motion, you become proficient at moving your hands in the same pattern. These motions are easy to do, but only separetly. It takes considerable effort to do two different motions at the same time.

Sound Frequency

Materials

Steps

  1. Pour different amounts of water in each bottle.
  2. Gently tap each bottle with a metal spoon. 
  3. Note the difference in pitch.

Expected Results

The bottle with the most water has the lowest pitch.

Explanation

Sounds are made with vibrations. The number of times the object vibrates is called the frequency of the sound. As the frequency increases, the pitch of the sound gets higher. Tapping on the bottle causes the bottle and the water to vibrate. As the height of the water column increases, the sound the bottle makes get lower. 

Chemistry Experiments

Banana Power

Materials

Steps

  1. Peel the banana, then slice into 8 pieces. 
  2. Place 4 slices of banana on each saucer. 
  3. Set each saucer on a piece of paper. 
  4. Label one of the papers "Control Group" and the other "Group C."
  5. Crush the Vitamin C tablets with a rolling pin, inside a plastic bag. 
  6. Sprinkle the powder over the cut surface of the bana slices in "Group C." 
  7. Every 30 minutes for 2 hours (or more), observe the colour of each sample's surface. 

Expected Results

The Control Group will slowly turn brown. Group C will not.

Explanation

Bananas and other fruit, such as apples and pears, discolour when bruised, peeled, or exposed to air. This discoloration is caused by changes that occur when the fruit's cells are broken. The chemicals released by the broken cells are oxidized, which causes the changes in appearance. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which inhibits oxidization. 

Slime

Materials

Steps

  1. Mix the starch, glue and 1 drop of food colouring in the centre of the waxed paper. 
  2. Continue to stir the materials until the mixture begins to separate from the paper. 
  3. Allow the substance to stand on the paper for 3 to 4 minutes. 
  4. Then, with your fingers, roll the mixture into a ball and knead it with your hands for about 1 minute. 

Try thexe additional experiments with your new slime! 

Expected Results

The material you made bounaces a little when dropped, breaks apart if pulled quickly, and stretches if pulled slowly.

Explanation

A fluid is a substance, like a liquid or gas, that can flow. A non-Newtonian fluid is a special substance that has properties of both solids and liquids. This type of fluid acts like a solid, and breaks when its pulled apart quickly. When left alone, the fluid acts like a liquid and takes the shape of its container. 

Soda Bubbles

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill the jar half full with soda. 
  2. Add a teaspoon of salt.

Expected Results

First the liquid will bubble, then foam. 

Explanation

Each bubble in the soda is a pocket of carbon dioxide gas. Salt and carbon dioxide are both examples of matter taking up space. When salt is added to the beverage, bubbles of carbon dioxide stick to salt crystals, forming the chemical reaction. Larger bubbles form and rise to the top, bringing small amounts of soda with them. This movement of gas forms on top of liquid, and the process is called effervescence. 

Even More Soda Fun!

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill the pot with water to a depth of 6 inches. 
  2. Place the cans of soda in the water. 
  3. Observe the positions of the can in the water.
  4. Enjoy the soda after your experiment!

Expected Results

The diet soda will float, while the regular sinks.

Explanation

The diet soda has less density than the water, so it floats. Additionally, the mass of the diet soda is also less, compared to the regular soda. 

Disappearing Ink

Materials

Steps

  1. Pour 1/2 cup of water into a bowl. 
  2. Add 10 drops of iodine to the water, and stir. 
  3. Juice the lemon into the cup. 
  4. Cut a section from the notebook paper. It must be small enough to fit inside the bowl.
  5. Dip the art brush into the lemon juice and write a message on the paper. 
  6. Allow the juice to dry, then submerse the paper in the iodine solution.

Expected Results

The words you wrote in lemon juice will become outlined by the now darkened paper. 

Explanation

The starch in the paper combines with the iodine to form iodine-starch molecules. These molecules are blue-purple in colour. Whereas, vitamin C combines with iodine to form a colourless molecule. The area covered with lemon juice remains unchanged, because the paper is lemon juice contains vitamin C. 

What's Growing?

Materials

Steps

  1. Place the bread in the plastic bag.
  2. Put 10 drops of water inside the bag. 
  3. Close the bag, and keep in a dark, warm place for 3 to 5 days.
  4. Observe the bread through the plastic. Do not open the bag.
  5. Discard the experiment after your observation. 

Expected Results

The bread will have grown mould.

Explanation

Mould is a form of fungus, able to grow and reproduce very quickly by producing tiny cells with hard coverings called spores. These spores float through the air to find places for growth. The slice of rbead already had spores on it when it was put in the plastic bag, but the water, warmth and darkness created a habitable environment for the spores to grow. Moulds have good and bad effects. Some moulds make food smell and taste bad, other foods depend on mould for their good taste (like blue cheese). Moulds can also be medicinal. For example, the greenish mould that forms on bread and oranges is used to to make penicillin. 

Electricity Experiments

What Is Electricity?

The word electricity comes from the Greek word ēlektron, meaning amber. Responsible for lightning, electromagnetic fields, and electric currents, electricity is used in industrial machines in the form of electronics and electric power. 

Electricity occurs in nature in a variety of fords: electrons within atoms that hold molecules together, lightning the Earth's magnetic field, power surges, piezoelectricity (crystals that can create voltage), triboelectricity (electricity as a response of friction between two materials), bioelectricity (electricity within living organisms such as electric eels and sharks), and neurons (electricity within nerves).

How Does A Lightbulb Work?

Materials

Steps

  1. Look at the lightbulb and discuss the different parts. What do you think each does? 
  2. Put the lightbulb into the lamp and look at it now. How is it different?

Expected Results

The lightbulb illuminates and gets hot.

Explanation

A lightbulb has a small metal wire called a filament that glows when it is heated. Usually the metal is tungsten, a metal that can stay solid, until extremely hot tempatures. A lightbulb is also encased in glass, which allows that wire to be kept away from the air. If the wire was exposed directly to the air, it would burn up instantly.

When a lightbulb "burns out," it is because the filament has been burned away. Electricity flows through said filament, heats it up, and causes the wire to glow. This heating is due to resistance, where the substance tries to hold on to the electrons, so the electrons have to force their way through the substance. Some of this force is absorbed by the metal, and given off as heat, as a result of friction pushing the electrons further from the nucleus of the atom. The friction decreases when electrons move back to their original position, giving off photons as they do. 

Lightbulbs always ensure the energy enters and leaves from different places. 

Static Electricity

Materials

Steps

  1. Measure and cut a strip of tissue paper about 3 inches by 10 inches.
  2. Cut long, thin strips in the paper, leaving one end uncut.
  3. Quickly move the comb through your hair several times. Your hair must be clean, dry and oil-free. 
  4. Hold the teeth of the comb near, but not touching, the end of the paper strips.

Expected Results

The paper strips move toward the comb.

Explanation

Static means stationary. Static electricity is the buildup of negative charges, which are called electrons. Matter is made up of atoms, which have electrons spinning around a positive center called the nucleus. Moving the comb through your hair rubs electrons off the hair and onto the comb. The side of the comb that touched your hair is now charged with electrons, so it is now negatively charged. The paper strips are also made of atoms, and holding the negatively-charged comb close to the paper causes the positive part of the atoms in the paper to be attracted to the negative parts of the comb. Similar to the attraction with North and South poles in magnets. This attraction is strong enough to life individual strans of paper.

Light Experiments

Bending to the Light

Materials

Steps

  1. Place the plant next to a window for 3 days.
  2. Rotate the plant 180 degrees, and allow it to stand for another 3 days.

Expected Results

The leaves of the plant turn toward the window. Rotating the plant that changes the direction of the leaves, but within three days, they turn back toward the light.

Explanation

Plants contain a chemical called auxin that makes plant cells grow longer. Auxin builds up on the dark side of plants, and the extra auxin causes the plant cells on the dark side of the plant to grow longer. These longer parts bend towards the light to try to make the auxin more even. This movement toward the light is called phototropism. Photo meaning light, and tropism meaning movement.

Candy Flashes

Materials

This experiment requires a dark room.

Steps

  1. Place one wintergreen candy in the plastic bag.
  2. Place the bag on the wooden block.
  3. Position the hammer above the candy.
  4. Look directly at the candy piece as you smash it with the hammer.

Expected Results

A quick, bluish-green flash of light is given off at the moment the candy crushes.

Explanation

Crystals broken by pressure give off light. This light is an example of triboluminescence. Crystals such as sugar and quartz give off light flashes when crushed.

Dark Depths

Materials

Steps

  1. Place one of the plants in a sunny area.
  2. Place the other plant in a dark closet or cabinet.
  3. Water both the same amount, and leave for 7 days.
  4. Compare the colour of the plants.

Expected Results

The plant from the closet will be lighter in colour, and wilted.

Explanation

Plants need sunlight to perform a reaction called photosynthesis, which gives them energy. Chlorophyll is a green pigment necessary in the photosynthesis reaction. Without the sunlight, the chlorophyll molecules are used up and not replenished. This causes the plant to look pale. 

Eventually, the plant will die without sunlight. 

Green plants grow in the ocean to a depth of about 300 feet. They are more abundant near the surface, and decrease in frequency withn an increase in depth. The concentration of sunlight is greatest at the surface, and totally disappears below 300 feet. Due to this lack of sunlight, green plants cannot live below 300 feet.

Heat Experiments

No-Heat Boiling

Materials

Steps

  1. Wet the handkerchief with water. Squeeze out any excess, until damp. 
  2. Fill the glass to the top with water. 
  3. Drape the wet cloth over the mouth of the glass. 
  4. Place the rubber band over the cloth, about 1-inch below the water level. 
  5. Pick the glass up, hold the bottom with one hand, and turn it upside down. 
    1. There will be some spillage, so do this over a sink, or outside.
  6. Place the other hand under the hanging cloth, and hold the glass. 
  7. At this point, one hand is holding the cloth next to the glass with the free end of the cloth, draped over the other hand. 
  8. With your free hand, push down on the bottom of the glass.
  9. Allow the glass to slowly fall into the cloth. 

Expected Results

If the water doesn't spill out of the glass, it will look like its boiling. 

Explanation

Every material has a melting point, and a boiling point. A boiling point is the tempature that a material, like water, will boil and change states into vapor, through evaporation. This water does not actually boil, it just appears so, because there are air bubbles inside the water. At first, the water does not flow out of the cloth, because the tiny holes in the cloth are filled with water. This causes the water to behave as if a thin skin were covering each hole in the cloth, preventing water in the glass from falling out. Pushing the glass down causes the cloth to be pulled out of the glass. This outward movement creates a vaccum inside, and the air outside is pushed through the cloth. Small bubbles of air form inside the water, giving an appearance of boiling water. 

Sunny Tea

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill the jars with water. 
  2. Add 2 tea bags to each of the jars. Secure the lids on both jars. 
  3. At, or near, noon on a sunny day, set one jar outside in direct sunlight. 
  4. Set the remaining jar in the refrigerator. 
  5. Every 30 minutes for 2 hours, compare the colour of the liquid in each jar. 

Expected Results

The tea in the 'outside' jar is darker, than the 'inside' jar.

Explanation

As the temperature increases, a reaction, like brewing tea, goes faster. Heat from the sun caused an increase in the temperature of the water in the 'outdoor' jar, while the temperature of the 'iniside' jar was decreased by the refrigerator. So, the hot tea brewed faster than the cold tea, because it had more energy to start, complete, and finish the reaction. 

Aged Paper

Materials

Steps

  1. Lay a piece of newspaper in the spot, in the path of the sun's rays. 
  2. Leave the paper alone for 5 days. 

Expected Results

The newspaper looks as if it has aged several years in just a few days, and is now yellow. 

Explanation

This is another example of temperature affecting the speed of a reaction. Usually, when you add oxygen to a reaction involving colour, the colour becomes lighter, because it is oxidized. In this case, the paper is exposed to more oxygen, as the heat sunlight heats the air, causing the oxygen to bond with the paper. All newspaper turns yellow, given time, but the heat speeds the process up. 

Physical Changes Experiments

Ice Cube Stack

Materials

Steps

  1. Try to make a tower out of ice cubes. 
  2. Now, try to make a tower a different way, using the following steps: 
    1. Let the ice cubes sit on a plate at room temperature for 2-3 minutes. 
    2. Now, sprinkle a good amount of salt on the top surface of each ice cube before you stack. 

Expected Results

You can stack more ice cubes using salt, if they are a little melted.

Explanation

The salt you added onto the ice cubes lowers the freezing point of water, so the ice will melt quicker, and the ice cubes require a much lower temperature to stay frozen. As each salt crystal disolves, the ice melts around it, which results in an uneven surface, that reduces slip. This is why salt is used on icey roads and walkways. Newly melted water, then, freezes agan and joins the stacked ice cubes together. This occurs, because the internal temperature of the ice cube is colder than the freezing point of water, removing the remaining heat from the melted water, and refreezing the cubes together. 

Ice Pops and Ice

Materials

Steps

  1. Pour 1 quart of water into the pitcher. 
  2. Add the drink mix, and the sugar, to the water, and stir. 
  3. Place the paper cups on the plate. 
  4. Fill one of the cups with tap water, and the other cup with the drink. 
  5. Stand a craft stick in each cup (covering with the cling wrap, and then poking the stick through might help keep the stick straight). 
  6. Set the plate in the freezer. Remove from the freezer the following day. 
  7. Peel the paper cup away from the frozen liquids. Enjoy! 

Expected Results

The liquid drink and water both changed to the solid state, but the ice pop is not as hard as the ice. You will find, it is easier to bite into the ice pop than the plain ice. 

Explanation

The water molecules in each liquid combined to form ice crystals that joined together into a solid shape. The ice pop crystals are separated by sugar molecules, and other ingredients, from the drink mix, so the ice crystals are smaller. These smaller ice crystals make the ice pops easier to eat than frozen water, which has larger crystals and less separation in-between the crystals. 

Make Your Own Crystals

Materials

Steps

  1. Fill the jar 1/2 full with water. 
  2. Add the Epsom salts to the water, and stir. 
  3. Cut a circle from the construction paper to fit inside the jar. 
  4. Pour a thin layer of the salt solution over the paper. Try not to pour out the un-dissolved salt. 
  5. Place the jar in a warm place, and wait several days. 

Expected Results

Longer, slender, needle-shaped crystals form on the paper.

Explanation

Epsom salt crystals are long and slender. The particles in the box have been crushed for packaging, and do not have a slender shape. As the water evaporates from the solution, small salt crystals start to stack together. Eventually, the crystals build long, needle-shaped crystals. 

Quicksand

Materials

Steps

  1. Pour 8 tablespoons of water into the bowl, and slowly add the cornstarch, stirring well after each addition. 
  2. The mixture should be so thick that it is very hard to stir. 
    1. Add a few drops of water if all of the starch will not dissolve. 
    2. Or, a little starch if the mixture looks thin. 
  3. Place your hand on the surface of the mixture in the bowl, and very gently push downward. 
  4. When your hand has sunk into the mixture, try to lift your hand out of the bowl. 

Expected Results

Your hand easily sinks into the mixture, but cannot easily be pulled out. The bowl should rise as you lift your hand. 

Explanation

Like the slime (see earlier crafts), this quicksand is a non-Newtonian fluid, and its viscosity (thickness) increases when pressure is applied. Pushing or pulling on the mixture makes difficult to pull your hand out. 

Cooking Experiments

Inside-Out Marshmallow

Materials

Steps

  1. Place a marshmallow on a paper plate, and microwave it for about a minute and thirty seconds. 
  2. Once the time is up, take the plate out of the microwave, and allow the marshmallow to cool before you touch it. 
  3. Break the marshmallow open, and peek inside.

Expected Results

As the micro-waves inside the microwave react with the marshmallow, the marshmallow grows, moves and sways. As the marshmallow cools, it will slowly shrink and shrivel. The inside will become very soft and sticky.

Explanation

Microwave ovens cook by making the water molecules in the food vibrate. The faster molecules vibrate, the hotter the food gets. When the water gets hot enough, it transforms to steam, the gas form of water, and this causes the tiny air spaces in the marshmallow to expand. A campfire cooks from the outside in, but a microwave penetrates the marshmallow and cooks it all at once. The inside temperature of the marshmallow gets high enough to cook it, inside out, while the exterior remains white. Evaporation occurs throughout the cooking process, so be careful to remove your marshmallow before it burns (after all the steam escapes)! 

Ice Cream Float

Materials

Steps

  1. Place two scoops of ice cream inside the glass. 
  2. Slowly, pour the soda over the ice cream (don't worry about using the whole can if there's not enough space in the glass!). 
    1. This will create a frothy cream effect.
  3. Add a spoon or straw, and enjoy.

Expected Results

The ice cream floats on top of the soda, and the beverage foams. Don't worry if your ice cream is denser than the soda, and doesn't float. 

Explanation

The ice cream, though dense, is large, flat and cold. The carbonation from the beverage are constantly trying to escape into the air, so they lift the ice cream up. Ice cream lowers the temperature of the beverage, causing more bubbles to form, which is what causes the foam. Some of the ice cream also melts into the beverage and takes up room, causing even more bubbles to form. 

Magic Bars

Materials

Steps

  1. Preheat oven 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). 
  2. While the oven is preheating, place the stick of butter (1/2 cup) into bottom of the 9x13 pan, and set inside the oven to melt. 
  3. Gather the remaining ingredients.
  4. Remove the pan from the oven, and sprinkle crumbs evenly over the melted butter. Pat down, so they absorb the butter, and create a crust. 
  5. Pour the condensed milk over the crust and spread it evenly with a spatula. 
  6. Top with chcolate chips, sprinkling evenly over the milk layer. Next, add the coconut in the same way. 
  7. Make sure the nuts are chopped into small pieces, and sprinkle them over the coconut. 
  8. Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. 
  9. Cool 15 minutes before cutting.

Expected Results

The ingredients melt together, and when cooled, hold in the shape of the container.

Explanation

The ingredients, when introduced to the heat, lost their solid form, and were transformed into liquids. As liquids, they joined with the other materials, and tool the shape of their container. While cooling, the molecules held the shape of the container, because they were once again, solid. 

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