easy physics lab experiments

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Top 5 physics experiments you can do at home

October 17, 2022 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Physics is key to understanding the world around us. While some aspects may seem tricky to understand, many fundamental physics concepts can be broken down into simple concepts, some of which can be demonstrated using basic equipment at home.

This list of 5 physics experiments you can try at home is a great starting point for understanding physics and, hopefully a source of inspiration for little scientists everywhere!

Physics experiments you can do at home

1. archimedes and density.

The story behind Archimedes’ discovery of density is that he was asked by the King of Sicily to work out whether a goldsmith had replaced some gold from a crown with silver. Archimedes needed to determine if the goldsmith had cheated without damaging the crown.

The crown weighed the same as the gold the King had given the goldsmith, but gold is more dense than silver, so if there were silver in the crown its density would be less than if it were pure gold. Archimedes realised that if he could measure the crown’s volume, he could work out its density, but calculating the volume of a crown shape was a tough challenge. According to the story, Archimedes was having a bath one day when he realised the water level rose as he lowered himself into the bathtub. He realised that the volume of water displaced was equal to the volume of his body in the water.

Archimedes placed the crown in water to work out its density and realised the goldsmith had cheated the king!

Density Experiment

One fun way to demonstrate density is to make a density column. Choose a selection of liquids and place them in density order, from the most dense to the least dense. Carefully pour a small amount of each into a tall jar or glass, starting with the most dense. You should end up with a colourful stack of liquids!

2. Split light into the colours of the rainbow

Isaac Newton experimented with prisms and realised that light is made up of different colours ( the colours of the rainbow ). Newton made this discovery in the 1660s. It wasn’t until the 1900s that physicists discovered the electromagnetic spectrum , which includes light waves we can’t see, such as microwaves, x-ray waves, infrared and gamma rays.

How to split light

Splitting white light into the colours of the rainbow sounds tricky, but all you need is a prism. A prism is a transparent block shaped so light bends ( refracts ) as it passes through. Some colours bend more than others, so the whole spectrum of colours can be seen.

If you don’t have a prism, you can also use a garden hose! Stand with your back to the sun, and you’ll see a rainbow in the water! This is because drops of water act like a prism.

3. Speed of Falling Objects

Galileo’s falling objects.

Aristotle thought that heavy objects fell faster than lighter objects, a theory later disproved by Galileo .

It is said that Galileo dropped two cannonballs with different weights from the leaning tower of Pisa, which hit the ground at the same time. All objects accelerate at the same rate as they fall.

If you drop a feather and a hammer from the same height, the hammer will hit the ground first, but this is because of air resistance!

If a hammer and feather are dropped somewhere with no air resistance, they hit the ground simultaneously. Commander David Scott proved this was true on the Apollo 15 moonwalk!

Hammer and Feather Experiment on the Moon

Brian Cox also proved Galileo’s theory to be correct by doing the same experiment in a vacuum!

While you won’t be able to replicate a hammer or heavy ball and feather falling, you can investigate with two objects of the same size but different weights. This means the air resistance is the same for both objects, so the only difference is the weight.

Take two empty water bottles of the same size. Fill one to the top with water and leave the other empty. Drop them from the same height. Both will hit the ground at the same time!

4. Newton’s Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton pops up a lot in any physics book as he came up with many of the laws that describe our universe and is undoubtedly one of the most famous scientists of all time. Newton’s Laws of Motion describe how things move and the relationship between a moving object and the forces acting on it.

Making and launching a mini rocket is a great way to learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion .

The rocket remains motionless unless a force acts on it ( Newton’s First Law ).

The acceleration of the rocket is affected by its mass. If you increase the mass of the rocket, its acceleration will be less than if it had less mass ( Newton’s Second Law ).

The equal and opposite reaction from the gas forcing the cork downwards propels the rocket upwards ( Newton’s Third Law ).

4. Pressure

Pressure is the force per unit area.

Imagine standing on a Lego brick. If you stand on a large brick, it will probably hurt. If you stand on a smaller brick with the same force it will hurt more as the pressure is greater!

Snowshoes are usually very wide. This is to reduce the pressure on the snow so it sinks less as people walk on it.

Pressure and Eggs

If you stand on one egg, it will most likely break. If you stand on lots of eggs with the same force, you increase the area the force is applied over and, therefore, reduce the pressure on each individual egg.

That’s five easy physics experiments you can do at home! Can you think of any more?

Last Updated on June 14, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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72 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand

Because science doesn’t have to be complicated.

If there is one thing that is guaranteed to get your students excited, it’s a good science experiment! While some experiments require expensive lab equipment or dangerous chemicals, there are plenty of cool projects you can do with regular household items. We’ve rounded up a big collection of easy science experiments that anybody can try, and kids are going to love them!

Easy Chemistry Science Experiments

Easy physics science experiments, easy biology and environmental science experiments, easy engineering experiments and stem challenges.

1. Taste the Rainbow

Teach your students about diffusion while creating a beautiful and tasty rainbow! Tip: Have extra Skittles on hand so your class can eat a few!

Learn more: Skittles Diffusion

2. Crystallize sweet treats

Crystal science experiments teach kids about supersaturated solutions. This one is easy to do at home, and the results are absolutely delicious!

Learn more: Candy Crystals

3. Make a volcano erupt

This classic experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid), which produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate.

Learn more: Best Volcano Experiments

4. Make elephant toothpaste

This fun project uses yeast and a hydrogen peroxide solution to create overflowing “elephant toothpaste.” Tip: Add an extra fun layer by having kids create toothpaste wrappers for plastic bottles.

5. Blow the biggest bubbles you can

Add a few simple ingredients to dish soap solution to create the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen! Kids learn about surface tension as they engineer these bubble-blowing wands.

Learn more: Giant Soap Bubbles

6. Demonstrate the “magic” leakproof bag

All you need is a zip-top plastic bag, sharp pencils, and water to blow your kids’ minds. Once they’re suitably impressed, teach them how the “trick” works by explaining the chemistry of polymers.

Learn more: Leakproof Bag

7. Use apple slices to learn about oxidation

Have students make predictions about what will happen to apple slices when immersed in different liquids, then put those predictions to the test. Have them record their observations.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation

8. Float a marker man

Their eyes will pop out of their heads when you “levitate” a stick figure right off the table! This experiment works due to the insolubility of dry-erase marker ink in water, combined with the lighter density of the ink.

Learn more: Floating Marker Man

9. Discover density with hot and cold water

There are a lot of easy science experiments you can do with density. This one is extremely simple, involving only hot and cold water and food coloring, but the visuals make it appealing and fun.

Learn more: Layered Water

10. Layer more liquids

This density demo is a little more complicated, but the effects are spectacular. Slowly layer liquids like honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol in a glass. Kids will be amazed when the liquids float one on top of the other like magic (except it is really science).

Learn more: Layered Liquids

11. Grow a carbon sugar snake

Easy science experiments can still have impressive results! This eye-popping chemical reaction demonstration only requires simple supplies like sugar, baking soda, and sand.

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake

12. Mix up some slime

Tell kids you’re going to make slime at home, and watch their eyes light up! There are a variety of ways to make slime, so try a few different recipes to find the one you like best.

13. Make homemade bouncy balls

These homemade bouncy balls are easy to make since all you need is glue, food coloring, borax powder, cornstarch, and warm water. You’ll want to store them inside a container like a plastic egg because they will flatten out over time.

Learn more: Make Your Own Bouncy Balls

14. Create eggshell chalk

Eggshells contain calcium, the same material that makes chalk. Grind them up and mix them with flour, water, and food coloring to make your very own sidewalk chalk.

Learn more: Eggshell Chalk

15. Make naked eggs

This is so cool! Use vinegar to dissolve the calcium carbonate in an eggshell to discover the membrane underneath that holds the egg together. Then, use the “naked” egg for another easy science experiment that demonstrates osmosis .

Learn more: Naked Egg Experiment

16. Turn milk into plastic

This sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but don’t be afraid to give it a try. Use simple kitchen supplies to create plastic polymers from plain old milk. Sculpt them into cool shapes when you’re done!

17. Test pH using cabbage

Teach kids about acids and bases without needing pH test strips! Simply boil some red cabbage and use the resulting water to test various substances—acids turn red and bases turn green.

Learn more: Cabbage pH

18. Clean some old coins

Use common household items to make old oxidized coins clean and shiny again in this simple chemistry experiment. Ask kids to predict (hypothesize) which will work best, then expand the learning by doing some research to explain the results.

Learn more: Cleaning Coins

19. Pull an egg into a bottle

This classic easy science experiment never fails to delight. Use the power of air pressure to suck a hard-boiled egg into a jar, no hands required.

Learn more: Egg in a Bottle

20. Blow up a balloon (without blowing)

Chances are good you probably did easy science experiments like this when you were in school. The baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment demonstrates the reactions between acids and bases when you fill a bottle with vinegar and a balloon with baking soda.

21 Assemble a DIY lava lamp

This 1970s trend is back—as an easy science experiment! This activity combines acid-base reactions with density for a totally groovy result.

22. Explore how sugary drinks affect teeth

The calcium content of eggshells makes them a great stand-in for teeth. Use eggs to explore how soda and juice can stain teeth and wear down the enamel. Expand your learning by trying different toothpaste-and-toothbrush combinations to see how effective they are.

Learn more: Sugar and Teeth Experiment

23. Mummify a hot dog

If your kids are fascinated by the Egyptians, they’ll love learning to mummify a hot dog! No need for canopic jars , just grab some baking soda and get started.

24. Extinguish flames with carbon dioxide

This is a fiery twist on acid-base experiments. Light a candle and talk about what fire needs in order to survive. Then, create an acid-base reaction and “pour” the carbon dioxide to extinguish the flame. The CO2 gas acts like a liquid, suffocating the fire.

25. Send secret messages with invisible ink

Turn your kids into secret agents! Write messages with a paintbrush dipped in lemon juice, then hold the paper over a heat source and watch the invisible become visible as oxidation goes to work.

Learn more: Invisible Ink

26. Create dancing popcorn

This is a fun version of the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, perfect for the younger crowd. The bubbly mixture causes popcorn to dance around in the water.

27. Shoot a soda geyser sky-high

You’ve always wondered if this really works, so it’s time to find out for yourself! Kids will marvel at the chemical reaction that sends diet soda shooting high in the air when Mentos are added.

Learn more: Soda Explosion

28. Send a teabag flying

Hot air rises, and this experiment can prove it! You’ll want to supervise kids with fire, of course. For more safety, try this one outside.

Learn more: Flying Tea Bags

29. Create magic milk

This fun and easy science experiment demonstrates principles related to surface tension, molecular interactions, and fluid dynamics.

Learn more: Magic Milk Experiment

30. Watch the water rise

Learn about Charles’s Law with this simple experiment. As the candle burns, using up oxygen and heating the air in the glass, the water rises as if by magic.

Learn more: Rising Water

31. Learn about capillary action

Kids will be amazed as they watch the colored water move from glass to glass, and you’ll love the easy and inexpensive setup. Gather some water, paper towels, and food coloring to teach the scientific magic of capillary action.

Learn more: Capillary Action

32. Give a balloon a beard

Equally educational and fun, this experiment will teach kids about static electricity using everyday materials. Kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of creating beards on their balloon person!

Learn more: Static Electricity

33. Find your way with a DIY compass

Here’s an old classic that never fails to impress. Magnetize a needle, float it on the water’s surface, and it will always point north.

Learn more: DIY Compass

34. Crush a can using air pressure

Sure, it’s easy to crush a soda can with your bare hands, but what if you could do it without touching it at all? That’s the power of air pressure!

35. Tell time using the sun

While people use clocks or even phones to tell time today, there was a time when a sundial was the best means to do that. Kids will certainly get a kick out of creating their own sundials using everyday materials like cardboard and pencils.

Learn more: Make Your Own Sundial

36. Launch a balloon rocket

Grab balloons, string, straws, and tape, and launch rockets to learn about the laws of motion.

37. Make sparks with steel wool

All you need is steel wool and a 9-volt battery to perform this science demo that’s bound to make their eyes light up! Kids learn about chain reactions, chemical changes, and more.

Learn more: Steel Wool Electricity

38. Levitate a Ping-Pong ball

Kids will get a kick out of this experiment, which is really all about Bernoulli’s principle. You only need plastic bottles, bendy straws, and Ping-Pong balls to make the science magic happen.

39. Whip up a tornado in a bottle

There are plenty of versions of this classic experiment out there, but we love this one because it sparkles! Kids learn about a vortex and what it takes to create one.

Learn more: Tornado in a Bottle

40. Monitor air pressure with a DIY barometer

This simple but effective DIY science project teaches kids about air pressure and meteorology. They’ll have fun tracking and predicting the weather with their very own barometer.

Learn more: DIY Barometer

41. Peer through an ice magnifying glass

Students will certainly get a thrill out of seeing how an everyday object like a piece of ice can be used as a magnifying glass. Be sure to use purified or distilled water since tap water will have impurities in it that will cause distortion.

Learn more: Ice Magnifying Glass

42. String up some sticky ice

Can you lift an ice cube using just a piece of string? This quick experiment teaches you how. Use a little salt to melt the ice and then refreeze the ice with the string attached.

Learn more: Sticky Ice

43. “Flip” a drawing with water

Light refraction causes some really cool effects, and there are multiple easy science experiments you can do with it. This one uses refraction to “flip” a drawing; you can also try the famous “disappearing penny” trick .

Learn more: Light Refraction With Water

44. Color some flowers

We love how simple this project is to re-create since all you’ll need are some white carnations, food coloring, glasses, and water. The end result is just so beautiful!

45. Use glitter to fight germs

Everyone knows that glitter is just like germs—it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage and show kids how soap fights glitter and germs.

Learn more: Glitter Germs

46. Re-create the water cycle in a bag

You can do so many easy science experiments with a simple zip-top bag. Fill one partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle

47. Learn about plant transpiration

Your backyard is a terrific place for easy science experiments. Grab a plastic bag and rubber band to learn how plants get rid of excess water they don’t need, a process known as transpiration.

Learn more: Plant Transpiration

48. Clean up an oil spill

Before conducting this experiment, teach your students about engineers who solve environmental problems like oil spills. Then, have your students use provided materials to clean the oil spill from their oceans.

Learn more: Oil Spill

49. Construct a pair of model lungs

Kids get a better understanding of the respiratory system when they build model lungs using a plastic water bottle and some balloons. You can modify the experiment to demonstrate the effects of smoking too.

Learn more: Model Lungs

50. Experiment with limestone rocks

Kids  love to collect rocks, and there are plenty of easy science experiments you can do with them. In this one, pour vinegar over a rock to see if it bubbles. If it does, you’ve found limestone!

Learn more: Limestone Experiments

51. Turn a bottle into a rain gauge

All you need is a plastic bottle, a ruler, and a permanent marker to make your own rain gauge. Monitor your measurements and see how they stack up against meteorology reports in your area.

Learn more: DIY Rain Gauge

52. Build up towel mountains

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some landforms are created. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountains

53. Take a play dough core sample

Learn about the layers of the earth by building them out of Play-Doh, then take a core sample with a straw. ( Love Play-Doh? Get more learning ideas here. )

Learn more: Play Dough Core Sampling

54. Project the stars on your ceiling

Use the video lesson in the link below to learn why stars are only visible at night. Then create a DIY star projector to explore the concept hands-on.

Learn more: DIY Star Projector

55. Make it rain

Use shaving cream and food coloring to simulate clouds and rain. This is an easy science experiment little ones will beg to do over and over.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain

56. Blow up your fingerprint

This is such a cool (and easy!) way to look at fingerprint patterns. Inflate a balloon a bit, use some ink to put a fingerprint on it, then blow it up big to see your fingerprint in detail.

57. Snack on a DNA model

Twizzlers, gumdrops, and a few toothpicks are all you need to make this super-fun (and yummy!) DNA model.

Learn more: Edible DNA Model

58. Dissect a flower

Take a nature walk and find a flower or two. Then bring them home and take them apart to discover all the different parts of flowers.

59. Craft smartphone speakers

No Bluetooth speaker? No problem! Put together your own from paper cups and toilet paper tubes.

Learn more: Smartphone Speakers

60. Race a balloon-powered car

Kids will be amazed when they learn they can put together this awesome racer using cardboard and bottle-cap wheels. The balloon-powered “engine” is so much fun too.

Learn more: Balloon-Powered Car

61. Build a Ferris wheel

You’ve probably ridden on a Ferris wheel, but can you build one? Stock up on wood craft sticks and find out! Play around with different designs to see which one works best.

Learn more: Craft Stick Ferris Wheel

62. Design a phone stand

There are lots of ways to craft a DIY phone stand, which makes this a perfect creative-thinking STEM challenge.

63. Conduct an egg drop

Put all their engineering skills to the test with an egg drop! Challenge kids to build a container from stuff they find around the house that will protect an egg from a long fall (this is especially fun to do from upper-story windows).

Learn more: Egg Drop Challenge Ideas

64. Engineer a drinking-straw roller coaster

STEM challenges are always a hit with kids. We love this one, which only requires basic supplies like drinking straws.

Learn more: Straw Roller Coaster

65. Build a solar oven

Explore the power of the sun when you build your own solar ovens and use them to cook some yummy treats. This experiment takes a little more time and effort, but the results are always impressive. The link below has complete instructions.

Learn more: Solar Oven

66. Build a Da Vinci bridge

There are plenty of bridge-building experiments out there, but this one is unique. It’s inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s 500-year-old self-supporting wooden bridge. Learn how to build it at the link, and expand your learning by exploring more about Da Vinci himself.

Learn more: Da Vinci Bridge

67. Step through an index card

This is one easy science experiment that never fails to astonish. With carefully placed scissor cuts on an index card, you can make a loop large enough to fit a (small) human body through! Kids will be wowed as they learn about surface area.

68. Stand on a pile of paper cups

Combine physics and engineering and challenge kids to create a paper cup structure that can support their weight. This is a cool project for aspiring architects.

Learn more: Paper Cup Stack

69. Test out parachutes

Gather a variety of materials (try tissues, handkerchiefs, plastic bags, etc.) and see which ones make the best parachutes. You can also find out how they’re affected by windy days or find out which ones work in the rain.

Learn more: Parachute Drop

70. Recycle newspapers into an engineering challenge

It’s amazing how a stack of newspapers can spark such creative engineering. Challenge kids to build a tower, support a book, or even build a chair using only newspaper and tape!

Learn more: Newspaper STEM Challenge

71. Use rubber bands to sound out acoustics

Explore the ways that sound waves are affected by what’s around them using a simple rubber band “guitar.” (Kids absolutely love playing with these!)

Learn more: Rubber Band Guitar

72. Assemble a better umbrella

Challenge students to engineer the best possible umbrella from various household supplies. Encourage them to plan, draw blueprints, and test their creations using the scientific method.

Learn more: Umbrella STEM Challenge

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Science Experiments

35 Easy Science Experiments You Can Do Today!

Looking for easy science experiments to do at home or in the classroom? You’re in luck because we’ve got over 35 easy science activities for kids that will help you make science fun for all ages. 

Most of these simple science experiments for kids are easy to prepare, quick to perform, and use household items or inexpensive materials you can find almost anywhere. To connect the fun to the “why it works” you’ll find an easy to teach explanation with every experiment!

Musical Jars Science Experiment 

This super easy experiment is simple as it is fun! Kids make their own musical instruments with clear jars and water then investigate sound waves, pitch, and more.

When the experiment is complete, use the colorful new “instrument” for a fun music lesson. Kids can play and take turns to “name that tune”!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Musical Jars Science Experiment

Viscosity of Liquids Science Experiment

Viscosity may be a confusing term for kids at first, but this super easy experiment can help them see viscosity in action!

With marbles, clear jars, and a few household materials, kids will make predictions, record data, and compare the results while they test high and low density liquids.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Viscosity Science Experiment

Floating Egg Science Experiment

Can a solid egg float? Kids can find the answer and understand why with this quick science experiment. 

Discover just how easy it can be to make a raw egg float while testing the laws of density. We’ve included additional ideas to try so kids can make predictions and test the concept further.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Floating Egg Science Experiment

Paper Towel Dry Under Water Experiment

Is it possible to keep a paper towel dry even when submerging it under water? The answer is a surprising “yes,” if you use science to help!

Start with the properties of your materials, make a prediction, then explore matter, density, volume, and more.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Paper Towel Dry Under Water Experiment

Mixing Oil & Water Science Experiment

This simple experiment for kids helps them better understand density and the changes that happen when adding an emulsifier to the mix. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Mixing Oil & Water Experiment

Will it Float or Sink Science Experiment

Will it sink or will it float? This fun experiment challenges what students think they know about household items!

Students record their hypothesis for each item then test it to compare what they think will happen against their observations.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Float or Sink Science Experiment

Water Temperature Science Experiment

What does thermal energy look like? In this easy science experiment, kids are able to see thermal energy as they explore the concept in action.

With clear jars and food coloring, students can quickly see how molecules move differently through hot and cold water.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Water Temperature Science Experiment

Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Kids will discover how matter reacts when heated and cooled as they watch with surprise as baking soda and vinegar blow the balloon up before their eyes.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Floating Ping Pong Ball Science Experiment

Kids will giggle with joy with this super easy experiment. With only a ping pong ball and a hair dryer, students will have a great time while exploring Bernoulli’s Principle in action. 

We’ve included additional ideas to further explore the concept with different objects and observe the change in results.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Floating Ping Pong Ball Science Experiment

Hair Stand on End Science Experiment

It’s especially fun for those who’ve never seen static electricity in action before!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Hair Stand on End Science Experiment

Oil Bubbles in Water Science Experiment

Kids explore density and experience some chemistry when creating oil bubbles in water with everyday household items.

This experiment is particularly fun when kids see that they’ve made what looks like a lava lamp!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Oil Bubbles in Water Science Experiment

Color Changing Water Science Experiment

Kids will be surprised as they watch a new color being “created” without mixing! Using only a clear bowl and glass, some food coloring, and water, this super easy science experiment is quick and easy with a huge wow factor. 

Try it with yellow and blue to follow along with our demonstration video then try different primary color combinations and explore the results.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Color Changing Water Science Experiment

Magnetic Paper Clip Chain Science Experiment

It may seem a bit like magic but it’s actually science! It’s not hard to capture your kids’ attention with this quick and easy science experiment as they watch paper clips “stick” together and form a chain!

Perfect for younger children, the experiment only takes a few minutes and is a fun way to explore the concept of magnetic transference.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Magnetic Paper Clip Chain Science Experiment

Is it Magnetic Science Experiment

With only a magnet and a few household items, kids will make and record their predictions, test and observe, then compare what they think is magnetic against the results.

Simple and quick, but some of the results may surprise your students!

Cloud in a Jar Experiment

This simple experiment only requires a few materials but really holds student attention as a cloud forms before their eyes!

Kids will learn new weather vocabulary as they explore how physical changes and reactions happen as clouds begin to take form. We’ve also included a helpful chart on the types of clouds.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment

Magic Milk Science Experiment

Create a dancing rainbow of colors with this easy science experiment for kids!

Using only a few ordinary kitchen items, your students can create a color explosion in ordinary milk when they add our special ingredient. (Hint: The special ingredient (soap!) includes hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules that make the magic happen!)

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Magic Milk Science Experiment

Walking Water Science Experiment

Water can’t really walk upwards against gravity, but this cool science experiment makes it seem like it can! 

Kids are able to see the capillary action process and learn how attraction and adhesive forces in action allow water to move out of one glass into another. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Walking Water Science Experiment

Light Refraction Science Experiment

The results of this easy science experiment are so amazing, it makes kids (and adults) think it must be magic!

Young scientists watch in surprise while they see an arrow change directions instantly. Investigating refraction couldn’t be more fun!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Light Refraction Science Experiment

Dancing Raisins Experiment

Learn about the reactions of buoyancy and density in this simple science activity for kids. 

They may not need dancing shoes, but give them a glass of soda pop and the raisins in this fun experiment love to dance!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

See Sound Experiment

Kids love this experiment because they are encouraged to drum loudly so they can “see” sound waves in action!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> See Sound Science Experiment

Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Grab some giant brushes and get ready to make elephant toothpaste! Although you might not be able to get an elephant excited by this super easy experiment, kids love it!

The impressive and quick results created by the chemical reaction and the heat released in the process makes an abundant amount of fun and colorful foam!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Upside Down Glass of Water Science Experiment

We all know what happens when we turn a glass of water upside down, but what if I told you you can do it without the water spilling out?

The experiment only requires a few common items and you’ll be amazed by the results of air pressure in action!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Upside Down Glass of Water Science Experiment

Pick up Ball with a Jar Science Experiment

It almost seems like magic but with the help of science, you can pick up a ball with an open jar!

Instead of magic, this easy science activity uses centripetal force and practice to do what seems like the impossible. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Pick up Ball with a Jar Experiment

Will It Melt Science Experiment

Can you guess which items will melt? This easy outside experiment challenges what students think they know about the effects of the sun.

Pepper Move Science Experiment

Can you make pepper move and zoom away with just a light touch of your finger? With science you can!

This experiment only takes a few quick minutes from beginning to end, but the reaction caused by surface tension makes kids want to do it over and over. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Pepper Move Science Experiment

Crush a Plastic Bottle Science Experiment

Go for it, crush that bottle, but don’t touch it! Although it usually can’t be seen or touched, air pressure is pushing against all surfaces at all times.

With this easy science activity kids can see air pressure at work when they watch a bottle crushes itself!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Crush a Plastic Bottle Science Experiment

Egg in Vinegar Science Experiment

This vinegar science experiment will have your eggs and kids bouncing (with excitement!) before you know it!

Kids can watch and explore the results of chemical reactions as the egg changes from something that seems solid into what feels like something bouncy!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Egg in Vinegar Science Experiment

Straw Through a Potato Science Experiment

Can you make a normal plastic straw go into a raw, solid potato? It seems like something impossible, but science can easily make it possible!

Pick your potatoes then let kids try their strength as they explore air pressure with this super easy experiment.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Straw Through a Potato Science Experiment

Rainbow in a Jar Science Experiment

With only a few household items, they’ll explore mass, volume, and density with every color layer!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Rainbow in a Jar Experiment

Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment

Kids can have fun while learning more about centripetal force with this fun experiment.

With a little muscle and science, kids watch with amazement as they create their own glitter cyclone in a bottle as the centripetal force vortex appears.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment

Why Doesn’t the Water Leak Science Experiment

Can you poke holes in a plastic bag full of water without the water leaking out? With this super easy science activity you can!

Kids are stunned as they learn about polymers and how they can do what seems to be impossible.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Why Doesn’t the Water Leak Science Experiment

Use a Bottle to Blow-up a Balloon Experiment

Is it possible to blow up a balloon with only water and science? 

In this super easy experiment, kids learn more about how matter behaves as they watch a balloon inflate and deflate as a result of matter being heated and cooled.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Use a Bottle to Blow-up a Balloon Experiment

Orange Float Science Experiment

Kids explore buoyancy as they learn about and test density in this sink or float science activity.

While it only takes a few minutes, this super easy experiment invites kids to predict what they think will happen then discuss why the heavier orange floats!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Orange Float Science Experiment

Pick up Ice with String Science Experiment

With only a few household items, kids learn about freezing temperatures and the results they create in saltwater versus freshwater.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Pick Up Ice with String Science Experiment

Color Changing Walking Water Experiment

Using the concepts explored in our popular Walking Water Science Experiment, kids will see color walk from one glass to another and change colors as it goes!

The quick experiment seems to defy gravity like magic, but don’t worry, kids can find out how science makes it work!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Color Changing Walking Water Experiment

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6 Simple Physics Science Experiments for Kids

Physics is the natural science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force. The goal of studying physics is to understand how our world, and by extension, how our universe works! Here are 6 super simple science experiments for kids to explore density, gravity, electricity, and pressure. You probably already have the materials you’ll need laying around the house: eggs, water, food coloring, oranges, a comb and even spaghetti!

Changing the Density of Water

Have you ever seen a lake freeze in winter? When the temperature drops, a sheet of ice forms across the top, but underneath the ice layer, the lake is still there. Why does this happen, and why do you think it’s so important? We’ll tackle these questions in the following experiment. We’ll take a close look at the effects of temperature on water, and see what happens when you try to mix differently tempered water.

Changing the Density of Water Printable Instructions

What you’ll need:

• Two containers such as jars or measuring cups
• Food coloring

1. Add approximately four cups of water to a container. Add 2-3 drops of blue food coloring and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator overnight.

2. Heat approximately 1 cup of water to steaming or just boiling. Add 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring and mix well.

3. Slowly pour ~1/4 cup cold water into the hot water. Make sure to pour very slowly and along the side of the container so there is minimal mixing. You should see two layers form. Time how long it takes for the two layers to gradually come together to make a single green layer.

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-------------------------------------------------------, what’s happening.

Changing the temperature of water affects its density. When water heats up, its molecules vibrate and move around. This makes the space between them increase, resulting in a lower density. As the water cools down, its molecules slow down and come closer together. This makes the water more dense. The cooled water in our experiment sank to the bottom because it had a higher density than the heated water. It turned green because it touched some of the hot water on the way down, cooling it down and making it sink.

In nature, this phenomenon is responsible for a process called “turnover.” The sinking of cooler water and rising of warmer water causes the layers of a lake to mix, allowing nutrients such as oxygen to be dispersed throughout. So why doesn’t a lake freeze solid from the bottom up? The density of water continues to rise until it reaches freezing, but then its density changes again. Ice is far less dense than liquid water, so any water that freezes rises to the top. The ice forms a layer across the surface of the lake, but the lake remains liquid underneath, allowing the plant and animal life to survive through the winter.

How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim

When trying to guess if an object will float, it’s useful to take into account the object’s density. Density is defined as mass per unit of volume, and objects with a higher mass-to-volume ratio have a higher density. Objects that are denser than water will sink, while those that are less dense will stay afloat.

Because it’s less dense than water, an unpeeled orange will float. It should stand to reason that peeling an orange, and thereby decreasing its mass, should have little or no effect. What happens, in fact, is the opposite. It may seem counterintuitive, but in the following experiment we’ll see that peeling an orange actually makes it sink.

How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim Printable Instructions

• A wide-mouth container such as a jar

1. Fill the jar with enough water to cover an orange, should it be submerged.

2. Gently place an unpeeled orange into the water. Observe what happens. Does the orange sink or float?

3. Remove the orange from the jar and peel it.

4. Place the peeled orange back into the jar. What happens to the orange now?

It may seem like peeling the orange should allow it to float even better, since by peeling it we’re removing some of its mass and making it lighter. In fact, what we observe it that peeling an orange makes it sink. This seems illogical until you consider the nature of density.

Density is defined as mass per volume. An orange peel is highly porous, meaning that it has lots of tiny holes in it. The holes are essentially tiny bubbles of air. These air pockets are empty space, or pockets of no mass that, when calculating the total density, serve to decrease the final result. When you take away the peel, the air pockets are removed. Now, the orange has a higher density, because its mass per unit of volume is goes up. The orange is now denser than water. It therefore sinks. So, while it seems to go against reason, the result is actually adhering to the rules of density.

How to Use Gravity to Tell if an Egg is Cooked

“Gravity” is the force that draws us toward the earth, and it’s responsible for making things fall to the ground when they’re thrown up, or dropped from a distance. The “center of gravity”, or the “center of mass”, is the point at which an object’s weight is concentrated. It can be considered as the point on which gravity acts on an object.

Having a stable center of gravity makes things like spinning tops possible, or for a tightrope walker to balance on a thin wire. We can also take advantage of this phenomenon to determine if an egg is cooked, without having to crack the egg open!

How to Use Gravity to Tell if an Egg is Cooked Printable Instructions

• 1 small pot
• Water for boiling

1. Hard-boil one of the eggs. *Note: this part requires adult supervision. There are several ways to hard-boil an egg, but for the purposes of this experiment we want to make sure the egg is thoroughly hard-boiled. To achieve this, let the egg sit in actively boiling water for at least 15 minutes.

2. Drain the egg and rinse it under cool water. Place the egg in the refrigerator for an hour or more. This is it so you can’t tell which egg is cooked simply by checking the temperature.

3. Remove the cooked egg and the raw egg from the refrigerator. Spin the eggs, one at a time, on a countertop or clean surface. Note the differences in the way each egg moves. One egg spins smoothly while the other wobbles about and is difficult to spin.

The contents inside the raw egg’s shell are liquid, so they’re able to move around.  When you try to spin the raw egg, its contents shift around. This makes it so the egg’s center of gravity is constantly changing. Because it doesn’t have a stable center of gravity, the egg doesn’t spin smoothly, as a top would, but wobbles about. The cooked egg, on the other hand, is solid inside. Its center of gravity remains the same. Therefore, the hard-boiled egg will spin smoothly, and is easily distinguished from the raw egg without cracking either egg open.

Testing a Spaghetti Bridge

One of the key decisions in construction is the selection of building materials. Depending on their composition, different materials are capable of withstanding different loads. We can examine this concept by constructing a miniature bridge, and then testing its ability to support weight. We’ll use strands of uncooked spaghetti to look at how the structural makeup of a particular building material affects its ability to withstand pressure.

Testing a Spaghetti Bridge Printable Instructions

• Paper clip or S hook
• Small paper cup
• Several coins

1. Place one strand of uncooked spaghetti between two jars or boxes so that the spaghetti forms a bridge.

2. Bend the paper clip to form an S hook (or simply use and S hook) and poke a hole in the paper cup. Suspend the paper cup from your hook, and then carefully hang the hook and cup on the spaghetti bridge.

3. Add coins to the cup one at a time. Record how many coins you can add before the spaghetti breaks.

4. Set up the experiment again, but this time use two strands of spaghetti to construct the bridge. How many coins can your new bridge hold before it breaks now?

5. Repeat the experiment using increasing amounts of spaghetti strands. What do you notice about the ability of the bridge to carry coins as you add more strands of spaghetti?

A strand of uncooked spaghetti is very brittle, and will snap when pressure is applied to it. When we add additional strands of spaghetti, however, the pressure is distributed among the strands, so the total pressure applied to each is lower. The strands are basically sharing the load, so the number of coins that can be added before the bridge breaks increases.

An example of a building material that utilizes this principle is plywood. Plywood is made up of multiple thin sheets of wood veneer that have been glued together. This results in a material that’s capable of withstanding a higher amount of pressure than would be possible by just one single sheet.

How to Make a Comb “Magnet”

Chances are, you’ve experienced static electricity at some point. That tiny shock you feel sometimes when you reach for a doorknob, the way your hair stands up when you brush it, the way your hat clings to your hair – all of these are examples of static electricity.

In the following experiment, we’ll use static electricity to make a “magnet.” We’ll generate an electric charge on a hair comb and examine how that charge works. By the end of the experiment, we’ll have a better understanding of static electricity, why it behaves the way it does, and what we can do to minimize its effects in our daily life.

How to Make a Comb “Magnet” Printable Instructions

• A hair comb

1. If your tissue is 2-ply, separate the two layers and use only one. Using scissors, cut the tissue into quarters. Set one of the quarters flat on a tabletop.

2. Run a comb through your hair several times (at least 12 times) in quick succession. This works best on clean, dry hair, and will yield the best results with the finer part of the comb, or the end where the teeth are closer together.

3. Immediately after running the comb through your hair, touch the comb to one edge of the tissue. You’ll know it worked if the tissue rises up to meet the comb as soon as it comes close. Using your new “magnetic” comb, lift the tissue from the table and up into the air.

Static electricity is generated when negatively charged particles called “electrons” are transferred to an object and allowed to accumulate. In the case of our experiment, the object was the comb. Electrons “jumped” from our hair onto the comb, giving the comb a temporary negative charge. Because opposites attract, the negative charges on the comb were drawn to the positive charges on the tissue, and the tissue “stuck” to the comb.

Drier conditions are more conducive to static electrical buildup, which is why you tend to get more static shocks in the winter. This is because water is a great conductor. When there’s moisture, the static electrical charges that naturally build up on a surface can be absorbed by water particles suspended in the air. These water particles aren’t present during dry conditions, so the charges accumulate, only to dissipate all at once when they come into contact with another object, such as your hand on a doorknob.

Make an Egg Float in Water

Not everything floats in water. An egg, for instance, will sink to the bottom when placed in a container full of water. A ping-pong ball, on the other hand, will float. Why does this happen? What makes something float or sink? The answer is density. Objects that are denser than water will sink. Those that are less dense will float.

The following experiment will allow you to observe the effect of density in action. By changing the density of water, we can change an egg’s ability to float.

Make an Egg Float in Water Printable Instructions

• A see-through container such as a jar
• An Egg (Note: The egg doesn’t have to be hard-boiled, but it might be less nerve wracking to let little ones handle a hard-boiled egg.)

1. Add 1 cup of water to the empty container, or however much it takes to fill the container halfway and allow an egg to be completely submerged. Gently place the egg in the water and observe what happens.

2. Remove the egg. Add 6 tablespoons of salt to the water in the container and stir to mix. Gently place the egg back in the salt water and observe.

3. Remove the egg and rinse it with fresh water. Slowly, so as not to disturb the salt water, add one cup of clean water into the container. The goal is to layer the fresh water onto the salt water, not to mix the two layers. Place the egg in the container a third time.

An egg has a higher density than water, so it won’t float. When we added salt to the water, however, we changed its density. We made it so the water had a higher density than the egg. Because of this, the egg was able to float. To further highlight this concept, we added a layer of fresh water over the salt water. The egg sank through the fresh water but stopped sinking when it reached the saltwater layer.

One point to emphasize is that an object doesn’t have to weigh less than water in order to float, it just has to be less dense. This means that it has to have a greater number of pockets of empty space in relation to its mass. This is how boats are able to float despite being so large and heavy, and it’s why a ping-pong ball will float, but an egg will not.

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Easy Physics Experiments For Kids

Physics is fun, and these easy physics experiments are perfectly fun physics science experiments for kids; you can even do them at home or with groups in the classroom. Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our science experiments for all year-round learning and play.

What Is Physics for Kids?

Physics is, most simply put, the study of matter and energy and the interaction between the two .

Physics is like the rulebook of the universe. It helps us understand how everything around us works, from tiny atoms to the vastness of space. When we study physics, we learn about motion (like why things move), forces (like pushes and pulls), energy (what makes things happen), electricity, magnetism, and more. It’s like solving puzzles about how the world functions.

Kids can learn more about the world around them through fun physics experiments like the ones below and deep thinking!

Try this Physics Project:

Physics Experiments By Topic

If studying a specific physics topic, check out these additional resources below. Each topic includes easy-to-understand information, everyday examples, and additional hands-on activities and experiments for you to use.

• Static Electricity
• Potential and Kinetic Energy
• Simple Machines
• Light Energy
• Capillary Action
• Surface Tension

Click here to get your FREE Physics Activity Guide!

You will love these neat physics project ideas we have to share with you. I handpick my selections based on what I think my son would enjoy, what supplies are needed, and what amount of time needs to be dedicated to each activity.

💡 Click on each link for the full descriptions of each experiment and activity.

AIR PRESSURE CAN EXPERIMENT

Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment. 

AIR RESISTANCE EXPERIMENT

Whoa! A physics experiment in under 10 mins and all you need to do is go raid the computer printer! Make simple air foils and learn about air resistance.

AIR VORTEX CANNON

Make your own homemade air cannon and blast down dominoes and other similar items. Learn about air pressure and the movement of air particles in the process.

BALANCING APPLE EXPERIMENT

Explore balancing apples and gravity with real apples for our  Ten Apples Up On Top Dr Seuss theme. Also try to balance a paper apple (use our FREE printable template to make your own).

BALLOON CAR

Here are two balloon car design suggestions to get the creative juices flowing! You can make a LEGO balloon car or you can make a cardboard balloon car . Both work off of a similar principle and really go. Find out which makes the fastest balloon car.

BALLOON ROCKET

Explore fun forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project. Also see our Valentine’s Day version ; we have a Santa balloon rocket too! This simple experiment can be turned into any fun theme. You can even race two balloons or set it up outside!

BENDING WATER

Can you bend water? Yes, you can with static electricity. Grab a balloon and some water to set up this easy physics experiment.

BROKEN TOOTHPICK

Is it magic, or is it science? Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water, and see capillary action at work.

Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh. and a bowl of water too!

CAPILLARY ACTION

Check out these fun ways to demonstrate capillary action. Plus, all you need is a handful of standard household supplies.

COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS

Learn about the forces of capillary action as you change your flowers from white to green. Or any color you like! Easy to set up and perfect for a group of kiddos to do simultaneously.

COLOR WHEEL SPINNER

Famous scientist Isaac Newton discovered that light is made up of many colors. Learn more by making your spinning color wheel! Can you make white light from all the different colors?

DANCING SPRINKLES EXPERIMENT

Explore sound and vibrations when you try this fun dancing sprinkles experiment with the kids.

DENSITY TOWER EXPERIMENT

Explore how some liquids are heavier or denser than other liquids with this super easy physics experiment.

DROPS OF WATER ON A PENNY

How many drops of water can you fit on a penny? Explore surface tension of water when you try this fun penny lab with the kids.

EGG DROP PROJECT

Check out our mess-free version of a classic science experiment. This egg drop challenge is a great way to introduce kids to the scientific method as you test out ideas to protect your egg from cracking.

EGG IN A BOTTLE

This egg in a bottle project is a fun way to learn about how changes in air pressure can result in a fascinating and almost magical outcome. Watch a boiled get sucked into a bottle without even touching it!

Let the egg race experiments begin! Which egg will roll to the bottom of the ramp first? Help your kids make predictions as to what will happen with different size eggs and different angles of ramps.

Older kids may also find learning about Newton’s 3 Laws to be interesting, and explore how they can apply those ideas to their egg races.

ELECTRIC CORNSTARCH

Can you make oobleck jump? Learn about static electricity with this fun cornstarch and oil experiment.

FLOATING ORANGE

Investigate whether an orange floats or sinks in water, and even add in the scientific method. Learn about buoyancy and density with a simple ingredient from the kitchen, an orange.

FLOATING PAPERCLIP EXPERIMENT

How do you make a paperclip float on water? This is an awesome   physics activity for young kids and older ones too! Learn about surface tension of water, with a few simple supplies.

FLOATING RICE

Can you lift a bottle of rice with a pencil? Explore the force of friction with this easy physics experiment.

GLOWING SPINACH

Transform ordinary spinach that you eat into a glowing green mixture under ultraviolet light! Learn about the pigments present in plants, particularly chlorophyll and how certain pigments can absorb light at one wavelength and emit light at another, resulting in the observed glow.

Learn about the gravity and the force that keeps us firmly planted on the ground with hands-on and engaging activities for kids. Check out these fun preschool gravity activities and gravity experiments for elementary and older .

HOMEMADE COMPASS

Learn about magnets and magnetic fields with this fun and easy DIY compass project. Build your own compass that will show you which way is north.

HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT

Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean and buoyancy with this simple physics activity.

Check out more awesome Shark Facts for Kids (Free Printable)

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOWS

Explore light and refraction when you make rainbows using a variety of simple supplies—awesome hands-on science for kids of all ages.

KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS

Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for simple physics.

KITE BUILDING

A good breeze and a few materials are all you need to tackle this Kite making physics project at home, with a group or in the classroom. Learn about forces needed to keep a kite up in the air, as you fly your own kite.

Explore physics with common items found around the house. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids.

LEGO PARACHUTE

If your mini-figure was about to go skydiving, would they have a LEGO® Parachute? And would their parachute actually work and carry them safely to the ground? Experiment with different materials to see what makes a good parachute.

LEGO ZIP LINE

Can you set up a LEGO zip line and see how well it holds up when in motion? This LEGO® building challenge is also a great way to introduce gravity, friction, slope, energy, and motion while getting creative with your LEGO® design. You could also add a pulley mechanism like we did here for this toy zip line .

LEMON BATTERY

What can you power with a lemon battery? Grab some lemons and a few other supplies, and find out how you can make lemons into lemon electricity!

MAGNETIC COMPASS

Use a magnet to make a compass , or combine the science of magnets with paint for a STEAM project!

MAGNIFYING GLASS

Here’s how you can make your own homemade magnifying glass from a plastic bottle and a drop of water. Find out how a magnifying glass works with some simple physics.

MARBLE RUN WALL

Pool noodles are amazing and cheap materials for so many STEM projects. I keep a bunch on hand all year-long to keep my kid busy. I bet you didn’t know how useful a pool noodle could be for physics projects. Learn about gravity, friction, energy and more with hands-on physics fun!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cardboard Tube Marble Run

MARBLE VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Grab some marbles and find out which one will fall to the bottom first with this easy viscosity experiment.

PADDLE BOAT DIY

Learn about kinetic and potential energy with this simple paddle boat project.

PAPER HELICOPTER

Make a paper helicopter that actually flies! This is an awesome   physics challenge for young kids and older ones too. Learn about what helps helicopters rise into the air, with a few simple supplies.

PAPER ROCKET

Kids will love making this simple paper rocket using our free rocket template and a straw. Explore simple physics with gravity, propulsion, energy, and aerodynamics while having a blast!

Build a simple pipeline from cups and straws, and observe how water moves through it because of gravity.

POPSICLE STICK CATAPULT

Want to learn how to make a catapult with popsicle sticks? This  Popsicle stick catapult design is an easy physics experiment for kids of all ages! Everyone loves to launch stuff into the air.

We have also made a spoon catapult , LEGO catapult , pencil catapult , and a jumbo marshmallow catapult !

LEGO RUBBER BAND CAR

We made a simple LEGO rubber band car to go along with our favorite superhero book. Again these can be made as simple or as detailed as your kids would like to make them, and it’s all STEM!

PENNY SPINNER

Make these fun paper spinner toys out of simple household materials. Kids love things that spin and spinning tops are one of the earliest toys made in the US.

POM POM SHOOTER

Similar to our snowball launcher further on, but this physics activity uses a toilet paper tube and balloon to launch pom poms. How far can you fling them? See Newton’s Laws of Motion in action!

POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT

We tested a variety of fluids all with a unique viscosity for this fun pop rocks science experiment. Grab a few packs of pop rocks and don’t forget to taste them too!

RAINBOW IN A JAR

This water density experiment with sugar uses only a few kitchen ingredients but produces an amazing physics project for kids! Enjoy finding out about the basics of color mixing all the way up to the density of liquids.

RISING WATER EXPERIMENT

Add a burning candle to a tray of water, cover it with a jar, and watch what happens!

ROLLING CAN

Another fun way to demonstrate static electricity. Check out this easy physics experiment with an aluminum can and a balloon.

ROLLING PUMPKINS

It doesn’t get much easier than pumpkin rolling on homemade ramps. And what makes it even better is that it’s also a great  simple physics experiment for kids. 

RUBBER BAND CAR

Kids love building things that move! Plus, it’s even more fun if you can make a car go without just pushing it or by adding an expensive motor. 

SALT WATER DENSITY

This easy to set up salt water density experiment is a cool variation of the classic sink or float experiment. What will happen to the egg in salt water? Will an egg float or sink in salty water? There are so many questions to ask and predictions to make with this easy physics experiment for kids.

SCREAMING BALLOON

This screaming balloon experiment is an awesome   physics activity for kids of all ages! Explore centripetal force or how objects travel a circular path.

SHADOW PUPPETS

Kids love their shadows, love to chase shadows, and love to make shadows do silly things! There’s also some fun things to learn about shadows for physics. Make simple animal shadow puppets and learn about the science of shadows.

SIMPLE PULLEY EXPERIMENT

Kids love pulleys and our homemade pulley system is sure to be a permanent fixture in your backyard this season. Make a pulley simple machine, learn a little physics, and find new ways to play.

We also have this simple pulley system you can make with a paper cup and thread.

SINK OR FLOAT

Use items straight out of the kitchen for our sink or float experiment. Plus I am sure your child will be able to come with other fun things to test! This is a simple physics experiment and totally engaging for young kids.

SNOWBALL LAUNCHER

Explore Newton’s Laws of Motion with this easy-to-make indoor snowball launcher. All you need are a few simple supplies for hands-on fun!

SOUND EXPERIMENT

Kids love to make noises and sounds is all a part of the physical sciences. This homemade xylophone sound experiment is truly a simple physics experiment for kids. So easy to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and play!

SOAP POWERED BOAT EXPERIMENT

Explore surface tension as kids observe firsthand how soap influences the movement of a small boat on the water’s surface.

SPECTROSCOPE

Create your own DIY spectroscope from a few simple supplies and make a rainbow from visible light for a fun physics project for kids.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

Balloons are a must for this one! These simple experiments explore the concept of static electricity in a hands-on way.

TOY CAR FRICTION EXPERIMENT

Kids love to send cars down ramps! The faster the better! But did you know that this favorite playtime activity is also an awesome science lesson for kids of all ages. Explore friction with just a few simple materials.

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Test the viscosity or “thickness” of different household liquids with this easy physics experiment for kids.

WATER DISPLACEMENT

Learn about water displacement and what it measures with this simple physics experiment for kids.

WATER REFRACTION

Why does the image appear reversed? Have fun with a hands-on demonstration of what happens when light bends! Plus, grab a free printable!

VALENTINE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

5 simple physics experiments with a Valentine’s Day theme, including a balloon rocket, static electricity, buoyancy, and more!

WIND POWERED CAR

Build a wind-powered car and explore how wind energy can be transformed into motion.

Add The Scientific Method To Any Physics Project

How To Use The Scientific Method

Encourage kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time.

Grab a free printable and learn more about variables and using the scientific method with kids here .

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

Wow, I see so many ideas here I want to try? Gravity art, nuts and bolts sculptures…my daughter is going to love these!

Great list of activities! I know that even as an engineer, physics “sounds” hard. Anything we can do to get kids trying it, playing with it and learning it helps remove that stigma. Thanks for including our slime, too 🙂

Your welcome! Yes Physics does sound intimidating but it doesn’t have to be.

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Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Looking for some easy experiments to do with the kids? We’ve got you covered with all of our favourite, easy science experiments for kids. The best part about all of these ideas is that they may be simple, but the lessons are powerful! Plus they can be adapted for a wide variety of ages and learning environments.

100+ Genius Easy Science Experiments for Kids

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Fun Science Experiments

First let’s kick things off with a list of easy science experiments for kids that we have done many times over and are a favourite of STEAM Powered Family readers around the world. Almost all of these projects use common household items and are tested by kids and teachers. We have science experiments for all ages, from preschool to middle school, even adults love to do these. The best part is that you can use these ideas to help students gain comfort and eventually mastery of the Scientific Method . This list is also a fantastic place to find ideas for your science fair projects.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

It is incredible the number of cool science experiments you can create from this one simple chemical reaction between Baking Soda and Vinegar . This endothermic reaction, is a classic acid and base chemical reaction.

Here is the chemical formula of this reaction

C 2 H 4 O 2  + NaHCO 3  -> NaC 2 H 3 O 2  + H 2 O + CO 2 vinegar + sodium bicarbonate -> sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide

Some of our favourite baking soda and vinegar science activities of all time include Bottle Rockets , Fireworks Experiment , Baking Soda Oobleck , and Hatching Dinosaur Eggs . No matter which one you pick, you must try at least one vinegar and baking soda experiment when little scientists are first learning about chemistry.

Balloon Races – Physics Science Experiment

This fast paced, exciting science experiment explores the principles of physics and Newton’s Laws of Motion. It is so simple, kids won’t believe how much they are learning while having fun! Balloon Races make a fantastic activity for the classroom, camp, after school program or at home when the kids need to burn off some energy while learning!

Build a Compass – A Magnetism Science Experiment

Did you know it is actually very easy to build a compass ? All you need is a bowl of water, a needle and a cork! Have your children explore the same magnetic forces that inspired Einstein as a child in this fun science experiment.

Lollipop Layers Density Experiment

Density is such a fun phenomenon to explore, and in this version of a density experiment we are using candy! Lollipop layers is so simple, all you need is a bunch of lollipops or hard candies, water, and a patient hand. The result… GORGEOUS!

Greenhouse Effect Science Experiment

Climate change experiments are so important for helping foster a deep understanding in our students. In this Greenhouse Effect Science Experiment we learn how gas are changing the atmosphere and affecting global temperatures.

Volcano Experiment

A classic science project for kids, making a volcano can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. The goal of the exercise, a big, bubbly reaction that is sure to WOW students. Here are some of our favourite Volcano Experiments we have done.

Have you ever made a Lava Lamp at home? This sensory science experiment is mesmerizing! Watching those bubbles bounce and dance and play is sure to capture students of all ages. Best of all, we have 5 different ways you can make a Lava Lamp (including the old favourite with alka seltzer), so no matter what supplies you have available, we have a Lava Lamp experiment you can do.

Make Milk Plastic

While teaching elementary science I was always on the hunt for cool science experiments that would impress my kids and really stretch their interests and foster their curiosity. One of the biggest hits of all time was a surprisingly simple experiment, that we never really considered as possible… making plastics. Specifically making bioplastics out of milk . With this concept you can create a lesson that is a powerful way to explore polymers with kids. This easy science experiment is a sure fire hit with students and gives them a wonderful keepsake of their studies.

Bouncy Naked Egg in Vinegar Experiment

Have you ever tried to shell a raw egg? Impossible you say? Challenge your hypothesis in this egg in vinegar science experiment ! Not only will you remove the shell from a raw egg, but the result is a bouncy, rubbery, raw egg. An incredibly simple science experiment, it can also be used to teach higher level concepts in osmosis and biology for students learning about the parts of the cell.

Making Water Rise Experiment Magic

When we did this water experiment the kids jaws hit the floor! It is so simple, but the results shock the kids. This is one very easy science experiment that is also incredibly memorable. It teaches the science of creating a vacuum in a very simple approach with just a jar, water and a candle. Learn how to make water rise and wow your students!

Elephant Toothpaste

You have probably seen the Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment done on TV or at the Science Center where they create a massive gusher that goes many feet into the air, but did you know there is a very simple and easy way you can do this experiment yourself with items you already have available? This classic science experiment is one every student should experience.

Frozen Bubbles

If you live where it gets well below freezing, one of our favourite winter science experiments is to freeze bubbles . There are some specific science principles you need to understand to ensure this experiment is a beautiful success!

Growing Crystals

As a crystal lover and passionate family of rock hounds, the idea of growing crystals is something that we love! Over the years we have found all the ways to simplify and perfect the process so you can easily grow gorgeous crystals and learn the science behind crystallization. We have made crystals from borax, alum and sugar. We even have edible crystals called Rock Candy … yum!!

Explore Surface Tension with Glitter (or Pepper) and Soap

Surface tension is the focus of this simple science experiment that provides a powerful demonstration of the effect soap has on surface tension. Do this easy experiment, all you need is a plate, water, glitter or pepper and dish soap. Such an easy science experiment for kids!

Bottle Crush – Simple Heat Transfer Experiment

Got a soda pop bottle, some hot water and a cold winter day (or a bucket of ice)? Then you have all the makings of a cool science experiment! This this Bottle Crush science experiment , kids feel like all powerful magicians as they crush plastic bottles without touching them.

pH Testing Lab

Have you ever done a pH lab ex periment? In this simple version, you can use items from the kitchen to create a science lab that allows students to explore pH and learn more about acids and bases.

Gummy Mummies – Gummy Bear Mummification Experiment

Gummy Bear Science Experiments are always a hit with kids and in this easy science experiment we explore how the mummification process works. Add an extra fun comparison by also placing some of the gummy bears in liquid.

Walking Rainbow

Want a beautiful rainbow science experiment that is soooo easy it all happens without you even needing to do anything? Simply set it up, walk away, and come back to a beautiful rainbow of colours. In the Walking Rainbow Science Experiment kids learn about capillary action and color mixing. All you need is jars, paper towels, water and food coloring.

Rainbow Rain

On a rainy day, why not make Rainbow Rain in this simple science experiment for kids. The results are beautiful and will brighten a dreary day. All you need is water, shaving cream and a few drops of food colouring.

Skittles Experiment

It doesn’t get any easier than the simple Skittles Experiment . All you need is a plate, some Skittles and water. Soon you will have a spectacular science experiment the kids will beg to do again and again.

It’s been all the rage for a few years, and whether you love it or hate it, making slime can actually be a fantastic science experiment for kids.

Ready to do one of the most simple science experiments, but also the most fun? It’s time to make non-Newtonian Fluids! Known as Oobleck , it turns sold under pressure and liquifies when you remove pressure. And it will keep kids learning hands on and exploring for hours! The best part is all the different science experiments you can do with Oobleck.

Now when you think of Moon Dough , you don’t immediately think of easy science experiments for kids, but that’s because you have never made Moon Dough the way we make Moon Dough! In our recipes we learn about emulsifiers, glow in the dark science, chemical reactions, heat transfer, all while having so much fun exploring science and sensory play with kids of all ages.

Making playdough with your kids is a great way to teach them about mixtures, solutions, substances, and chemical changes. It is also teaches about the importance of formulas and the role each ingredient plays in creating one of the all time most popular sensory play items, playdough!

Magic Milk Experiment

Ready for some serious wow factor in a really easy science experiment? Magic Milk is a classic experiment that always mesmerizes kids. Over the years we have used it to learn about surface tension, space, pollution on Earth Day, and so much more. All you need is milk, dish soap and a drop of food colouring… and watch the magic colour explosion happen!

Simple Snow and Ice Experiment

Is it winter where you live? This is a fantastic, very simple and easy experiment to do with young students. All you need is some jars, snow, ice cubes and water… and watch the melting magic !

Heat Transfer Experiment – Slurpee Making

Kids love this simple slurpee science experiment where they get a cold, sweet treat at the end in the form of a homemade slurpee! Using the science of heat transfer, kids will make their very own slurpee out of juice. A great experiment for learning about temperature, heat and heat transfer.

Flying Ghosts Tea Bag Experiment

Obviously this easy science experiment is perfect for Halloween, but don’t let that stop you from doing it at any time during the year. The results of the flying tea bag experiment are always a hit with kids and all you need is fire and a tea bag to set flight to curiosity!

Ice Fishing

Inspire your little ones to learn more about how salt and water react in this fun ice fishing science experiment .

Water and Oil Experiment

Demonstrate how oil and water don’t mix in this colourful oil and water experiment. All you need is a few simple ingredients: water, oil and food colouring. When it comes to easy science experiments for kids, it doesn’t get easier than this!

Magnet Science – Harry Potter Inspired Wingardium Leviosa

Use the magic of science to wow students, or teach students this experiment so they can wow their friends with their new found magical abilities. You can also use this science to make ghosts fly! Who knew magnet science was so cool?

Marshmallow Science

Marshmallows are the secret to easy science experiments that you never knew existed in your pantry! Learn how to teach concepts around heat, molecules, expansion and more in this marshmallow science experiment .

Sky Science

Kids wondering why the sky changes colour during sunrise and sunsets? Or the always famous, why is the sky blue, question? Explore the science of the sky colours in this easy experiment .

Easy STEM Challenges

Why not combine Science with some Technology, Engineering and Math in these easy STEM Projects for kids.

Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult

One of the original STEM projects kids have been building for generations is the simple catapult. There are lots of different ways you can build a catapult, but here we are making the always easy and popular Popsicle Stick Catapult .

Build a Water Clock

This easy STEM project has some significant historical context that your history loving students will go wild over. Plus building a water clock is surprisingly easy but packs a powerful learning punch.

Make a Glow Salt Circuit

Before you start to worry, building a circuit doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, once your students master the basics of electricity and circuits, they will want to start adding circuits to everything. To get started, one of the most simple circuit projects you can make is our Glow Salt Circuit . Don’t worry, we provide all the detailed instructions to ensure your project is a hit.

Build a Battery

Another great way to explore electricity science is to build a simple battery out of food. We have built Lemon Batteries , Pumpkin Batteries and even Potato Batteries . Kids love capturing the energy in our foods and using it to light up!

Build a Bridge

A bridge building challenge is a great way to challenge a class either in school, at camp or in an after school program. Kids get to let their innovation, creativity, and understanding of science and engineering go wild as they build their creations. Then test them out against other designs to see which concepts come out on top.

Rube Goldberg Machine

Building simple machines is an incredible STEM project for all ages. With a Rube Goldberg Machine you are linking simple machines into a chain reaction to achieve an end goal. The best part about a Rube Goldberg Machine project is that it challenges students to work together and apply critical thinking and problem skills as they develop their STEM literacy. Check out the Rube Goldberg Machine we built as a Leprechaun Trap .

Build a Catapult Cannon

Catapults may be fun, but as kids get older, they want bigger challenges, bigger launches and bigger fun with their learning. Enter the Catapult Cannon , a Catapult design that launches harder and farther than your regular catapults, and challenges students to apply more advanced engineering and physics concepts.

Build a Confetti Cannon or Seed Bomb Launcher

For a smaller scale challenge with mini cannons, try making this Confetti Cannon , which includes two different designs, one for little learners and one more complex design for older kids. Plus you can use a similar design concept to make a Seed Bomb Launcher for homemade Seed Bombs.

Tower Construction Challenge

A very easy STEM Project is to challenge kids to build a tower. Now you can do this with blocks or LEGO, but up the challenge by having kids build with candy , marshmallows , paper, pasta or even frozen bubbles . Add a time limit to turn this into a one minute STEM challenge.

Make a Thaumatrope

Optical illusions are always a fun experiment for kids. For a quick and easy optical illusion for kids, try building Thaumatropes . It is so easy, especially with our ideas and templates.

Build a Balloon Car

This is a STEM build that is perfect for a classroom or after school group. Build a Balloon Car that is powered by air. For younger kids, challenge them with the Make It Move STEM Challenge .

Biology Science Building Models

Turn a boring Biology lesson into a fun science class with a STEM project inspired by the human body. Build functioning models of The Lungs , The Heart or The Hand .

Science Projects and STEM Activities for the Holidays

Need something specific to celebrate the seasons or holidays? Check out all of these resources featuring the best in easy science experiments for kids with a special theme!

Spring Activities

Summer Activities

Fall Activities

Winter Activities

End of School Year

Valentine’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day

Halloween Activities

Christmas Activities

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

Get started in STEM with easy, engaging activities.

Babble Dabble Do

80 of the Best Physics Projects for Clever Kids

February 21, 2020 by Ana Dziengel Leave a Comment

Physics projects are some of the most memorable science projects your kids will ever try. There, I said it even if you don’t believe it!

You see, physics is the branch of science that studies flying, launching, moving, and floating, as well as magnets, motors and electrical circuits, heat, light, and sound. Physics is fun! After you look over some of the projects in this collection I hope you’ll agree.

Now before we begin I want to address a common notion a lot of folks have about this branch of science: Physics is really hard! I completely understand this thought.

In fact the only class I ever almost failed in my entire academic career was physics. And I know why. Physics was presented to me as formulas about force, equilibrium, and momentum with not one single demonstration. Then I walked into a structural engineering class where we discussed the forces at work in designing buildings and my teacher told us he didn’t want us to open a book all quarter. Instead he told us to build models. He wanted us to experiment with how forces really interact in a structure by testing them in hands-on experiments. It was a profound experience for me and suddenly all the book learning “clicked.”

My goal with this collection of projects is to make physics more accessible and inviting to parents, teachers, and kids alike! But before we dive into the physics projects let’s get a bird’s eye view of what physics is all about!

What is the study of physics?

Physics is the branch of science that studies matter, how it moves and how it interacts. It is a HUGE topic and there is a lot of overlap with chemistry and biology. It’s really easy to hear the word physics and have your eyes glaze over, but in simple words physics is the study of how things move and interact with each other.

How do you explain physics to a child?

The best way to explain physics to kids is to skip an explanation and do a demonstration . Since physics encompasses the study of motion, light, electricity, magnetism, and aerodynamics, instead of trying to explain these concepts demonstrate them! I am a big believer in hands-on projects that give kids a chance to experience and experiment with a scientific concept rather than just hear or read about it. We all know an amazing project is memorable while a wordy explanation is forgettable. Kids are great visual learners so give them the chance to get excited about physics through projects!

What are main branches of Physics?

While I was assembling this post I realized scientists define the branches of physics in many different ways. The following is a list of the most commonly cited branches of physics compiled from both online and offline resources:

• Mechanics This includes force, motion, fluid and aerodynamics, and is the branch most people think of when they hear the word physics.
• Electromagnetism Electricity is physics!

Thermodynamics

• Sound and Waves
• Quantum Mechanics This is for the very serious! It’s the branch that studies atomic particles.

80+ Physics Projects for Kids

How to use this guide.

The physics projects for kids featured here are sorted by branches of physics and subcategories as follows (click on the topic to skip to that section) :

• Mechanics and Motion: Work & Energy, Newton’s Law’s of Motion, Radial Forces, Gravity, and Balance
• Electromagnetism & Electricity: Magnetism, Electricity

Optics & Sound

• Heat, Liquids, and Air: Thermodynamics, Hydrodynamics, & Aerodynamics

Some topics and categories were really easy to find great projects for (work and energy) some were more challenging (thermodynamics) and at least one impossible (Quantum mechanics, but that’s okay!). We tried to assemble as many as we could on this list!

Please note that many of these projects could fit in two or more categories as they demonstrate various principles and forces. I only classified them once on this list.

Mechanics and Motion

When most people think of physics they think about mechanics and motion. Mechanics refers to the motion of objects and motion is the position change of an object over time. Everything around us is constantly in motion. Even when we consider ourselves to be sitting still, the earth is rotating on its axis and moving around the sun.

Scientists have studied motion over the centuries and determined there are laws that can explain the motion of objects. These laws revolve around the idea of forces .

A force is something that pushes or pulls on an object to make it move. A force can make an object speed up (like kicking a ball) or or slow down (like friction) or hold an object in place (like gravity). Momentum is the force an object has based on its weight and motion. For a deeper look into forces go here .

In this section we’ll cover projects that focus on motion including 3 of the most famous laws of motion as outlined by Sir Isaac Newton.

Work and Energy Projects

Energy is defined as the ability to do work. Work refers to the amount of energy needed to move something over a distance using a force. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy is never created or destroyed it is simply changed from one state to another.

Potential Energy vs. Kinetic Energy

Two types of energy frequently disucssed in phyiscs are kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy in motion. Potential energy is energy that is stored. An example of potential enrgy is a rubber band twisted up and held in place. Once the rubber band is released it unwinds quickly as kinetic energy.

Here are some projects that demonstrate work and energy:

Physics Project Idea: Rollback Can

Steam activity: stixplosions, how to build a catapult, transfer of energy science experiment, catapult stem project – diy catapult for kids, how to make a windmill model with a printable pattern, simple machines for kids: lego pulleys stem building challenge, power up your planes with a paper airplane launcher, featured work & energy videos:, newton's laws of motion.

Sir Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who studied motion in the 1600's. He is credited with discovering the force of gravity as well as developing three laws of motion to describe how objects move. We'll look at each law of motion and some projects that highlight them below.

Newton's First Law of Motion is called the Law of Interia and states: An object at rest tends to stay as rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

Newton's Second Law of Motio n states that the acceleration of an object depends on the force applied to the object and the object's mass. The relationship can be described with the following formula: F=ma

Force= Mass x Acceleration

Newton's Third Law of Motion states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Here are some projects that focus on the laws of motion:

How To Make A Simple Newton's Cradle

Easy inertia science experiments with pennies, inertia zoom ball: super fun s.t.e.a.m. project, make a balloon pinwheel science demonstration, physics activities that explore newton's laws of motion, radial forces.

Kids love things that spin! There are several types of forces and movement that act upon objects as they spin:

Angular Momentum The momentum of an object rotating around a point.

Centripetal Force A force that pulls an object towards the center point, causing it to move in a circular path. The force is always orthogonal to the fixed center.

Centrifugal Force A force that pushes away from the center as an object is spinning. It's not a REAL force but an apparent force.

Friction is a force that slows down objects sliding against each other. It's the reason that spinning tops eventually slow down. If there was no friction on between the point on which a top spins and the surface on which it is spinning, it would spin forever!

Action Art: Spin Art Using a Bike

Diy spin art: art spinners from steam play & learn, simple paper toys: paper tops, homemade toy idea: diy skip-it, diy toys: spinning tops (+ magical disappearing colors), diy toy idea: spin-finite tops, gorgeous spin art hearts painting activity for kids, easy fidget spinner diy (free template) - science fair project idea, halloween science for kids: pumpkin spinning tops, stem toy: penny spinners, featured radial forces videos:.

Gravity is a force that attracts two bodies together. It's also the natural force that pulls everything towards the earth. The greater the mass of an object the more garvitational pull it has.

Scientists measure the acceration of gravity at the Earth's surface at 32 feet per second squared! That means the longer an object is free falling the more it's speed increases (not accounting for air resistance).

Here are some phyics projects for kids that explore the force of gravity and speed:

Recycled DIY Marble Run

Playground sized diy marble run, science & art for kids: salt pendulum.

Substitute paint for the sand to make a painting pendulum!

Drippy Gravity Painting | TinkerLab

Gravity beads experiment, the lincoln high dive, egg drop project with printable recording sheets, preschool science: weight, featured gravity videos:.

In phyiscs we use the word balance to describe a situation in which two forces are equal in magnitude and extered in opposite directions.

See saws and scales are two easy wasy to illustrate the concept of balance to kids. Here are some additonal project ideas:

How to Make a Balance Toy: Balance Hearts STEAM Activity

Diy balance toy & game, awesome earth day activity: make an earth balancer, how to make balance scales for toddlers and preschoolers, easy kid's craft: straw mobile, engineering for kids: twirling twig mobile, featured balance project videos, electromagnetism & electricity.

Did you know that electricity and magnetism are physics topics? Both of these “invisible” forces are some of kids’ favorites to explore through hands-on projects!

Magnetism describes a force that attracts or repels objects that are made of magnetic material.

A magnet is a type of material that attracts iron and produces it's own magnetic field. Magnets have a north and a south pole. If you hold two magnets close to each other and place like poles together the magnets will repel each other. If you place the opposite poles together they will quickly attract each other.

Science and Art for Kids: Magnetic Sculptures

The creepiest slime ever: how to make magnetic slime, 4 easy magnet experiments that will amaze your kids, science for kids: bouncing magnets, steam camp: how to make a magnetic field sensory bottle, how to make a compass - magnetic science experiment for kids, five minute craft: magnet painting, make an aladdin magic flying carpet, traveling magnets, easy science experiments for kids: gravity activity with paperclips, featured magnetism videos, electricity.

Electrical force is a force that causes electically charged bodies to either repel or attract. It's the force that carries electrical current through a wire. There are two types of electrical charges: positive and negative.

Similar to magentism like charges REPEL each other and opposite charges ATTRACT each other.

Here are some fun ways to explore elctriclty with kids.

How to Make Electric Play Dough with Kids

Steam project: tiny dancers (a homopolar motor), simple electronics: how to make a magic wand, how to make dance bots an electronics project for kids, how to make salty circuits: a simple circuit project for kids, how to make a lemon battery and a lime light, how to make a lightning bug paper circuit card, make an electromagnet, science for kids: diy magnetic led lights, static electricity balloon and salt and pepper experiment, steam camp: how to make a modern art steady hand game, origami firefly paper circuits, featured electricity videos.

What we see and hear is determined by physics! This includes the behavior of light waves and sounds waves, those that we can perceive and those we cannot.

Light is a type of energy made up of photons. Our eyes can perceive some of it and some forms we cannot perceive at all. Light travels in both wave form and particle form.

Photons are particles which can transmit light.

Optics is the study of light's behavior as well as tools we use to study and understand it, including how our eyes perceive it.

For a further study of light head over here .

Magic Mirrors: How To Make Reflection Art

Optical illusion toy: decotropes, how to make a teleidoscope (a type of diy kaleidoscope), how to make a microscope with water, magic happens when you pour water into a jar, steam project ideas - zoetrope and benham disk, rainbow science: creating light patterns with a cd, light box - a great tool for exploring the museum, spiral illusion, featured optics videos.

Sound is a vibration that travels in waves and can be detected by the ear. Sound can be transmitted through air, water, and solids.

Here are some projects that make use of sound and vibrations:

Simple Engineering Project: DIY Voicepipe

Explore the science of sound with a diy spinner, how to do the dancing oobleck experiment, sound sandwich, water-bottle membranophone, vibrating snake, how to make a rainstick instrument, rainbow water xylophone - mama.papa.bubba., featured sound videos, heat, liquids, and air.

Physics also covers the study of heat and fluid dynamics which includes aerodynamics (the study of movement in air and gases) and hydrodynamics (the study of movement in liquids) .

Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that studies heat and heat transfer. When two obejcts of different temperatures come in contact, energy will transfer between them until they reach the same temperature and are in a state of equilibrium. Heat always transfers from the higher temperature to a lower temperature. You can read more about heat here.

Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime

Kids science: flying tea bag hot air balloon, magic jumping coin trick, convection detection, inverted bottles, convection currents, featured thermodynamics videos, hydrodynamics.

Hydrodynamics is the study of how fluids move and behave and the forces they exert. And let's be honest, kids love playing with water so use it an an entree to science!

Magic Potions Density Tower

Make a freestanding diy water wall, science for kids: scupley ships, stem project- build a hydraulic elevator, buoyancy for kids: will it sink or float, science experiments for kids: siphon water coaster, anti-gravity water - sick science, simple machines science lesson: lift water with an archimedes' screw, simple rain gauge, density science for kids : create fireworks in water & oil, featured hydrodynamics videos, aerodynamics.

After playing with water I'd say thay making things fly ranks very high on kids' must try list! Aerodynamics focuses on air movement and the forces at work as objects move through the air. It's the physics branch that let's kids explore building planes, helicopters, and rockets!

How To Make A Paper Helicopter

Diy toy: zappy zoomers, awesome science experiments with hot wheels cars, whirly twirly flying birds, stem for kids: straw rockets (with free rocket template), make an indoor paper boomerang with the kids, straws circle paper planes - s.t.e.m. for kids, how to make awesome paper airplanes 4 designs, more physics for kids resources.

The following websites are terrific resources for more information on the wonderful world of physics! These all offer in depth explanations about the phenomena we touched on above and some of them also offer additional physics projects to try.

• NASA and Newton’s Laws
• Exploratorium
• Physics 4 Kids
• Science 4 Fun

More Science on Babble Dabble Do

There’s lots more science on Babble Dabble Do! Here are some additional projects collections for you to check out:

50+ Chemistry Projects for Kids

30+ science fair projects that will wow the crowd, leave a reply cancel reply.

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37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

General Education

Are you looking for cool science experiments for kids at home or for class? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of 37 of the best science experiments for kids that cover areas of science ranging from outer space to dinosaurs to chemical reactions. By doing these easy science experiments, kids will make their own blubber and see how polar bears stay warm, make a rain cloud in a jar to observe how weather changes, create a potato battery that'll really power a lightbulb, and more.

Below are 37 of the best science projects for kids to try. For each one we include a description of the experiment, which area(s) of science it teaches kids about, how difficult it is (easy/medium/hard), how messy it is (low/medium/high), and the materials you need to do the project. Note that experiments labelled "hard" are definitely still doable; they just require more materials or time than most of these other science experiments for kids.

#1: Insect Hotels

• Teaches Kids About: Zoology
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Messiness Level: Medium

Insect hotels can be as simple (just a few sticks wrapped in a bundle) or as elaborate as you'd like, and they're a great way for kids to get creative making the hotel and then get rewarded by seeing who has moved into the home they built. After creating a hotel with hiding places for bugs, place it outside (near a garden is often a good spot), wait a few days, then check it to see who has occupied the "rooms." You can also use a bug ID book or app to try and identify the visitors.

• Materials Needed
• Shadow box or other box with multiple compartments
• Hot glue gun with glue
• Sticks, bark, small rocks, dried leaves, bits of yarn/wool, etc.

#2: DIY Lava Lamp

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions
• Difficulty Level: Easy

In this quick and fun science experiment, kids will mix water, oil, food coloring, and antacid tablets to create their own (temporary) lava lamp . Oil and water don't mix easily, and the antacid tablets will cause the oil to form little globules that are dyed by the food coloring. Just add the ingredients together and you'll end up with a homemade lava lamp!

• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Antacid tablets

#3: Magnetic Slime

• Teaches Kids About: Magnets
• Messiness Level: High (The slime is black and will slightly dye your fingers when you play with it, but it washes off easily.)

A step up from silly putty and Play-Doh, magnetic slime is fun to play with but also teaches kids about magnets and how they attract and repel each other. Some of the ingredients you aren't likely to have around the house, but they can all be purchased online. After mixing the ingredients together, you can use the neodymium magnet (regular magnets won't be strong enough) to make the magnetic slime move without touching it!

• Liquid starch
• Adhesive glue
• Iron oxide powder
• Neodymium (rare earth) magnet

#4: Baking Soda Volcanoes

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions, earth science
• Difficulty Level: Easy-medium
• Messiness Level: High

Baking soda volcanoes are one of the classic science projects for kids, and they're also one of the most popular. It's hard to top the excitement of a volcano erupting inside your home. This experiment can also be as simple or in-depth as you like. For the eruption, all you need is baking soda and vinegar (dishwashing detergent adds some extra power to the eruption), but you can make the "volcano" as elaborate and lifelike as you wish.

• Baking soda
• Dishwashing detergent
• Large mason jar or soda bottle
• Playdough or aluminum foil to make the "volcano"
• Additional items to place around the volcano (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

#5: Tornado in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Weather
• Messiness Level: Low

This is one of the quick and easy and science experiments for kids to teach them about weather. It only takes about five minutes and a few materials to set up, but once you have it ready you and your kids can create your own miniature tornado whose vortex you can see and the strength of which you can change depending on how quickly you swirl the jar.

• Glitter (optional)

#6: Colored Celery Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Plants

This celery science experiment is another classic science experiment that parents and teachers like because it's easy to do and gives kids a great visual understanding of how transpiration works and how plants get water and nutrients. Just place celery stalks in cups of colored water, wait at least a day, and you'll see the celery leaves take on the color of the water. This happens because celery stalks (like other plants) contain small capillaries that they use to transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.

• Celery stalks (can also use white flowers or pale-colored cabbage)

#7: Rain Cloud in a Jar

This experiment teaches kids about weather and lets them learn how clouds form by making their own rain cloud . This is definitely a science project that requires adult supervision since it uses boiling water as one of the ingredients, but once you pour the water into a glass jar, the experiment is fast and easy, and you'll be rewarded with a little cloud forming in the jar due to condensation.

• Glass jar with a lid
• Boiling water
• Aerosol hairspray

#8: Edible Rock Candy

• Teaches Kids About: Crystal formation

It takes about a week for the crystals of this rock candy experiment to form, but once they have you'll be able to eat the results! After creating a sugar solution, you'll fill jars with it and dangle strings in them that'll slowly become covered with the crystals. This experiment involves heating and pouring boiling water, so adult supervision is necessary, once that step is complete, even very young kids will be excited to watch crystals slowly form.

• Large saucepan
• Clothespins
• String or small skewers
• Candy flavoring (optional)

#9: Water Xylophone

• Teaches Kids About: Sound waves

With just some basic materials you can create your own musical instrument to teach kids about sound waves. In this water xylophone experiment , you'll fill glass jars with varying levels of water. Once they're all lined up, kids can hit the sides with wooden sticks and see how the itch differs depending on how much water is in the jar (more water=lower pitch, less water=higher pitch). This is because sound waves travel differently depending on how full the jars are with water.

• Wooden sticks/skewers

#10: Blood Model in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Human biology

This blood model experiment is a great way to get kids to visual what their blood looks like and how complicated it really is. Each ingredient represents a different component of blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.), so you just add a certain amount of each to the jar, swirl it around a bit, and you have a model of what your blood looks like.

• Empty jar or bottle
• Red cinnamon candies
• Marshmallows or dry white lima beans
• White sprinkles

#11: Potato Battery

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity
• Difficulty Level: Hard

Did you know that a simple potato can produce enough energy to keep a light bulb lit for over a month? You can create a simple potato battery to show kids. There are kits that provide all the necessary materials and how to set it up, but if you don't purchase one of these it can be a bit trickier to gather everything you need and assemble it correctly. Once it's set though, you'll have your own farm grown battery!

• Fresh potato
• Galvanized nail
• Copper coin

#12: Homemade Pulley

• Teaches Kids About: Simple machines

This science activity requires some materials you may not already have, but once you've gotten them, the homemade pulley takes only a few minutes to set up, and you can leave the pulley up for your kids to play with all year round. This pulley is best set up outside, but can also be done indoors.

• Clothesline
• 2 clothesline pulleys

#13: Light Refraction

• Teaches Kids About: Light

This light refraction experiment takes only a few minutes to set up and uses basic materials, but it's a great way to show kids how light travels. You'll draw two arrows on a sticky note, stick it to the wall, then fill a clear water bottle with water. As you move the water bottle in front of the arrows, the arrows will appear to change the direction they're pointing. This is because of the refraction that occurs when light passes through materials like water and plastic.

• Sticky note
• Transparent water bottle

#14: Nature Journaling

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, scientific observation

A nature journal is a great way to encourage kids to be creative and really pay attention to what's going on around them. All you need is a blank journal (you can buy one or make your own) along with something to write with. Then just go outside and encourage your children to write or draw what they notice. This could include descriptions of animals they see, tracings of leaves, a drawing of a beautiful flower, etc. Encourage your kids to ask questions about what they observe (Why do birds need to build nests? Why is this flower so brightly colored?) and explain to them that scientists collect research by doing exactly what they're doing now.

• Blank journal or notebook
• Pens/pencils/crayons/markers
• Tape or glue for adding items to the journal

#15: DIY Solar Oven

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy

This homemade solar oven definitely requires some adult help to set up, but after it's ready you'll have your own mini oven that uses energy from the sun to make s'mores or melt cheese on pizza. While the food is cooking, you can explain to kids how the oven uses the sun's rays to heat the food.

• Aluminum foil
• Knife or box cutter
• Permanent marker
• Plastic cling wrap
• Black construction paper

#16: Animal Blubber Simulation

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, zoology

If your kids are curious about how animals like polar bears and seals stay warm in polar climates, you can go beyond just explaining it to them; you can actually have them make some of their own blubber and test it out. After you've filled up a large bowl with ice water and let it sit for a few minutes to get really cold, have your kids dip a bare hand in and see how many seconds they can last before their hand gets too cold. Next, coat one of their fingers in shortening and repeat the experiment. Your child will notice that, with the shortening acting like a protective layer of blubber, they don't feel the cold water nearly as much.

• Bowl of ice water

#17: Static Electricity Butterfly

This experiment is a great way for young kids to learn about static electricity, and it's more fun and visual than just having them rub balloons against their heads. First you'll create a butterfly, using thick paper (such as cardstock) for the body and tissue paper for the wings. Then, blow up the balloon, have the kids rub it against their head for a few seconds, then move the balloon to just above the butterfly's wings. The wings will move towards the balloon due to static electricity, and it'll look like the butterfly is flying.

• Tissue paper
• Thick paper
• Glue stick/glue

#18: Edible Double Helix

• Teaches Kids About: Genetics

If your kids are learning about genetics, you can do this edible double helix craft to show them how DNA is formed, what its different parts are, and what it looks like. The licorice will form the sides or backbone of the DNA and each color of marshmallow will represent one of the four chemical bases. Kids will be able to see that only certain chemical bases pair with each other.

• 2 pieces of licorice
• 12 toothpicks
• Small marshmallows in 4 colors (9 of each color)
• 5 paperclips

#19: Leak-Proof Bag

• Teaches Kids About: Molecules, plastics

This is an easy experiment that'll appeal to kids of a variety of ages. Just take a zip-lock bag, fill it about ⅔ of the way with water, and close the top. Next, poke a few sharp objects (like bamboo skewers or sharp pencils) through one end and out the other. At this point you may want to dangle the bag above your child's head, but no need to worry about spills because the bag won't leak? Why not? It's because the plastic used to make zip-lock bags is made of polymers, or long chains of molecules that'll quickly join back together when they're forced apart.

• Zip-lock bags
• Objects with sharp ends (pencils, bamboo skewers, etc.)

#20: How Do Leaves Breathe?

• Teaches Kids About: Plant science

It takes a few hours to see the results of this leaf experiment , but it couldn't be easier to set up, and kids will love to see a leaf actually "breathing." Just get a large-ish leaf, place it in a bowl (glass works best so you can see everything) filled with water, place a small rock on the leaf to weigh it down, and leave it somewhere sunny. Come back in a few hours and you'll see little bubbles in the water created when the leaf releases the oxygen it created during photosynthesis.

• Large bowl (preferably glass)
• Magnifying glass (optional)

#21: Popsicle Stick Catapults

Kids will love shooting pom poms out of these homemade popsicle stick catapults . After assembling the catapults out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons, they're ready to launch pom poms or other lightweight objects. To teach kids about simple machines, you can ask them about how they think the catapults work, what they should do to make the pom poms go a farther/shorter distance, and how the catapult could be made more powerful.

• Popsicle sticks
• Rubber bands
• Plastic spoons
• Paint (optional)

#22: Elephant Toothpaste

You won't want to do this experiment near anything that's difficult to clean (outside may be best), but kids will love seeing this " elephant toothpaste " crazily overflowing the bottle and oozing everywhere. Pour the hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and dishwashing soap into the bottle, and in the cup mix the yeast packet with some warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, add the yeast mixture to the bottle, stand back, and watch the solution become a massive foamy mixture that pours out of the bottle! The "toothpaste" is formed when the yeast removed the oxygen bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide which created foam. This is an exothermic reaction, and it creates heat as well as foam (you can have kids notice that the bottle became warm as the reaction occurred).

• Clean 16-oz soda bottle
• 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 packet of dry yeast
• Dishwashing soap

#23: How Do Penguins Stay Dry?

Penguins, and many other birds, have special oil-producing glands that coat their feathers with a protective layer that causes water to slide right off them, keeping them warm and dry. You can demonstrate this to kids with this penguin craft by having them color a picture of a penguin with crayons, then spraying the picture with water. The wax from the crayons will have created a protective layer like the oil actual birds coat themselves with, and the paper won't absorb the water.

• Penguin image (included in link)
• Spray bottle
• Blue food coloring (optional)

#24: Rock Weathering Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Geology

This mechanical weathering experiment teaches kids why and how rocks break down or erode. Take two pieces of clay, form them into balls, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, leave one out while placing the other in the freezer overnight. The next day, unwrap and compare them. You can repeat freezing the one piece of clay every night for several days to see how much more cracked and weathered it gets than the piece of clay that wasn't frozen. It may even begin to crumble. This weathering also happens to rocks when they are subjected to extreme temperatures, and it's one of the causes of erosion.

• Plastic wrap

#25: Saltwater Density

• Teaches Kids About: Water density

For this saltwater density experiment , you'll fill four clear glasses with water, then add salt to one glass, sugar to one glass, and baking soda to one glass, leaving one glass with just water. Then, float small plastic pieces or grapes in each of the glasses and observe whether they float or not. Saltwater is denser than freshwater, which means some objects may float in saltwater that would sink in freshwater. You can use this experiment to teach kids about the ocean and other bodies of saltwater, such as the Dead Sea, which is so salty people can easily float on top of it.

• Four clear glasses
• Lightweight plastic objects or small grapes

#26: Starburst Rock Cycle

With just a package of Starbursts and a few other materials, you can create models of each of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Sedimentary "rocks" will be created by pressing thin layers of Starbursts together, metamorphic by heating and pressing Starbursts, and igneous by applying high levels of heat to the Starbursts. Kids will learn how different types of rocks are forms and how the three rock types look different from each other.

• Toaster oven

#27: Inertia Wagon Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Inertia

This simple experiment teaches kids about inertia (as well as the importance of seatbelts!). Take a small wagon, fill it with a tall stack of books, then have one of your children pull it around then stop abruptly. They won't be able to suddenly stop the wagon without the stack of books falling. You can have the kids predict which direction they think the books will fall and explain that this happens because of inertia, or Newton's first law.

• Stack of books

#28: Dinosaur Tracks

• Teaches Kids About: Paleontology

How are some dinosaur tracks still visible millions of years later? By mixing together several ingredients, you'll get a claylike mixture you can press your hands/feet or dinosaur models into to make dinosaur track imprints . The mixture will harden and the imprints will remain, showing kids how dinosaur (and early human) tracks can stay in rock for such a long period of time.

• Used coffee grounds
• Wooden spoon
• Rolling pin

#29: Sidewalk Constellations

• Teaches Kids About: Astronomy

If you do this sidewalk constellation craft , you'll be able to see the Big Dipper and Orion's Belt in the daylight. On the sidewalk, have kids draw the lines of constellations (using constellation diagrams for guidance) and place stones where the stars are. You can then look at astronomy charts to see where the constellations they drew will be in the sky.

• Sidewalk chalk
• Small stones
• Diagrams of constellations

#30: Lung Model

By building a lung model , you can teach kids about respiration and how their lungs work. After cutting off the bottom of a plastic bottle, you'll stretch a balloon around the opened end and insert another balloon through the mouth of the bottle. You'll then push a straw through the neck of the bottle and secure it with a rubber band and play dough. By blowing into the straw, the balloons will inflate then deflate, similar to how our lungs work.

• Plastic bottle
• Rubber band

#31: Homemade Dinosaur Bones

By mixing just flour, salt, and water, you'll create a basic salt dough that'll harden when baked. You can use this dough to make homemade dinosaur bones and teach kids about paleontology. You can use books or diagrams to learn how different dinosaur bones were shaped, and you can even bury the bones in a sandpit or something similar and then excavate them the way real paleontologists do.

• Images of dinosaur bones

#32: Clay and Toothpick Molecules

There are many variations on homemade molecule science crafts . This one uses clay and toothpicks, although gumdrops or even small pieces of fruit like grapes can be used in place of clay. Roll the clay into balls and use molecule diagrams to attach the clay to toothpicks in the shape of the molecules. Kids can make numerous types of molecules and learn how atoms bond together to form molecules.

• Clay or gumdrops (in four colors)
• Diagrams of molecules

#33: Articulated Hand Model

By creating an articulated hand model , you can teach kids about bones, joints, and how our hands are able to move in many ways and accomplish so many different tasks. After creating a hand out of thin foam, kids will cut straws to represent the different bones in the hand and glue them to the fingers of the hand models. You'll then thread yarn (which represents tendons) through the straws, stabilize the model with a chopstick or other small stick, and end up with a hand model that moves and bends the way actual human hands do.

• Straws (paper work best)
• Twine or yarn

#34: Solar Energy Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy, light rays

This solar energy science experiment will teach kids about solar energy and how different colors absorb different amounts of energy. In a sunny spot outside, place six colored pieces of paper next to each other, and place an ice cube in the middle of each paper. Then, observe how quickly each of the ice cubes melt. The ice cube on the black piece of paper will melt fastest since black absorbs the most light (all the light ray colors), while the ice cube on the white paper will melt slowest since white absorbs the least light (it instead reflects light). You can then explain why certain colors look the way they do. (Colors besides black and white absorb all light except for the one ray color they reflect; this is the color they appear to us.)

• 6 squares of differently colored paper/cardstock (must include black paper and white paper)

#35: How to Make Lightning

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity, weather

You don't need a storm to see lightning; you can actually create your own lightning at home . For younger kids this experiment requires adult help and supervision. You'll stick a thumbtack through the bottom of an aluminum tray, then stick the pencil eraser to the pushpin. You'll then rub the piece of wool over the aluminum tray, and then set the tray on the Styrofoam, where it'll create a small spark/tiny bolt of lightning!

• Pencil with eraser
• Aluminum tray or pie tin
• Styrofoam tray

#36: Tie-Dyed Milk

• Teaches Kids About: Surface tension

For this magic milk experiment , partly fill a shallow dish with milk, then add a one drop of each food coloring color to different parts of the milk. The food coloring will mostly stay where you placed it. Next, carefully add one drop of dish soap to the middle of the milk. It'll cause the food coloring to stream through the milk and away from the dish soap. This is because the dish soap breaks up the surface tension of the milk by dissolving the milk's fat molecules.

• Shallow dish
• Milk (high-fat works best)

#37: How Do Stalactites Form?

Have you ever gone into a cave and seen huge stalactites hanging from the top of the cave? Stalactites are formed by dripping water. The water is filled with particles which slowly accumulate and harden over the years, forming stalactites. You can recreate that process with this stalactite experiment . By mixing a baking soda solution, dipping a piece of wool yarn in the jar and running it to another jar, you'll be able to observe baking soda particles forming and hardening along the yarn, similar to how stalactites grow.

• Safety pins
• 2 glass jars

Summary: Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Any one of these simple science experiments for kids can get children learning and excited about science. You can choose a science experiment based on your child's specific interest or what they're currently learning about, or you can do an experiment on an entirely new topic to expand their learning and teach them about a new area of science. From easy science experiments for kids to the more challenging ones, these will all help kids have fun and learn more about science.

What's Next?

Are you also interested in pipe cleaner crafts for kids? We have a guide to some of the best pipe cleaner crafts to try!

Looking for multiple different slime recipes? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Want to learn more about clouds? Learn how to identify every cloud in the sky with our guide to the 10 types of clouds .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa) .

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Hands On As We Grow®

Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

50 Amazingly Simple Science Experiments for Kids at Home

Science Kindergartners Preschoolers Experiment Resources 30 Comments

Kids love experimenting , and these 50 simple science experiments for kids at home from Brigitte are perfect for all ages! Plus, you probably already have the basic supplies at home.

My daughters and I have had a lot of fun doing science experiments. Each year when we create our spring and summer list , we make sure to include “science days” which are days filled with science experiments.

Sometimes our science experiments don’t work according to plan, but I have been told that all scientists have failures with experiments from time to time.

It’s okay if they aren’t all successes.

Get the FREE Science Experiments Download

50 Simple Science Experiments with Supplies You Already Have

I love these 50 simple science experiments for you to try with your little scientists. They all use basic household supplies that you probably already have at home!

Most of these are experiments my daughters and I have done together. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Get little ones involved with these easy toddler-friendly science experiment ideas!

Simple Science Experiments with Water

Not only can water  be a blast to play in, but water plus a few basic supplies equals a lot of science fun!

• Make an orange sink and float with an orange buoyancy experiment from Playdough to Plato.
• Compare the amount of salt in different types of water with this salty egg experiment  as seen on Uplifting Mayhem.
• Do a little more sinking or floating with a fun sink or float experiment  even toddlers can do from Hands On As We Grow.
• Use the free printable to record what sinks or floats in an outdoor experiment from Buggy and Buddy.
• Create some beautiful pieces of paper with this rainbow paper experiment from Science Kiddo.
• Talk about solutions as you try the “what dissolves in water” experiment  as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Learn about water absorption with this simple experiment from Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Mix some fun colors with this oil and water experiment  from Fun Learning for Kids.
• Make your own lava lamp , just like on  Hands On As We Grow.
• Can you keep all the water in the bag? Try it with a  leak-proof bag experiment  as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Learn about surface tension with this  magic finger pepper experiment  found on Hands On As We Grow.
• Make your own  water cycle in a bottle  as seen on A Dab of Glue Will Do.

Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda + vinegar = a great chemical reaction! This fizzy reaction can fuel a variety of simple science experiments at home.

First of all, we have tested and found out the absolute best combination of baking soda and vinegar to get the best reaction possible. It makes a difference if you add vinegar to baking soda or vice versa! And how much you use!

• Inflate a balloon without blowing into it with a baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment  as seen on Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Practice colors as you do a baking soda and vinegar with color experiment as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Have fun outside with an outdoor volcano eruption  as seen on Preschool Inspirations.
• Have more volcano fun by making apple volcanoes as seen on The Resourceful Mama.
• Learn about acids and bases and the chemical reaction that occurs when you make apple seeds dance with a   jumping apple seeds experiment  as seen on JDaniel4s Mom.
• Watch some rice dance with a   dancing rice experiment as seen on Green Kid Crafts.
• Continue your dance party by making raisins dance with a dancing raisin experiment  as seen on 123 Homeschool 4 Me. What other items can you get to dance?
• Learn more about acids and bases by dissolving a sea shell as seen on Teach Beside Me.
• Make an egg shell disappear with this disappearing egg activity  as seen on Premeditated Leftovers.
• See how far you can launch a soda bottle with this baking soda powered boat as seen on Science Sparks.
• Make your own rocks (or eggs) with this fizzy treasure rocks experiment as seen on Living Life and Learning.
• Have some fun this summer with this frozen vinegar experiment as seen on Inspiration Laboratories.

Plant Themed Simple Science Experiments

Enjoy learning about seeds, plant parts, and how plants grow with these simple science experiments.

• Learn about how plants soak up water through their stems with a flower experiment for kids  from Growing A Jeweled Rose.
• Watch seeds sprout as you grow seeds in a jar  as seen on Teaching Mama.
• Learn about the parts of the seed with a seed coat experiment as seen on Gift of Curiosity.
• Build a house out of sponges and then watch it sprout with this sprout house as seen on The Stem Laboratory.
• Learn what liquids allow seeds to grow the best with this seed experiment  as seen on Gift of Curiosity.
• Explore how plants grow towards the light with this shoe-box maze experiment from Plants for Kids.

Animal Themed Simple Science Experiments

Learning about animals can be even more fun with some simple hands-on simple science experiments.

• Find out more about giraffes and create some giraffe spots  as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.
• Learn about how animals in the Arctic keep warm by making an arctic glove  as seen on Steve Spangler Science.
• Discover how penguins stay dry with a penguin feather experiment as seen on Raising Little Superheroes.
• Learn about different bird beaks with a bird beak experiment as seen on Blessed Beyond a Doubt.
• Explore how fish (and hermit crabs) breathe with this gill experiment  as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.
• Learn about sharks with a   shark buoyancy experiment as seen on Little Bins for Little Hands.

Even More Simple Science Experiment for Kids at Home!

If you are still looking for more science fun, you may enjoy the following simple science experiments.

• Find out how sugary drinks hurt teeth with an  eggs-periment  as seen on Feels Like Home Blog.
• Discover geodes (the state rock of Iowa) with this eggshell geode crystal experiment  as seen on Science Bob.
• Learn about air pressure with an egg and bottle experiment  as seen on Science Sparks.
• Find out what causes an apple to brown with this apple science experiment  as seen on Teach Beside Me.
• Make an  edible bubble apple with an experiment as seen on Preschool Powol Packet.
• Learn more about surface tension with a penny and water experiment  as seen on Artful Parent.
• Mix colors like magic with this color changing milk experiment  from Hands On As We Grow.
• Blow up a balloon with this soda and balloon experiment from Learn Play Imagine.
• Practice letters by making beautiful crystal letters as seen on Books and Giggles.
• Make your own indoor hovercraft  as seen on Living Life and Learning.
• Learn about colors with this beautiful butterfly chromatography craft  as seen on Buggy and Buddy.
• Make soap souffle  as seen on Steve Spangler Science.
• After talking about liquids and solids (and finding them in your own home), create oobleck  as seen on Babble Dabble Do. Is it a liquid, or is it a solid?
• Learn about frost by making some indoor frost as seen on Little Bin for Little Hands.
• Make your own homemade butter in a jar as seen on Happy Hooligans.

What scientific experiment will you try first?

About Brigitte Brulz

Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom of two daughters, wife of her high school sweetheart, and author of Jobs of a Preschooler and Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles. She offers free coloring pages and activity ideas on her website at BrigitteBrulz.com .

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30 comments.

college brawl says

March 13, 2024 at 1:05 am

Wow, these experiments look like so much fun! I can’t wait to try them out with my kids. We’re always looking for new and creative ways to learn about science at home, and these experiments look like they’ll be perfect for us. Thanks for sharing! 😊

threadsBay says

August 31, 2023 at 3:13 am

I love science experiments! This one is really simple and easy to do.

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We can all agree that science is awesome. And you can bring that awesomeness into your very own home with these 20 safe DIY experiments you can do right now with ordinary household items.

1. Make Objects Seemingly Disappear Refraction is when light changes direction and speed as it passes from one object to another. Only visible objects reflect light. When two materials with similar reflective properties come into contact, light will pass through both materials at the same speed, rendering the other material invisible. Check out this video from BritLab  on how to turn glass invisible using vegetable oil and pyrex glass.

2. Freeze Water Instantly When purified water is cooled to just below freezing point, a quick nudge or an icecube placed in it is all it takes for the water to instantly freeze. You can finally have the power of Frozone from The Incredibles on a very small scale! Check out the video on this "cool" experiment. 

3. Create Oobleck And Make It Dance To The Music Named after a sticky substance in a children’s book by Dr Seuss , Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it can behave as both a solid and a liquid. And when placed on a sound source, the vibrations causes the mixture to gloopily dance. Check out these instructions from Housing A Forest  on how to make this groovy fluid funk out in every way.

4. Create Your Own Hybrid Rocket Engine With a combination of a solid fuel source and a liquid oxidizer, hybrid rocket engines can propel themselves. And on a small scale, you can create your own hybrid rocket engine, using pasta, mouthwash and yeast. Sadly, it won’t propel much, but who said rocket science ain’t easy? Check out this video from NightHawkInLight on how to make this mini engine.

5. Create "Magic Mud" Another non-Newtonian fluid here, this time from the humble potato. "Magic Mud" is actually starch found in potatoes. It’ll remain hard when handled but leave it alone and it turns into a liquid. Make your own “Magic Mud” with this video.

6. Command The Skies And Create A Cloud In A Bottle Not quite a storm in a teacup, but it is a cloud in a bottle. Clouds up in the sky are formed when water vapor cools and condenses into visible water droplets. Create your own cloud in a bottle using a few household items with these wikiHow instructions .

7. Create An Underwater Magical World First synthesized by Adolf van Baeyer in 1871, fluorescein is a non-toxic powder found in highlighter pens, and used by NASA to find shuttles that land in the sea. Create an underwater magical world with this video from NightHawkInLight .

9. Make Your Own Lava Lamp Inside a lava lamp are colored bubbles of wax suspended in a clear or colorless liquid, which changes density when warmed by a heating element at the base, allowing them to rise and fall hypnotically. Create your own lava lamp with these video instructions.

10. Create Magnetic Fluid A ferrofluid is a liquid that contains nanoscale particles of metal, which can become magnetized. And with oil, toner and a magnet , you can create your own ferrofluid and harness the power of magnetism! 

12. Make Waterproof Sand A hydrophobic substance is one that repels water. When sand is combined with a water-resistant chemical, it becomes hydrophobic. So when it comes into contact with water, the sand will remain dry and reusable. Make your own waterproof sand with this video .

13. Make Elephant's Toothpaste Elephant’s toothpaste is a steaming foamy substance created by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which sort of resembles giant-sized toothpaste. Make your own elephant’s toothpaste with these instructions.

14. Make Crystal Bubbles When the temperature falls below 0 o C (32 o F), it’s possible to freeze bubbles into crystals. No instructions needed here, just some bubble mix and chilly weather.

15. Make Moving Liquid Art Mixing dish soap and milk together causes the surface tension of the milk to break down. Throw in different food colorings and create this trippy chemical reaction.

16. Create Colourful Carnations Flowers absorb water through their stems, and if that water has food coloring in it, the flowers will also absorb that color. Create some wonderfully colored flowers with these wikiHow instructions .

17. "Magically" Turn Water Into Wine Turn water into wine with this  video  by experimenter Dave Hax . Because water has a higher density than wine, they can switch places. Amaze your friends with this fun science trick.

18. Release The Energy In Candy (Without Eating It) Dropping a gummy bear into a test tube with potassium chlorate releases the chemical energy inside in an intense chemical reaction. That’s exactly what's happening when you eat candy, kids.

19. Make Water "Mysteriously" Disappear Sodium polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer, capable of absorbing up to 300 times its own weight in water. Found in disposable diapers, you can make water disappear in seconds with this video .

20. Create A Rainbow In A Jar Different liquids have different masses and different densities. For example, oil is less dense than water and will float on top of its surface. By combining liquids of different densities and adding food coloring, you can make an entire rainbow in a jar with this video .

There you have it – 20 experiments for you to explore the incredible world of science!

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60 Physics Science Experiments For Middle School: Crafts, Investigations, Model Building, And DIYs

January 11, 2024 //  by  Carly Gerson

Physics is a subject that can be difficult for students to understand, so hands-on experiences like experiments are excellent to give your students a better understanding of tricky concepts and theories! Not only do experiments and activities help your kiddos’ understanding but they also create an interactive way to engage them in the learning. Read on to discover 60 phenomenal physics science experiments to try out with your middle school students!

1. Newton’s Cradle

Newton’s Cradle is a classic physics experiment that uses basic materials to demonstrate kinetic energy and potential energy . Your students will love creating their very own version using some string and straws! This is a great way to demonstrate the basic concept of energy transfer in an engaging way.

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

2. Simple Bernoulli Experiment

The Bernoulli experiment is an excellent way to teach your kids about air pressure. Show your learners how to use construction paper, tape, a bendy straw, a ping pong ball, scissors, and a pencil to create a fun experiment that they can have a go at! This is a simple way to demonstrate to them how large vehicles like planes can stay high in the air. This abstract concept will be brought to life quickly!

3. Car Science Experiment for Air Resistance and Mass

A physics concept that is sure to be fun to teach your kiddies is the impact of mass on motion! They’ll feel like modern physicists as they place cars with different masses on their race track and time them on their journey! While this may seem like a pretty simple experiment, you can challenge your kids to complete lots of different trials to find out how a range of different factors affects the speed of their cars.

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

4. Archimedes’ Screw Simple Machine

Can water flow up? Your kids will be able to answer this question after completing this fun experiment! The Archimedes’ Screw is a commonly known invention that moves water upward and transfers it from one place to another. Help your learners construct their own using a piece of plastic pipe and some clear plastic tubing, then let them experiment and see if they can make it work!

5. Layering Liquids Density Experiment

Children will love participating in this colorful activity. Have your students use different colored liquids to test out the density of each one by creating a density tower! Everyone will watch in amazement as the different colored liquids separate and float to different places in the jar!

Learn More: Green Kid Crafts

6. Launching Easter Eggs Experiment

This activity would make for an incredibly fun science fair project or a great science activity during the Easter season. Using a mini catapult and plastic eggs, your kiddies will have great fun testing how mass impacts the distance traveled by the egg. This experiment will definitely make you smile!

Learn More: STL Motherhood

7. Balloon in a Bottle Properties of Air Experiment

Challenge your learners to put a balloon inside a plastic bottle and blow it up; sounds easy enough, right? They’ll find this one to be a little trickier than they initially thought! As they work to try to blow up their balloons discuss the properties of air which makes this seemingly simple task almost impossible!

Learn More: Steve Spangler Science

8. How to Make a Pendulum Wave

This physics science project is both fun to make and incredible to look at! Using washers and a few other simple materials like string, your students will be captivated by their experiment for hours on end. Besides being completely mesmerized, they’ll also learn about waves and motion.

Learn More: YouTube

9. Creating Catapults

A homemade catapult is a great way to use cheap materials in a STEM project. Have your kiddos use simple household and craft materials to determine which combination makes for the best catapult. You can launch anything from scrunched-up paper to marshmallows! Encourage your middle schoolers to consider how they can scientifically measure which catapult is best!

Learn More: Science Gal

10. Inertia Tower Activity

Raise the stakes with this amazingly fun inertia activity. This creative activity uses sheets of paper or index cards to separate a tower of cups or blocks, which your students then need to pull out quickly without disturbing the tower. Can they remove all the pieces of paper?

Learn More: Perkin’s E-Learning

11. Rice Friction Experiment

Friction can be a challenging concept to teach middle school students. Thankfully this experiment makes it a little bit easier! Give your kids a better understanding of this tricky concept by using a plastic bottle, funnel, chopstick, and rice. They’ll learn how to increase and decrease friction and will be amazed when this amazing force lets them lift a bottle up with just a single chopstick!

Learn More: Carrots Are Orange

12. Balancing Robot

Combine arts and crafts and physics with this adorable activity! Use the printable template and have your kids customize their robots, decorating them however they like before cutting them out. Next, you’ll use some putty to stick a penny to the end of each of the robot’s arms. All that’s left is to let them find out where they can get their robots balancing! 

Learn More: Buggy and Buddy

13. Make Your Own Ice Cream in a Bag

You had us at ice cream! Your kiddies will be so excited to have a go at making their own ice cream using just a few Ziplock bags. Have them start by measuring cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring into one bag, making sure it’s sealed up. Then, get them to place this bag inside another bag that also has ice and salt inside and shake! Once they’re done learning, make sure you set aside time for some taste testing!

Learn More: Delish

14. Skittles Density Rainbow

Build the rainbow with this fun density experiment. Start by having your kiddies dissolve Skittles in water, using a different quantity of each color of Skittles in each liquid. They’ll then gently use a pipette to layer their liquids while you discuss how the solids have impacted the density of each liquid!

Learn More: Gift Of Curiosity

15. Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Did you know that you can make raisins dance? Ok, well maybe they’re not actually dancing, but they’re definitely doing something! Your learners will love this fun science experiment where they’ll watch as they watch the carbonation and bubbles of the soda water lift the raisins and “make them dance”.

16. Learning With Dry Ice

Dry ice is so exciting for your little learners! It has almost magical properties that give it a mysterious element that kids are completely captivated by. Using dry ice is a great way to teach students about how clouds are formed and how they eventually evaporate by capturing a dry ice cloud in a bag! You’ll be inspiring future meteorologists with this visually appealing experiment!

Learn More: Penguin Dry Ice

17. Learning About Arches

Arches are surprisingly impressive feats of architecture. Their unique shape actually makes them surprisingly strong! Teach your kiddos about how heavy-weight objects such as cars on a bridge are supported as they test out different types of arches to see which one holds the most weight!

Learn More: Imagine Childhood

18. Heat Changing Colored Slime

This unique experiment requires very specific materials, but we promise it’s worth it! Blow your kids’ minds as they learn about thermodynamics and how heat can change the color of certain materials as they make some heat-sensitive color-changing slime! 

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain

19. Homemade Marble Run

Let your kiddies get creative with any materials they can get their hands on with this next activity! Challenge them to create a track for marbles, testing out different course layouts to see how these impact the time it takes the marble to complete it. Encourage them to record their results and share their findings!

Learn More: Buggy And Buddy

20. Ice Hockey Puck Friction Experiment

The ice hockey fans in your class will love this next one! In this activity, your kids will use different flat circular items like bottle caps and coins to determine which materials make the best ice hockey puck! This is a great experiment to take outside on an icy winter day to let them learn about and see friction in action!

Learn More: Science Sparks

21. Transfer of Momentum Basketball Activity

Here’s a quick physics experiment your kiddos can do during recess or on a sunny day! Grab some basketballs and racquetballs and instruct your kids to hold the smaller ball on top of the basketball. Next, have them let go and watch in amazement as the basketball bounces up into the racquetball, transferring momentum as it makes contact! 

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

22. Pumpkin Boats

Wondering what to do with all those leftover pumpkins after Halloween? Look no further! Get your learners to make them into boats as they investigate the link between density and buoyancy. Support them to make differently-sized pumpkin boats and then make predictions about whether or not their pumpkin boat will sink or float.

Learn More: The Preschool Toolbox

23. How to Make a Hovercraft

Hovercrafts were once something that only appeared in sci-fi stories, but now your kids will be making them in your classroom! Using simple household materials, they’ll learn how to harness the power of air resistance in this unique craft. Neat!

24. St. Patrick’s Day Balloon Rockets

This holiday-themed activity is a great way to teach students about air resistance and acceleration! Your kids will craft their balloon rockets with a balloon, some tape, and a straw to keep it attached to the line. All that’s left is to let go to watch their balloon rockets blast off down the track! Why not make it competitive with a prize for the winning balloon of each race?

Learn More: Housing A Forest

25. Marshmallow Shooter

Your learners will love this silly activity that incorporates a favorite sweet treat and a unique contraption! As they launch their marshmallows through the air, you can discuss how the force of the pull impacts the motion of the marshmallows.

Learn More: Teky Teach

26. Use The Force

Star Wars fans will have fun with this one as they use “the force” to magically pick up paper clips! This exciting activity will have your kiddos wanting to learn more about magnetism and how it works! Simply have them place a large magnet on the back of their hand, reach toward a pile of paper clips, and watch as the paper clips magically fly into their hands!

Learn More: Rookie Parenting

27. Magic Toothpick Star Experiment

You’ll have a tough time convincing your kids that this experiment shows physics at work and not magic! Have your kids take five toothpicks and snap them in half. Let them arrange them as shown, and then drip water in the middle of the sticks. They’ll be amazed as the water moves the sticks, seemingly mending them and creating a star!

Learn More: Living Life And Learning

28. Water Powered Bottle Rocket

Bottle rockets are a fun science experiment to bring the science classroom outdoors . Your students will love learning about pressure and how it impacts the velocity of an item using just a recycled plastic bottle, a cork, some water, and a pump with a needle adaptor. To add even more excitement to this activity, let your kiddos decorate their own rockets!

29. Magnetic Levitation Activity

With all these seemingly magical experiments, your kids are really going to wonder if you attended Hogwarts instead of a teacher-training college! Use the power of magnets to make a pencil float! Show your kids how to position their magnets so that they repel each other enough to suspend a pencil in mid-air! 

Learn More: Arvin D. Gupta Toys

30. Rubber Band Powered Car

This adorable craft will teach your kiddos about force and motion! Let them spend some time going through a trial and error process to make a working car that’s powered by applying force to a  rubber band! Once they’ve got their models working, let them race to see whose creation goes the fastest and the farthest!

Learn More: Stem Inventions

31. Making a Water Wheel

Waterwheels have been around since Roman times, over 2000 years ago! Historically they were used in mills to grind grains into flour but nowadays they can be used as a source of renewable energy. Task your pupils with making a working waterwheel out of some simple household items like plastic cups, straws, and tape- are they up to the challenge? 

Learn More: Deceptively Educational

32. DIY Pulley Physics

This pulley system will show your students that simple machines aren’t always so simple! Using whatever materials they can find and some string, they’ll need to create a fully functional, intricate pulley system along your classroom walls! This would make a great display for the entire school year!

Learn More: The Homeschool Scientist

33. How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim

What is more likely to float, a peeled or unpeeled orange? Let your kids vote on this seemingly straightforward question then reveal the answer with a simple demonstration. Your students will watch in awe as they learn that they can change the density and buoyancy of an object by slightly altering it. In the case of the orange, however, the results might not be what they were expecting!

Learn More: Woo Jr.

34. Paper Airplane Test

There’s nothing kids love more than making and throwing paper airplanes. If they’re usually banned in your classroom, then you might want to consider lifting that ban for one day! Turn this simple activity into an engineering investigation where your students will test out different designs to see which shape of the paper airplane will fly the furthest and which shape will stay in the air the longest! Physics made fun!

Learn More: Feels Like Home

35. Rising Water Experiment

Water experiments in the classroom can be so much fun! This activity will teach your students how temperature and oxygen levels can affect the density of the air! All you’ll need are some matches, a cork, a plate of water, and a glass! They’ll love watching what seems like magic!

Learn More: Teach Beside Me

36. Physics Mystery Bag Challenge

This unique physics activity will have your kiddos work in groups to solve a physics mystery. Each group will receive identical bags of mystery items and will be told what type of machine they need to create. The challenge is that there are no instructions! Using only the items in front of them and their ingenuity, your students will compete to see which group creates the best of the designated machine!

Learn More: Teaching Highschool Math

37. Solar Oven S’mores

Fun science experiments are even better when combined with food! This solar oven teaches your students about how transmission, absorption, and reflection are used in a solar cooker to cook food. Your middle schoolers will be amazed at how easy it is to make yummy smores using an array of simple supplies, such as plastic boxes, aluminum foil, cotton, and glass.

Learn More: PBS

38. Laser Jello

Here’s another edible science project for your class! In this fun project, your kiddos will put the concepts of reflection and refraction into practice in a hands-on experiment. Give them some red and blue Jello to investigate how differently colored lasers project through it; they’ll be amazed as the Jello changes the lasers’ color and sometimes blocks out the light altogether! 

Learn More: Exploratorium

39. The Electric Butterfly

Elevate the basic static-electricity balloon experiment by adding a paper butterfly! Teach your learners about positive and negative electrons by charging up the balloon with static electricity and using it to move the paper butterfly’s wings. This hands-on activity is a super way for them to see what can be a very abstract concept in action!

Learn More: CACC Kids

40. Homemade Thermometer

This classic science experiment is great for showing how heat affects certain liquids by making them expand. Using the simple supplies of a bottle, cold water, rubbing alcohol, food coloring, a straw, and some modeling clay, have your students build their very own thermometer. As they heat or cool the surroundings, your kiddos will observe the liquid rising and falling in the straw!

41. DIY Electromagnet

Creating an electromagnet is a cool way of combining middle-grade physics and engineering! This fun activity uses screws, some wire, and batteries to demonstrate how an electric current flows through metal to create a magnetic field. After this simple experiment, you can challenge your kids to take this activity to the next level and create bigger versions like their own electromagnetic cranes!

Learn More: Teach Engineering

42. Optical Illusion Fun

Experiments don’t get much cooler than optical illusions! You can use these amazing visual activities to teach your middle graders about how our eyes process light and send signals to our brains. Simply print out the template and let your kids add some color before they cut them out and attach them to a pencil. As they spin, they won’t believe their eyes! What a fun way to make this lesson about our eyes memorable!

43. Water Cycle in a Bag

This cute little experiment is a great way to give your kids their very own visual of the water cycle! Print off the template and let your kids trace it onto their own Ziploc bag. All that’s left is to add water and tape it to a window where it’ll catch the sun! These little experiments are really quick to make and set up, but your kids will spend days analyzing them!

Learn More: Kiwi Co

44. Homemade Barometer

Your students might have already made a DIY thermometer, but what about a barometer? You can help them learn about atmospheric pressure by crafting barometers using a jar or can, a balloon, a wooden stick, rubber bands, and some tape! As the weather changes over the next few days, so will the air pressure which will move the wooden stick of their barometers! Cool, right?!

Learn More: Easy Science For Kids

45. Basic Motor Mechanics

It is amazing what you can do with some modeling clay, a magnet, a battery, and wire! This cool project showcases how electric energy works, demonstrating the interaction between the current and a magnetic field. This nifty little experiment will definitely get your students’ physics motors running! 

Learn More: Education

46. Xylophone fun

Sound waves are much easier to teach and learn about when your kiddies can make visual connections. Have your learners fill empty jars with varying amounts of cold water (and a few drops of food coloring in each to make it look even more interesting) and then let them test the different pitches by hitting each one! 

Learn More: Sugar, Spice And Glitter

47. Build a Paper Bridge

This fantastic activity uses some really simple materials to challenge your kiddies to ‘build a bridge’. What seems like a pretty basic activity actually teaches them all about the scientific method and physics concepts behind building a bridge. They’ll learn about concepts like compression and tension to explain how bridges stay in place even under pressure! This is one your future engineers will love! 

48. Magnet Maze

Art and physics are combined in this clever classroom experiment! Task your students first of all, with drawing a colorful maze on the outside of the bottle. Next, have them put in different items like coins, marbles, paperclips, and buttons to explore which ones they can attach the magnet to from the outside and navigate through their maze. A -maze- ing, right?!

Learn More: Science Museum Group

49. Super Sundial

If you feel like taking your teaching outdoors, this sundial construction lesson is ideal! Bring some paper plates, bendy straws, and a pencil, and you’re good to go! Your learners won’t need a lot of background knowledge before the activity, but they’re sure to learn a lot about the Earth’s orbit and rotation in the process!

Learn More: Generation Genius

50. Sound Sandwich

Your kiddies might initially be confused when you announce that they’ll be making sound sandwiches! Their confusion will soon turn to fascination at how such simple materials can make really interesting sounds! In this activity, they’ll be learning how to make music with sticks, straws, and rubber bands. See if they can figure out that it is the rubber band vibrating that makes the differently-pitched sounds!

51. Optical Lens Experiment

Did you know that you can actually bend light? Your students will be surprised to learn this for sure! Through this investigation, you’ll teach them how when light goes from one medium to another (e.g. from air to glass), it usually bends. This series of simple activities covers the effects of convex and concave lenses on light, and thus how refraction works.

Learn More: Discover Primary Science And Maths

52. Density Tower floating experiment

Combine the previously mentioned density tower and floating experiments in this cool activity! Using just a few simple ingredients that can be found around most homes, you can instruct your learners to combine cornstarch, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol. This will create the colored layers in this cool activity! Then they’ll add small items of their choosing to see which ones float in the various liquids, and at what density!

53. Walking Water experiment

Capillary action isn’t a term that most of your kiddies will be familiar with but after doing this experiment they won’t forget it! Help your learners set up a row of cups with water and different colors of food dye. Next, they’ll add some strips of paper towels dipping each end into a different up and let them watch in amazement as the colored water seems to defy gravity and ‘walk’ up the paper and into the next cup!

Learn More: Made In A Pinch

54.  Build a Solar Still

This easy experiment is the perfect way to demonstrate the water cycle and how sunlight can purify water. Start by letting your kiddos have a bit of fun to make ‘dirty’ water using assorted safe and edible kitchen ingredients. Then you’ll challenge them to make their own solar stills from plastic glasses, cling wrap, and, a bowl. Finally, they’ll set their glass of ‘dirty’ water inside the bowl, cover it with cling wrap, and then sit it out in the sun. And voila – clean water!

55. Slinky Sound Waves

A metal slinky is a super simple but really effective source of demonstrating sound waves for your kids. Get two volunteers to hold the ends of the slinky and encourage your other students to take note of the different wave patterns when one or both of them shake it. This is a super way to make this abstract concept a little more visual for your class.

Learn More: Fizzics Education

56. Bike Wheel Gyroscope 

Momentum is an important concept that your little physicists will cover in middle school science. A bike wheel gyroscope activity will amaze and enthrall your students as you use it to show off how the wheel’s mass and rotation obey the laws of angular momentum! The best part is that you’ll only need a bike wheel and some willing participants! 

Learn More: NASA

57. DIY Kaleidoscope

Teach your kids all about the law of multiple reflections with this super fun, customizable activity! Using a cardboard tube, some mirrors, and small colorful items like confetti or sequins, these kaleidoscopes will be something they’ll always remember making. If you don’t have mirrors, why not try using aluminum foil instead? 

Learn More: Home Science Tools

58. Mapping Magnetic Field Lines

Teaching theoretical, intangible ideas is one of the hardest parts of teaching a subject like physics. Thankfully this short but practical activity makes this a whole lot easier by showcasing how the magnetic field lines of a bar magnet do not ever cross, are continuous, and go from north to south! All your kiddies will need is a magnet, a compass, and a marker!

59. Buzz Wire game

Electrical circuits can be really interesting to make, and this activity makes it fun too! Get your students to create their own ‘Buzz Wire’ game which will teach them about the loop system needed for electricity to work. Once they’ve made their loops, let them have a go at completing each others’ games! Can they get to the end without setting the buzzer off?

60. Galileo’s Gravity Experiment

As the story goes, Galileo dropped two items from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to see which hit the ground first. Though we can’t be sure he actually did this, you can be sure that your students will have fun trying out this similar activity to learn about the effects of mass and air resistance on falling objects! Simply have them pick out two different objects, drop them from a height, and record which lands first!

Learn More: Science-Sparks

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Science Experiments for Kids:

Science experiments you can do at home!  Explore an ever growing list of hundreds of fun and easy science experiments. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for science fair project ideas. Explore experiments by category, newest experiments, most popular experiments, easy at home experiments, or simply scroll down this page for tons of awesome experiment ideas!

Making A Volcano:

Acids and Bases Can Erupt in Your Faces

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Jello Lenses:

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Balloon Pop! Not!

Solar Eclipse Kit:

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Vinegar Pops:

Make It Rain:

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Olympic Medals:

Dyed Flowers:

Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away Gauge:

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Polishing Pennies:

Dancing Liquid:

Floating Egg:

Bendy Bones:

Pot Of Gold:

Layers of Liquids:

Crystal Candy:

8 Awesomely Simple Science Experiments You Can Do at Home

Science can be a little intimidating. Whether it's the latest research in quantum mechanics or organic chemistry, sometimes science can make your head spin.

But you don't have to go through eight years of school or work in a high-tech lab to do science.

There are plenty of experiments you can do at home. You might even have a few of the materials just lying around the house.

Here are a few easy ways for you to see science in action.

Tornado in a bottle

You can create your own tornado in a bottle. All you need is two bottles, a tube to connect the bottles, and some water.

When you whirl the liquid in the top bottle, it creates a vortex as it drains into the bottom bottle. That's because as the water flows down, air must flow up, creating a spiraling tornado.

You can even add glitter, food dye, or lamp oil to the bottle to make the tornado even cooler.

Rainbow in a glass

This experiment takes advantage of density to create a rainbow in a glass. When you add sugar to a liquid, it causes the solution to become more dense. The more sugar you add, the more dense the solution is.

If you have four different solutions that are all different colours and densities, the colours will layer on top of each other — the denser, more sugary solutions will sit on the bottom and the lightest will sit on the top.

Gooey slime

When you mix glue, water, and a little bit of food colouring, then add some borax, a gooey slime forms. That's because the glue has something called polyvinyl acetate in it, which is a liquid polymer.

The borax links the polyvinyl acetate molecules to each other, creating one large, flexible polymer: slime.

Pasta rocket

Believe it or not, you can create a very simple hybrid rocket engine using nothing but some yeast, hydrogen peroxide, a jar, fire and … a piece of uncooked pasta.

When you mix the yeast and hydrogen peroxide together, they react and create pure oxygen gas. When this gas is funneled through a piece of pasta, all you need is a little bit of fire and you've got yourself a pasta rocket.

Homemade lava lamp

Alka-seltzer is great if you're suffering from heartburn or an upset stomach. But you probably didn't know that it's also great if you're looking to create your own homemade lava lamp.

Because oil and water have different densities and polarities, when you mix them together, the water sinks to the bottom. When you add food colouring, which is water based, it will sink to the bottom as well.

If you crumble in an alka-seltzer tablet, it reacts with the water, causing coloured droplets of water to rise to the top where they then pop, release air, and sink back to the bottom.

This creates a similar show to what you'd see in a lava lamp.

Instant ice

In order for water to become ice, it needs a nucleus in order for solid crystals to form. Usually, water is loaded with particles and impurities that enables ice to form. But purified water isn't. Because of this, purified water can reach an even colder temperature before becoming solid.

If you throw an unopened bottle of purified water into the freezer for a little less than three hours, the bottle will be chilled well below the temperature at which regular water freezes.

When you pour this super-cooled water onto a piece of ice, it provides the water with nuclei, causing it to freeze instantly.

Ferromagnetic fluid

This experiment makes it easy to see magnetic fields in action . All you need is some iron oxide, some water, and a jar.

When you place an extremely powerful magnet along the outside of the jar, the iron filings are attracted to it, piling up, and following the magnet as you move it around.

Baking soda volcano

In this experiment, a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar creates 'lava' bursting out of a model volcano.

As the reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, pressure builds up inside a plastic bottle hidden inside the volcano until the gas bubbles and erupts.

This article was originally published by Business Insider .

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10 Awesome 5-Minute Science Experiments

Krystal DeVille

October 1, 2023

Sometimes you don’t have enough time to do a full experiment during class.

But, you still want to be able to demonstrate the lesson!

All of these science experiments can be done in about 5 minutes! Plus, you likely already have everything you need to do them.

If you don’t have everything you need, all of these ingredients can be easily found at a grocery store.

If you’re doing these science experiments at home, remember that just because they only take 5 minutes, the fun doesn’t have to stop there!

As an example, check out the bouncy ball experiment below. You can make these bouncy balls in 5 minutes, and keep enjoying them for hours after.

—– If you’d like more STEM activity ideas, make sure to grab my FREE eBook on 25 STEM activities here . —–

Have any other quick science experiments you love? Please share them with us in the comments below!

Alright, now let’s get started with these fun and quick 5-minute science experiments.

Table of Contents

10 Quick Science Experiments You Can Do with Ingredients at Home

1. easy slime recipe.

This slime recipe is so simple! All you need is glue, water, and borax. You can add some creativity to the mix by also coloring the slime with food coloring. Mix the ingredients together, and see how the borax and glue react with each other to form a non-Newtonian liquid – slime!

2. Make an Eggshell Disappear

By simply soaking an egg in vinegar, the shell will disappear.

The setup and observation for this science experiment takes only 5-minutes, but you have to wait 48 hours until the chemical reaction between the shell and vinegar dissolves the shell completely. When it’s done, the outside layer of the shell will be the eggs membrane. It feels like a this squishy rubber egg you can keep playing with. (Be careful though – they can still burst!)

3. DIY Bouncy Ball

While you’re making slime, give this project a go too. By adding starch, you can turn your slime into a bouncy ball. Clear glue also makes great looking bouncy balls!

4. Magic Milk Science Experiment

This experiment is commonly referred to as exploding colors. With just a bit of food coloring, milk, and dish soap, you can cause a reaction that will make the colors burst apart. The dish soaps causes the fat molecules in the milk to separate to send the colors flying.

5. Density Jars

This amazing density jar has 9 layers! You can take it a level further by adding solid objects that will “float” between the layers too. Which liquid do you think will float at the top? Create your own hypothesis before the experiment and then observe the results.

6. DIY Lava Lamp

Creating your own lava lamp is another fun way to learn about density. Mix oil and food coloring together. Add the colored oil to a jar of water. Then drop in an alka seltzer tablet.

The liquid will begin to fizz and push the oil up, but the oil and water won’t mix. Slowly the oil, which is more dense, will fall back to the bottom of the bottle.

7. Levitate a Match

You’ll have to watch closely for this quick science experiment! Simply lean a match onto another match. Light the leaning match at the center. It will burn towards the top of the match, and when the two match heads ignite they fuse together! The leaning match, which is now less heavy from burning, will levitate up into the air.

8. Exploding Bag Experiment

Who doesn’t love a science experiments that end in a POP!? This exploding bag experiment is perfect for waking up the class. All you need is baking soda and vinegar to make a bag explode.

When baking soda and vinegar react, they produce carbon dioxide which fills up the bag. Soon there will be so much carbon dioxide causing pressure in the bag, it will burst!

9. Fingerprint Balloons

Look closely at your fingerprints and compare it to classmates by placing your finger print on a balloon. You’ll need stamp ink and balloons. Inflate the balloon to enlarge your fingerprints, so you can take a closer look. Can you identify the different patterns in your own print?

10. Elephant Toothpaste

Elephant toothpaste seems to be an experiment that’s blown up on Pinterest. This fun chemical reaction will leave you with a bunch of foam you can keep on playing with.

11. Exploding Colors Science Experiment

Here’s another fun experiment to show the chemical reaction between baking soda & vinegar – but there’s a twist! You hide food coloring underneath the baking soda, so before you add the vinegar, the class has to guess the color that will explode from the bowl.

With these quick science experiments, you don’t need much time to demonstrate a lesson in a fun, engaging way. I hope you enjoy these experiments as much as I do!

3 thoughts on “10 Awesome 5-Minute Science Experiments”

Wow! I did not realize how many experiments that are relatively safe can be made with vinegar as a primary ingredient! Thanks for sharing these!

All the experience you cannot do in 5 mins

Sure they can. Did you even do any of them?

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WHY NOT TRY A FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT RIGHT NOW?

Here’s list of great science experiments with instructions that you can do right at home or at school. In order for your science experiment to be safe and successful, be sure to:

• Get your parent’s or teacher’s permission, and their help
• Follow the directions as written

Building a Hovercraft – Video

The egg drop challenge, make ice cream in a plastic bag, build a hovercraft you can ride, eggshell geode crystals, build a soap powered model boat, a density experiment you can drink, make your own rock candy, build a fizz inflator, make a levitating orb, blobs in a bottle, fantastic foamy fountain, build a film canister rocket, the exploding lunch bag, make your own volcano, bend water with static electricity, a color symphony, make a paperclip float, blow up a balloon with yeast, how to make slime – method 1, see some optical illusions, make an electromagnet, try some lava in a cup, make a balloon rocket.

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General physics lab experiments, laboratory experiments.

All labs are in PDF Format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access these files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is available on the web for free at http://www.adobe.com/.

Laboratory Manuals

Phys 001/023 - general physics i.

• Introduction (Online) (Face-to-Face) - https://youtu.be/SVrzDNAQVNU
• Measurements - https://youtu.be/O5K_aHLAo24
• Force Table - https://youtu.be/MD2nmDWZUeQ
• Rectilinear Motion - https://youtu.be/29j_lqqCrfw
• Atwood's Machine - https://youtu.be/Kq03H_d-6IA
• Ballistic Pendulum - https://youtu.be/gIKGHY4b_kI
• Rotation and Torque - https://youtu.be/33QaK-gPn54
• Simple Harmonic Motion - https://youtu.be/yVZNXrU44NY
• Archimedes Principle - https://youtu.be/5d1cPnOwgCg
• Specific Heat of Solids - https://youtu.be/K7eaqmKaKzo
• Thermal Expansion - https://youtu.be/KJSlPDhh0cM
• Resonance in Air Columns - https://youtu.be/9NrXYyVd0QM

PHYS 002/024 - General Physics II

• Electric Field - https://youtu.be/qaPN9A3Ujjg
• Networks and Wheatstone Bridge - https://youtu.be/7CNqZpiA7w0
• Ohm's Law - https://youtu.be/bh0p56dcYVE
• RC Circuits - https://youtu.be/Dq-DeUZlK7I
• External Field of a Bar Magnet and the Inverse Square Law - https://youtu.be/oKW_tVmg0pg
• Oscillators and Oscilloscope - https://youtu.be/ytikPwhLRtM
• Ray Tracing - https://youtu.be/77UkDYC7IpU
• Refraction - https://youtu.be/O7UTfYCmC8U
• Focal Length of Lenses - https://youtu.be/wHzXa22ubIE
• Diffraction - https://youtu.be/94nlba5BXl4
• Atomic Spectra - https://youtu.be/-IJ2aedYuhM

PHYS 025 - Modern Physics

• Interferometry: Measurement of Wavelength - https://youtu.be/JrXaKta_VNY
• Index of Refraction of Glass - https://youtu.be/_fnpWrqNsV8
• Photoelectric Effect: Calculating Planck's Constant - https://youtu.be/Rt_EhrFrAEM
• Photoelectric Effect: Current-Voltage of Spectral Lines, Constant Frequency, Different Intensities - https://youtu.be/0sUEhfbTCdA
• Photoelectric Effect: Current-Voltage of Spectral Lines, Different Frequencies, Constant Intensities - https://youtu.be/NEXhaB18eRw
• Bragg Diffraction - https://youtu.be/QdWfYS5UQn0
• Double Slit Interference - https://youtu.be/0RqEeMPEA8A
• Mass-to-Charge Ratio - https://youtu.be/hp4awL_vJwg

10 Simple Physics Experiments With Everyday Materials

Published on may 17, 2017 at 9:00 am by nenad trencevski in lists , news.

There are people who can do truly amazing and fascinating experiments, and luckily for you, we created a list of 10 simple physics experiments with everyday materials to learn and impress your friends.

Not only small children, but many adults are excited and intrigued to see some kind of an experiment especially physical experiment. Today, just like a long time ago, there are people who understand and people who don’t understand the laws of physics and how they actually work. This is the main reason why people are so impressed with them and often ask “How did you do that?!”

David Pereiras/Shutterstock.com

It is interesting to try all kinds of different experiments at home to entertain yourself and your friends as well. However, despite that you can use a physical experiment to impress someone special or if you have children teaching them physical experiments and how the physics works could have a positive impact on them. For example, maybe they will get into the physics world so much they would want to explore it even more.

If you are a professor, on the other hand, you can also show these experiments to your students in a very simple but fun and interesting way. They will get the physical laws quicker and will remember them probably for the rest of their lives. Some of them will even remember how their professor passed his knowledge about physics to them and they will do the same for their children. If you are into physics, you can also check our list of 10 Winning Science Fair Projects For High School.

Keep in mind that when it comes to experimenting and playing with physics, safety comes first. Most of these simple physics experiments with everyday materials are completely safe, however, some of them are requiring an adult supervision. Don’t underestimate the power of physics and always put safety as the first step of the experiment.

In order to create our list of 10 simple physics experiments with everyday materials, we used Informit , a YouTube Video , and Little Shop of Physics as our sources to see what are the simple experiments you can do at home. The list is sorted by the number of mentions and the rankings provided by our sources. Keep in mind that sometimes  you can use different materials and achieve the same result!

Now without further ado, let’s jump to our list and try to make these simple physic experiments.

Slideshow List XFinance Straw Flute experiment fun physics experiments The Submarine experiment cool physics experiments Imploding Can experiment Bernoulli Ball experiment Two Ball Bounce experiment simple physics experiments Root Beer Float experiment Invisible Glass experiment Cartesian Diver experiment Making Water Detour experiment physics experiments to do at home Building Better Bubbles experiment science experiments for middle school cool science experiments to do at home amazing science experiments for high school 10 winning science fair projects for high school amazing science experiments with everyday materials 10 Simple Physics Experiments With Everyday Materials Show more... Show less

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PHYSICS 1408/1409/1420/1430

Lab Supervisor:  Dr. Jared Fier, BSB E310,  [email protected]

Office Hours:  By appointment

The objectives of the laboratory are for you to

• Gain practical experience with concepts that are presented in lecture sections
• Gain familiarity with physical measurement equipment
• Present data and results in a clear and cogent manner
• Analyze data and draw conclusions
• Describe and calculate errors.

Required Lab Texts: For 1408/1420:  Physics 1408/1420 Lab Handbook . For 1409/1430:  Physics 1409/1430 Lab Handbook .

You must have new textbooks. Used copies will not be allowed.

Lab Safety: You are expected to be familiar with the entire safety section in the lab manual.

Lab Grades: Check your grades on Canvas frequently to ensure they are recorded correctly.

All information is common to all laboratory sections, except for the links to specific courses in the box at the right.

Experiments:  Every effort has been made to construct a laboratory that is relevant to the lecture course. This does not mean, however, that the experiments are coordinated with the lecture. It is simply not possible to do this. The laboratory experiments are reasonably self-explanatory and not unduly difficult. The lab is designed to give you a perspective that is slightly different from that given in the lecture and to aid in your overall comprehension of the physical world.

Experimental Lab Syllabus

Makeup Lab Information

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Lab Information for Specific Courses PHY 1408 PHY 1420 PHY 1409 PHY 1430

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Understanding Science

How science REALLY works...

• Understanding Science 101
• Misconceptions

Scientific ideas can be tested through both experiments and other sorts of studies. Both provide important sources of evidence.

Misconception:  Experiments are a necessary part of the scientific process. Without an experiment, a study is not rigorous or scientific.

Correction:  Scientific testing involves more than just experiments. There are many valid ways to test scientific ideas and the appropriate method depends on many factors.  Read more about it.

Tactics for testing ideas

Experiments are one way to test some sorts of ideas, but science doesn’t live on experiment alone. There are many other ways to scientifically test ideas too…

What are experiments?

An experiment is a test that involves manipulating some factor in a system in order to see how that affects the outcome. Ideally, experiments also involve controlling as many other factors as possible in order to isolate the cause of the experimental results. Experiments can be simple tests set up in a lab, like rolling a ball down different inclines to see how the angle affects the rolling time. But large-scale experiments can also be performed out in the real world. For example, classic experiments in ecology involved removing a species of barnacles from intertidal rocks on the Scottish coast to see how that would affect other barnacle species over time. But whether they are large- or small-scale, performed in the lab or in the field, and require years or mere milliseconds to complete, experiments are distinguished from other sorts of tests by their reliance on the intentional manipulation of some factors and, ideally, the control of others.

Beyond experiments: Observational studies and natural experiments

Some aspects of the natural world aren’t manipulable, and hence can’t be studied with direct experiments. We simply can’t go back in time and introduce finches to three separate island groups to see how they evolve. We can’t move the planets around to see how their orbits would be altered by a new configuration. And we can’t cause volcanoes to erupt in order to investigate how they affect the ecosystems that surround them. Other times, it would be unethical to perform an experiment – for example, to investigate the effect of maternal alcohol consumption on babies.

In such cases, we can still figure out what expectations a hypothesis generates and make observations to test the idea. For example, we can’t actually experiment on distant stars in order to test ideas about which nuclear reactions occur within them, but we can test those ideas by building sensors that allow us to observe what forms of radiation the stars emit. Similarly, we can’t perform experiments to test ideas about what T. rex ate, but we can test those ideas by making detailed observations of their fossilized teeth and comparing those to the teeth of modern organisms that eat different foods. And of course, many ideas can be tested by both experiment and through straightforward observation. For example, we can test ideas about how chlorofluorocarbons interact with the ozone layer by performing chemical experiments in a lab and through observational studies of the atmosphere.

In some cases, we get lucky and are able to take advantage of a natural experiment . Natural experiments occur when the universe, in a sense, performs an experiment for us — that is, the relevant experimental set-up already exists, and all we have to do is observe the results. For example, researchers in England wanted to know if a program to improve the health and well-being of young children and their families was effective. Enrolling some children in the program and randomly excluding others to create a controlled experiment would be unethical. However, for other reasons, the program was rolled out in some geographic areas, but not in others. This set up a natural experiment that the researchers could take advantage of by comparing outcomes in families who received the program with outcomes in similar families who did not receive the program. Analyzing the results of this natural experiment suggested that the program helped children develop socially, encouraged families to build better learning environments for their kids, and discouraged poor parenting.

• Take a sidetrip

To learn how a natural experiment provides support for the  theory  of general relativity, take an advanced side trip to  Illuminating relativity: Experimenting with the stars .

• Science in action

What happens when you can’t do an experiment? There are plenty of other ways to test scientific ideas. To see how observational studies factor into the process of science, check out these stories:

• Asteroids and dinosaurs
• Cells within cells: An extraordinary claim with extraordinary evidence
• Here, we’ve talked about the different ways to test scientific ideas with evidence, but what makes a fair test? To learn more, take an advanced side trip to  Fair tests: A do-it-yourself guide .
• Visit the Visionlearning website for  advanced material on experimentation  and other methods of testing scientific ideas, like  description ,  comparison , and  modeling .

The logic of scientific arguments

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Fentanyl’s deadly chemistry: How rogue labs make opioids

The illicit synthetic opioid industry is built on surprisingly simple chemistry. Here’s the science behind fentanyl, and how underworld “cooks” put it to work.

By DAISY CHUNG , LAURA GOTTESDIENER and DRAZEN JORGIC

Filed July 25, 2024, 9 a.m. GMT

Fentanyl Chemistry 101

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug. That means it’s not created from plants like marijuana or cocaine, but rather entirely from chemicals.

Fentanyl can be easy to make using compounds known as “precursors.” These are ready-made building blocks created from common industrial chemicals. Certain types of precursors are particularly prized by illicit fentanyl producers because they function as shortcuts to making the finished product. One senior U.S. administration official compared it to using “premixed brownie batter” versus trying to whip up a batch from scratch.

To make this harder for criminals to pull off, governments around the world strictly regulate a few of these key precursors. The U.S. government controls a couple of them as tightly as cocaine, methamphetamine and even finished fentanyl itself.

So, unscrupulous chemical sellers and illicit fentanyl producers have resorted to some creative chemistry to get around these strictures.

Understanding these chemistry tricks, it’s easy to see how illicit fentanyl producers have a big advantage. Every time a chemical is regulated, they can simply shift to an alternative to evade law enforcement.

It isn’t just the simple chemistry that assists illicit producers. Their supply chain is simple, too. Illicit fentanyl producers receive many of their chemicals the same way ordinary online shoppers receive all sorts of legal merchandise: by mail from China. A Reuters investigation published today reveals how easy it is to buy these chemicals .

Fentanyl is so potent, and each tablet contains such a tiny dose, that just a small amount of precursor chemicals can make a massive amount of illicit pills.

This means sellers can hide these chemicals in small boxes, often with false shipping labels.

Reuters purchased a dozen chemicals that independent chemists said could be used to make fentanyl. Many of these substances arrived in packages that listed the contents as cheap consumer goods: a doorknob, an adapter, hair accessories, typewriter parts.

With millions of packages flying around the world daily, authorities are hard-pressed to find the ones containing fentanyl chemicals.

Initial processing

Once illicit fentanyl makers get their hands on the necessary precursors, they can synthesize fentanyl in crude labs in less than a day.

A reporter traveled in February to Mexico’s Sinaloa state, home of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, to speak with a freelance fentanyl producer about his craft. He operated in a poor neighborhood on the edge of the state capital Culiacán, an area controlled by the cartel that’s dotted with stash houses. Lookouts clutching two-way radios stood by the side of the dirt road leading to the house.

He said whipping up the drug was as easy as “making chicken soup.”

This cook, who left school at age 12, got his start as an assistant to another producer. Fentanyl recipes are prized assets, he said. His mentor was stingy with information and forbade him from taking notes. But within six months the apprentice had memorized all the steps and went into business for himself. He said he sourced his chemicals from local brokers, who took orders on WhatsApp and delivered within hours. He’s since exited the trade due to threats from the cartel chieftains, who have barred freelance producers from manufacturing fentanyl in Sinaloa.

Virtually all the illicit fentanyl trafficked to the U.S. is produced in Mexico, according to U.S. authorities. Historically, the state of Sinaloa has been the epicenter of production, though crime syndicates in other regions of Mexico have entered the trade too. Traffickers in Sinaloa operate open-air labs in rural areas such as forests or remote ranches. They’ve also set up ventilated laboratories inside apartments and houses in cities such as Culiacán.

The most common way of making illicit fentanyl at the moment is known as the one-pot Gupta method . It’s named after an Indian scientist, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Gupta, who helped develop a streamlined process for synthesizing medical-grade fentanyl, an analgesic used in operating rooms worldwide. Makers of street fentanyl have put their own spins on the technique. However, the name has stuck. (Gupta couldn’t be reached for comment.)

Gupta’s original method requires just three steps . The whole process takes place at room temperature and there’s no specialized lab equipment required.

His technique could also be used for the synthesis of thousands of different types of fentanyl analogs.

The Sinaloa cook told Reuters how he made fentanyl. His description of the process indicates that he was able take a shortcut and start with Step 3, according to Dr. Holmes, the Doane University chemist.

That’s because one of the chemicals the cook sourced from local brokers was something he called “El 400.” Holmes, who reviewed the cook’s process at Reuters’ request, said “El 400” is likely the immediate precursor 4-ANPP.

While that substance is tightly regulated internationally, some illegal producers can still find ways to obtain it, and thereby skip the first two synthesis steps in the three-step version of the Gupta method.

On the ground with a cook

Below is a depiction of how the cook performed Step 3 to yield fentanyl. (Reuters is withholding the names of some of the chemicals he used, to avoid providing detailed instructions and other information that could aid in synthesizing the drug.)

Post-production

The resulting paste is dried, ground into a fine powder, then carefully weighed and packaged into 1 kg bags for transport to a post-production laboratory.

In 2023, U.S. authorities seized nearly 116 million fentanyl pills, according to a National Institutes of Health-backed research paper published in May.

But hundreds of millions more likely ended up on American streets.

In a 2023 indictment targeting the sons of the jailed Sinaloa cartel kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, U.S. officials estimated that $1,000 worth of fentanyl precursors can yield profits that are up to 800 times their original investment. With such economic incentives, said a U.S. federal investigator, few expect the flow of fentanyl to U.S. streets to stop any time soon.

Fentanyl Express: Deadly Chemistry

By Daisy Chung, Laura Gottesdiener and Drazen Jorgic

Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke

Graphics by Daisy Chung

Edited by Feilding Cage and Marla Dickerson

Dr. Andrea Holmes, professor of chemistry at Doane University in Nebraska

Dr. Alex J. Krotulski, director of toxicology and chemistry at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education

The DEA’s Fentanyl Profiling Program

International Journal of Drug Policy

The International Narcotics Control Board

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Healthcare and the Moral Hazard Problem

The demand curve isn’t simple when lives are on the line..

• By Matthew J. Notowidigdo Tal Gross
• July 22, 2024
• CBR - Health Care
• Share This Page

A 70-year-old woman goes to the pharmacy to pick up medication for her arthritis. How much should that cost her? Maybe $5 for the prescription? Or $20? Or should it be free?

There’s surely a lot going on. The woman might be grappling with poverty and discrimination and a plethora of challenges beyond arthritis. A pharmaceutical company may have priced the medication very aggressively. The woman might not have access to good medical advice. For now, though, we want to focus on one, narrow question: How much should she have to pay for her medical care?

Health economists have grappled with that question for as long as there have been health economists. The answer is not simple, and the debate continues to this day. The short answer: it depends. The long answer requires a tour of research on the issue, research that goes back nearly half a century.

What is the moral hazard problem?

High prices are awful. No one likes it when things are expensive. What kind of monster would like high prices?

An economist.

High prices do something important: they force people to agonize over whether or not they really want to make the purchase. It can be problematic for people to consume goods without having to grapple with their price.

That’s why, whenever the government wants to reduce the consumption of something, there’s a simple solution: just raise the price! If there’s too much traffic in a city center, raise the price on driving downtown through higher toll prices or “congestion charges.” If there’s too much pollution, raise the price on pollution through a carbon tax. If too many people smoke, raise the price of cigarettes through tobacco taxes.

Why turn to higher prices? Because higher prices lead people to consume less and force them to align their personal decisions with the true cost of production. High prices force people to “internalize” the full cost of production, whether those prices reflect the costs we typically think about or harder-to-measure costs like congestion and pollution. That is the benefit of high prices.

What does this have to do with healthcare? Health insurance fundamentally breaks the relationship between individual decisions and the costs of production. It breaks that relationship because, by definition, generous health insurance shields consumers from the high price of healthcare. A problem with generous health insurance is that it makes healthcare too cheap. And when healthcare is too cheap, people buy too much of it.

Health insurance, in other words, can eliminate the benefit of high prices, the way that they force people to grapple with the costs of production. And that can lead to waste. If a 70-year-old woman doesn’t have to pay anything for her arthritis medication, she might continue with the medication even if it’s not working. That medication still costs the healthcare system money, money that could be better spent on more effective forms of healthcare.

Health policy would be much simpler if people behaved like shrewd medical experts whenever they faced a deductible. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

There are plenty of contexts in medicine in which there’s a cheap option and an expensive option. Sometimes, the cheap option is just as good as the expensive one. For instance, an upper respiratory infection can be treated in an emergency room (expensive) or in an ordinary doctor’s office (cheap). Some conditions can be treated with generic drugs (cheap) or branded drugs (expensive). If the consumer pays the same price for either option, why not choose the expensive option? And if all consumers face the same incentives and behave in the same way, healthcare spending, overall, might rise in ways that don’t actually improve health.

There’s a technical term for this issue: it’s called a “moral hazard problem.” In general, moral hazard problems are situations in which there are two parties in a transaction and one party cannot control the actions of another. In the case of health insurance, there’s the insurer and the consumer, and the insurer bears the costs of the consumer’s healthcare decisions. The consumer can choose the cheap option or the expensive option, and the insurer pays either way.

Now, to be clear, that’s not to say that generous health insurance is a bad thing. Generous health insurance also protects consumers from risk. The issue here is that there’s a trade-off. On the one hand, we want health insurance to be generous so that people are protected from risk. On the other hand, we don’t want health insurance to be generous, because of moral hazard. The generosity of health insurance—how much the consumer has to pay for healthcare—has to balance those two forces.

But all of that is theory , words on a page that describe how some people think the world works. Theory needs to be tested. Next, let’s turn to real-world evidence on moral hazard in health insurance.

What do copayments do?

Health economists first examined moral hazard in health insurance with a field experiment. In the late 1970s, a team of health economists sat down at the RAND Corporation, a think tank in Santa Monica, California. Joseph P. Newhouse, now at Harvard, was a young economist just starting out at RAND. He asked his colleagues a simple question: How do people respond to the price of healthcare? If ordinary people have to pay more for healthcare, do they consume less of it? Newhouse found that lots of economists had opinions on that question, but no one had any good evidence.

Some argued that healthcare was different than other goods, that healthcare is always a matter of “your money or your life.” Therefore, they argued, people would pay whatever price they faced for healthcare—the price didn’t matter, because healthcare was so important. And, by extension, those people were not concerned with moral hazard: since healthcare is different from other goods, it doesn’t matter, they argued, that health insurance makes healthcare cheap.

Economists knew that prices matter for ordinary goods: coffee, wheat, motorcycles. If the price of coffee goes up, people buy less coffee. That is, as we say in Econ 101, a matter of the demand curve. Is the same true for healthcare? No one knew.

The RAND researchers, led by Newhouse, decided to run an experiment. They took 2,750 American families and randomized them into two groups. The study included both urban and rural households and spanned a broad range of income levels. One group of families was put on a free-care plan: for several years, all of the healthcare they needed would be free. Every doctor visit, every dentist visit, every medication: they would pay nothing.

Other families were put on a high-deductible healthcare plan. They would be responsible for all of their healthcare costs up to a thousand dollars. After $1,000, their health-insurance plan would kick in and cover everything. But until then, they had to foot the bill on their own.

Remember: randomization makes experiments valid—it means that both groups began the experiment with the same health, on average. They had the same average income, level of education, number of children, number of televisions, and, most importantly, the same average health. As a result, any differences in outcomes in the years following the RAND experiment can be interpreted as the impact of the health-insurance plans themselves.

The study became known as the RAND Health Insurance Experiment and it lasted from 1976 until 1982. For health economists, the experiment amounts to a combination of NASA launching a space shuttle, Bill Gates starting Microsoft, and Ayatollah Khomeini returning to Iran. It happened in the late 1970s, and it’s a big deal to us. The RAND experiment is one of the most expensive experiments ever performed by social scientists.

For years, the families participating in the experiment led their ordinary lives; the only thing out of the ordinary was that a team of researchers at RAND was handling their health insurance. Then, after years of being on either the free-care plan or the high-deductible plan, the participants were given a final physical exam, and the experiment was over.

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Newhouse and his colleagues spent years poring over the data, trying to understand how having to pay for healthcare affected families. The researchers studied the results from every possible angle, slicing and dicing the data every which way. The results of the experiment filled hundreds of academic papers and also a 516-page book. But, decades later, the most relevant discoveries from the experiment boil down to three main conclusions:

1. High prices really do cut how much care people choose to consume. First, the researchers compared the amount of healthcare consumed by families that were put on the free-care plan with that of families randomly assigned to the high-deductible plan. Those put on the free-care plan consumed an average of almost $2,000 (in 2021 dollars) as compared with about $1,600 in healthcare for those on the high-deductible plan. That’s a roughly 20 percent difference—a large difference.

In other words, incentives matter, even for healthcare. People who face a higher price for healthcare consume less healthcare. In the language of Econ 101, demand curves slope down, even for healthcare. Yes, healthcare is important, and people treat it as important, but, at the end of the day, the price still matters.

2. Deductibles lead families to cut back on all healthcare, regardless of whether it’s effective or ineffective. The second conclusion of the experiment arose as the researchers tried to figure out which healthcare the families on the deductible cut out. The researchers assembled a panel of physicians and gave them all of the medical charts associated with the experiment. They asked the physicians to categorize all of the healthcare as “highly effective” care or “rarely effective” care. Going to the ER for a runny nose: that’s rarely effective care. Going to the ER for a heart attack: that’s highly effective care.

The panel of physicians worked through the stack of charts, methodically categorizing all visits as highly effective or rarely effective. Then they studied how the high-deductible plan affected those two categories.

Families facing a deductible cut back on highly effective care by about 30 percent relative to those on the free-care plan. And then the researchers found roughly the same effect for rarely effective care: a roughly 30 percent drop in utilization. The lack of contrast between those two findings is the second conclusion of the experiment.

And that finding alone is kind of disappointing. Health policy would be much simpler if people behaved like shrewd medical experts whenever they faced a deductible. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Patients are not physicians themselves—they don’t know what is effective and what is ineffective. When faced with a high price, they just cut back on all of it, both care that really matters and also care that is probably wasteful.

3. A high-deductible plan takes people from bad shape to worse shape. Lastly, the researchers studied what deductibles did to people’s health. Remember that families were randomized to the two health-insurance plans, so any differences in health outcomes during the RAND experiment years were probably a result of the impact of those plans.

After several years on the insurance plan that they were assigned to, everyone’s health was evaluated. Overall, there was no difference: people who spent 3–5 years on the high-deductible plan finished the experiment in roughly the same health as people who spent that time on the free-care plan, according to a paper by Newhouse and a team of researchers.

Things were different, however, for one group of participants. The researchers focused on what they called “elevated-risk participants.” That group consisted of people who were in poor health at the start of the experiment. Maybe they already had a chronic condition or maybe they were obese. For that group, the researchers found that the deductible plan harmed their health. A few years on a high-deductible plan took people from bad shape to worse shape.

That finding is, perhaps, intuitive. If you’re in good health, a deductible will induce you to consume less healthcare, and that’s going to have a very small impact on your health. After all, you’re in good health, so a bit more or a bit less healthcare is not going to have a big effect, at least on average. But if you’re already at elevated risk, a deductible leads you to consume less healthcare, and for you, that really matters.

The three conclusions of the RAND experiment paint a confusing picture of what deductibles do to people. On the one hand, deductibles lead people to cut back on healthcare a lot but they do not hurt people, on average. On the other hand, the participants who were assigned a high-deductible plan cut back on all healthcare, not just ineffective care. And the most vulnerable among them ended up worse off.

Matthew J. Notowidigdo is the David McDaniel Keller Professor of Economics and Business and Public Policy Fellow at Chicago Booth. Tal Gross is a professor in the Department of Markets, Public Policy & Law at Boston University. This is an edited excerpt from their book, Better Health Economics. Reprinted with permission from the University of Chicago Press. © 2024 by the University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Works Cited

• Robert H. Brook, John E. Ware Jr., William H. Rogers, Emmett B. Keeler, Allyson R. Davies, Cathy A. Donald, George A. Goldberg, Kathleen N. Lohr, Patricia C. Masthay, and Joseph P. Newhouse, “Does Free Care Improve Adults' Health?—Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial,” New England Journal of Medicine, December 1983.
• Willard G. Manning, Joseph P. Newhouse, Naihua Duan, Emmett B. Keeler, and Arleen Leibowitz, “Health Insurance and the Demand for Medical Care: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment,” American Economic Review, June 1987.

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