scale and paper experiment

• 1 newspaper
• 1 ruler (or a similar item made of wood) - This will break!

Short explanation

Long explanation.

• What happens if you change the size of the newspaper?
• What is the biggest wooden item you can break with your newspaper?

Spinning spiral snake

Upside down glass

Straw potato

Screaming dry ice

Dry ice in a balloon

Special: Dry ice color change

Dry ice smoking soap bubble snake

Dry ice giant crystal ball bubble

Dry ice in water

Rainbow milk

Gummy bear osmosis

Floating ping pong ball

Rotating Earth

Special: Colored fire

Special: Fire bubbles

Water cycle in a jar

Egg drop challenge

Taking the pulse

Orange candle

Glass bottle xylophone

Warped spacetime

Homemade rainbow

Water implosion

Warm and cold plates

Plastic bag kite

Tamed lightning

Yeast and a balloon

Forever boiling bottle

Moon on a pen

Moon in a box

Inexhaustible bottle

Crystal egg geode

Magic ice cut

Leaf pigments chromatography

Heavy smoke

Popsicle stick bridge

Micrometeorites

Special: Fire tornado

Special: Whoosh bottle

Dancing water marbles

Brownian motion

Flying static ring

Water thermometer

String telephone

Special: Dust explosion

Disappearing styrofoam

Special: Burning money

Special: Burning towel

Salt water purifier

Fish dissection

Hovering soap bubble

Homemade sailboat

Water mass meeting

Plastic bag and pencils

Water sucking bottle

Water sucking glass

Mentos and coke

Aristotle's illusion

Imploding soda can

Carbon dioxide extuingisher

Plastic bag parachute

Dental impression

Impact craters

Rolling static soda can

Static paper ghost

Color changing flower

Shrinking chip bag

Solar system model

Strawberry DNA

Electric motor

Flashy electric motor

Bouncing soap bubbles

Toilet paper roll maraca

Cloud in a bottle 1

Cloud in a bottle 2

Balloon rocket

Water whistle

Homemade yogurt

Special: Screaming gummy bear

Homemade compass

Trash airplane

Wind-up spinner toy

Tea bag rocket

Balancing soda can

Lung volume test

Fireproof balloon

Baking powder popper

Expanding space

Straw propeller

Wooden cutlery

Levitating match

Human reflexes

Electromagnet

Soil layers

Straw rocket launcher

Traveling flame

Water bowls

Straw duck call

Solar eclipse

Silo of salt

Balloon skewer

Newspaper tower

Microwave light bulb

Heavy paper

Rubber chicken bone

Homemade marble run

Drops on a coin

Cartesian diver

Content of website.

NCERT Solutions for Class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e.g., 0.2 cm, 0.5 cm.

November 24, 2016 by Bhagya

Aim  To make a paper scale of given least count, e.g., 0.2 cm, 0.5 cm.

Apparatus  A thick white paper sheet, pencil, scale with sharp edge marked in cm and mm, fevicol, a pair of scissors, a paper cutter, thick ivory sheet used by engineering students.

Theory  Least count. The minimum observation that can be measured by the instrument accurately is called the least count of instrument. Range of an instrument. The maximum observation that can be measured by instrument is called its range.

Procedure (A) Paper scale of least count 0.2 cm

• Fold a white paper sheet in the middle along lengthwise.
• Mark in the upper half along the length a line PQ 15 cm long by a sharp pencil (Fig. A).
• Take P as zero mark points on PQ at a distance of 1.0 cm and write as 0,1, 2,……up to 15.
• Mark the vertical lines to line PQ at the position of each mark 0, 1, 2,……up to 15.
• Draw another sharp line RS which is parallel to PQ at a distance of 8 mm.
• Draw another line XY parallel to PQ at a distance of about 25 mm. And complete the rectangle ABXY.
• Now divide each 1.0 cm interval into five equal divisions on PQ by marking points at every interval of 2 mm. Mark these points up to 15 cm mark.
• Now draw sharp small lines about 3 mm long perpendicular to PQ on each of the point which is separated by 2 mm.
• Draw another line AB parallel to PQ at a gap of 3 mm.
• Darken each line and division by the sharp black pen, and write 1,2,……15 at each cm mark.
• Cut the rectangular scale by a sharp paper cutter and paste it on a thick ivory sheet and cut the sheet along the boundary of the rectangle with the help of scissors.
• Paper scale of least count 0.2 mm and of the range of 15 cm is ready.

(B) Paper scale of least count 0.5 cm

• Repeat steps 1 to 6 as in part A of the above activity.
• Divide each 1.0 cm interval into two equal divisions on PQ by marking points at every interval of 5 mm and mark these points up to 15 cm mark (Fig. B).
• Draw sharp small lines about 3 mm long perpendicular to PQ on each of the point which is separated by 5 mm.
• Darken each line and division by the sharp black pen and write 1,2,…….15 at each cm mark.
• Repeat the step 11 as in part A of the Activity 1.
• Paper scale of least count 0.5 cm and of the range of 15 cm is ready.

(C) Measure the length of pencil with the paper scale

• Place one end A of the pencil along the scale (A) in such a way so that A lies at full mark say 1 cm and read the position of the other end. Repeat the observation by placing the one end A of the pencil at 2 cm mark and take the reading of the other end.
• Use the second scale (B) of least count 0.5 cm in the similar manner as explained in step 1 and record the observations.

• The scales of the least count 0.2 cm and 0.5 cm have been made.
• The length of the pencil, using scale (A) = …….cm. The length of the pencil, using scale (B) = ……….cm.

Precautions

• The cm markings should be longer than 0.2 cm and 0.5 cm markings.
• Final lines and marking should be drawn by using fine tipped black ink pen.
• Paper scale should be pasted on the thick ivory paper.
• Use very sharp pencil for the graduation marks.

Sources of error 

• Graduation marks may not be equally separated.
• The lines showing graduations may not be sharp as required.

Physics Lab Manual NCERT Solutions Class 11 Physics Sample Papers

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45 Easy and Fun Science Activities for Preschool

Introduce curious little minds to a world of discovery.

Every day is a new opportunity for toddlers to ask “Why?” over and over. Tap into that curiosity with these fun and engaging science activities for preschoolers. These simple experiments incorporate many preschool favorites like playing with bubbles or water, making arts and crafts, and, of course, making a mess!

To make things even easier, we’ve rated every one of these preschool science activities for preschoolers based on difficulty and materials.

Difficulty:

• Easy: These are low- or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Water Preschool Science Experiments

Stem challenges for preschoolers.

• Seasonal Preschool Science Activities

More Science Activities for Preschoolers

These water activities for preschoolers help teach little learners a variety of science concepts. (These can get a little messy, so you might want to try them outside.) Find even more water science activities here.

Make music with xylophone bottles

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

The classic experiment using varying levels of water in glasses or bottles is even more fun when you add some food coloring. Experiment with different water depths and mallet styles to make all kinds of beautiful music!

Learn more: Xylophone Bottle at Mama Papa Bubba

Surround kids with an oversized bubble

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium ADVERTISEMENT

Kids (and let’s face it, adults too) will definitely get a kick out of this fun science experiment. While you’ll only need a kiddie pool, some dish soap, and a Hula-Hoop to make this a reality, the payoff will be big.

Learn more: Giant Bubbles at Make and Takes

Watch rice dance in water

There are lots of cool baking-soda-and-vinegar experiments out there ( ever made your own volcano ?), but this one is always a favorite with little ones. The acid-base reaction causes the rice to dance and jump around in the water for an effect that is just so cool!

Learn more: Dancing Rice at Green Kid Crafts

Reveal colors with chemical reactions

Preschool science experiments often include a combination of baking soda and vinegar like this one. Fill muffin tins with a drop of food coloring, then top it with baking soda. Finally, let kids squirt in vinegar to reveal fabulous foamy hues! (Be sure to wear eye protection for this one.)

Learn more: Fizzy Fun at Busy Toddler

See what sinks and what floats

This preschool science activity helps kids learn to construct a hypothesis, conduct a simple experiment, and then sort their findings by property.

Learn more: Sink or Float at Fun With Mama

Learn what dissolves in water

Engage in more water play by having kids predict which items will dissolve in water and which ones won’t. Have kids keep track of the results so they can see if they have anything in common.

Learn more: What Dissolves in Water? at Hands On as We Grow

Watch hot water rise and cold water sink

This early exploration into the concept of density is always impressive to see in action. Have kids discover how hot water rises and cold water sinks. Explain that the same applies to air, and see if kids can think of a way to observe that in action too.

Learn more: Water Density Experiment at Mombrite

Grow a paper towel rainbow

“Capillary action” might be a real mouthful for preschool science students, but they don’t need to remember the term to be impressed by this experiment! All you need are markers, a paper towel, and two glasses of water.

Learn more: Capillary Action Experiment at Mombrite

Make shaving cream rain clouds

This is a classic science activity every kid should try at least once. It helps them understand how clouds become so saturated with water that they must release it in the form of rain.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain Clouds at One Little Project

Blow bubble towers

There are lots of fun science activities you can do with bubbles to explore concepts like surface tension. Or you can just have a blast seeing who can make the tallest tower with bubbles and straws.

Learn more: Bubble Towers at Happy Hooligans

STEM challenges give students a chance to try solving problems on their own. Give them some basic supplies and instructions, then let them experiment until they find a solution to the challenge.

Rescue toys from hot lava

While you might not want pre-K kids climbing all over the classroom furniture to play “The Floor Is Lava,” they can do the same thing with their toys in this cute STEM challenge.

Learn more: Floor Is Lava at Forward With Fun

Build a catapult

Challenge students to build a catapult using just three items: Popsicle sticks, elastics, and a plastic spoon. You’ll definitely want to have an extra set of adult hands available as this can prove challenging for pre-K kids. Finally, bring plenty of marshmallows or pom-poms to launch.

Learn more: Make a Catapult at Education.com

Discover strength in shapes

Learn shapes while also practicing some basic science. Fold paper into various shapes to form columns and ask kids to predict which will be able to support the most books.

Learn more: Strength in Shapes at All for the Boys

Build an aluminum foil boat

Teach kids about buoyancy and physics while having fun in the process. First, give your students some tinfoil and challenge them to build a sturdy boat. Then, challenge them to fill the boat with as many pennies as they can without it sinking.

Learn more: Foil Boat Challenge at Little Bins for Little Hands

Waterproof a boot

Ask kids to select various materials and tape them over the free boot printable found at the link. Then, test their hypotheses to see which ones work best.

Learn more: Waterproof a Book at Science Sparks

Reach for the sky

Round up all your building blocks and try this whole-class project. What will students need to do to be able to construct a tower that reaches all the way to the ceiling?

Learn more: Tower Engineering Challenge at Mama Smiles

Link up the longest paper chain

This incredibly easy preschool STEM activity really gets kids thinking. The challenge? Create the longest possible paper chain using a single piece of paper. So simple and so effective.

Learn more: Paper Chain Challenge at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Build an apple toothpick tower

Put a healthy spin on a classic STEM challenge by substituting apple pieces for marshmallows. Kids will have a tasty snack when they’re done!

Learn more: Apple Toothpick Tower at N. Family Club

Stack up plastic cups

Kids absolutely love stacking cups ! Turn the play into a STEM challenge by adding index cards into the mix. Kids can experiment to see if they can build taller towers with or without the cards.

Learn more: Solo Cup Engineering Challenge at The Salty Mamas

Craft a nest

Take a nature walk and pick up items like sticks, leaves, and more. Then, build your own bird nests to protect little eggs and hatchlings.

Learn more: Build a Nest at Pink Stripey Socks

Seasonal Science Activities and Experiments for Preschoolers

Whether you’re looking for Halloween science activities , winter science experiments , or Easter egg activities , find them all and more here!

Make pretend snow

No snow where you live? Make some yourself! Find easy recipes for “snow” using baking soda, shaving cream, cornstarch, and other household items. Experiment to find the one that works best.

Learn more: Make Pretend Snow at Elf on the Shelf

Explore how mittens keep you warm

Ask little ones if mittens are warm, and they’ll likely answer yes. But when they measure the temperature inside an empty mitten, they’ll be surprised by what they find. Learn about body heat and insulation with this easy experiment.

Learn more: Mitten Body Heat Experiment at Classroom Magic

Measure the water content of snow

Two inches of snow is not the same as two inches of rain. This easy winter science experiment measures the amount of water actually found in an inch of snow.

Learn more: How Much Water Is in Snow? at KC Edventures With Kids

Create salt crystal hearts

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Make these pretty red crystalized hearts as Valentine’s Day decorations, or anytime you want to show someone some love!

Learn more: Salt Crystal Hearts at Red Ted Art

Grow grass in an eggshell

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

What’s more fun than a preschool science experiment that doubles as a craft? You’ll need eggs, soil, grass seeds, water, and a permanent marker to bring this project to life. Kids will especially love personalizing their eggshell.

Learn more: Egg Grass Heads at Mother Natured

Decompose a jack-o’-lantern

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

When Halloween is over, plop your jack-o’-lantern pumpkin in the garden and observe it each day. Kids learn how organic matter breaks down over time.

Learn more: Pumpkin Decomposition at Gift of Curiosity

Send a ghost flying with magnets

Use magnets along with a few other supplies to make a tissue ghost seem to float in midair! It’s the perfect spooky Halloween science activity for preschoolers.

Learn more: Flying Ghosts at STEAM Powered Family

Conduct experiments on marshmallow Peeps

Pick up a package of marshmallow Peeps (they’re available during many seasons of the year now), and try turning them into little boats. Experiment with different sail sizes and types, and figure out how to make the candy boats go faster.

Learn more: Marshmallow Peep Boat Challenge at Lemon Lime Adventures

Launch plastic egg rockets

Put on some safety goggles and get ready for lift-off! This simple experiment uses Alka-Seltzer tablets to turn eggs into rockets.

Learn more: Easter Egg Rockets at The STEM Laboratory

Dissolve colorful turkey “feathers”

Baking soda and vinegar experiments are always popular, and this one is so cute for the Thanksgiving season. Build your own little turkey with baking soda feathers, then watch them foam up and dissolve when you add some vinegar.

Learn more: Turkey Feather Science at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

These science activities and experiments give preschoolers a chance to explore all sorts of science concepts, from plants and animals to germs and gravity and beyond.

Slice apples to learn about oxidation

Here’s another classic preschool science activity: using apple slices to learn about oxidation (and how to prevent it). When you’re done, you’ve got a tasty snack to eat too.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation at Teaching With Jennifer Findley

Show why sunscreen is important

First, have your students make four construction-paper people, each with varying conditions. Wrap one in plastic wrap, cover another in sunscreen, put a hat on one and a set of sunglasses on another. Ask kids to hypothesize what will happen when they’re left out in the sun, then see if they’re right!

Learn more: Sunscreen Experiment at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Engage in some shadow science

Learn about animals and shadow science with these adorable and easy puppets. Use them to act out some scenarios involving these creatures in their natural habitats.

Learn more: Shadow Science at Little Bins for Little Hands

Mix up some “magic” milk

A drop or two of dish soap will make food coloring dance and swirl across the surface of a shallow bowl of milk. Preschool science experiments often seem like magic, but this one is all about surface tension and chemical reactions.

Learn more: Magic Milk at Laughing Kids Learn

See how easily germs spread

We love a preschool science experiment that reminds little ones of the importance of good handwashing. Help them see why it’s so important with this simple experiment that uses glitter to stand in for germs .

Experiment with wax paper

This wax paper experiment is interesting from both a science and art perspective. Ask kids to think about why wax paper behaves differently than other paper they use for art projects.

Learn more: Wax Paper Resist at Housing a Forest

Predict and observe what will melt in the sun

You’ll need a hot sunny day for this preschool science experiment. Help students choose a variety of items to place into a muffin tin and have them predict which ones will melt. Set the tin out in the sun for an hour or two, then bring it in and record your results.

Learn more: Melting Science at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Drop balls to introduce gravity

Gravity can be a complicated subject, but all pre-K kids need to understand the basics. Drop balls of all sizes to discover that they all fall in the exact same way.

Learn more: Gravity Experiment at Inspiration Laboratories

Head to the playground to explore gravity and friction

What goes up must come down! A playground slide is the perfect place to help kids understand gravity. This is a good chance to learn about friction too.

Learn more: Playground Science at Buggy and Buddy

Test objects with magnets

Magnets are undeniably a source of fascination for kids. At this stage, you can worry less about explaining how magnets work and instead just let kids explore which items are attracted to magnets and which aren’t. Sort the items into categories, then see if the items have anything in common.

Learn more: Magnets at PreKinders

See sound waves in action

This series of simple experiments lets kids see sound waves at work. Start by making waves with a Slinky , then move on to tuning forks and bouncing confetti.

Learn more: Sound Experiment at Hands On Teaching Ideas

Make an orange volcano

Making erupting volcanoes is a staple of any childhood! We love this easy volcano experiment using an orange, baking soda, and vinegar.

Learn more: Orange Volcano at The Art Kit Blog

Grow delicious rock candy crystals

Preschoolers love science activities that involve food. While crystal experiments are a hit with kids of any age, this one is perfect for the young crowd. It requires a little patience, but kids get to eat the yummy results!

Learn more: Kool-Aid Rock Candy at Growing a Jeweled Rose

Move pom-poms with air pressure

Understanding the idea that air can have enough force to move objects can be a little challenging, but this simple experiment brings that concept to life. We love that this experiment is affordable since most people (especially teachers) already have these materials on hand.

Learn more: Air Pressure Experiment at Kids Activities Blog

Make a balance scale

This simple balance scale is so easy to make yet provides endless opportunities for weighing all kinds of objects. Have kids assemble a scale from a plastic hanger, a few paper cups, and some string, then let them hypothesize which items will be heavier and which will be lighter.

Learn more: DIY Balance Scales at Go Science Kids

Like these science activities for preschoolers? Don’t miss the 30 Best Educational Toys and Games for Preschool .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and ideas when you sign up for our free newsletters .

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Paper Weight

You can pick up more weight with two hands than you can with two fingers because of weight distribution. The weight of the object you are picking up is distributed or stretched across the size of whatever you are using to pick it up (2 hands, 1 hand or 2 fingers).

THINGS YOU NEED

Here is what you do, what just happened.

The paper weighs the same whether it is flat, rolled or folded, but by rearranging how the weight of the paper is distributed, the paper can hold or support more than its own weight.

TRY THIS TOO

What you learned by doing this experiment.

Paper Helicopter Experiment

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A paper helicopter experiment is a fantastic hands-on, and low-budget way for students to explore cause and effect relationships in experimental design. These models offer teachers easy STEM activities with paper and generate authentic data in the classroom. In fact, there are so many paper helicopter materials, lessons, and instructions online, it’s hard to know where to start!

Simple quantifiable scenarios can be examined and several criteria for success can be defined and explored. Paper helicopters provide educators with easy-to-do experiments to help students learn the scientific method.

The ASTC Science World Society concisely explains the many levels of inquiry teachers can offer students when conducting paper helicopter experiments. These levels of investigation range from more structured to less structured which suits various grade levels and abilities.

Paper helicopter lessons with more structure would generally target lower grade levels. More open assignments are suitable for independent students at the higher grade levels where the teacher acts as a facilitator. Teachers of all experience levels can take advantage of the learning opportunities provided by experimenting with paper helicopters.

Paper Helicopter Lesson Outline

The specific paper helicopter lesson outlined in this blog post targets students in upper elementary and middle school. It can be extended above and below these grade levels as well. This lesson covers methods of data gathering and provides teachers with easy-to-use activity resources.

This paper helicopter experiment is a simple introduction to experimental design and will target this testable science question:

Does changing the blade length of a paper helicopter affect how long it stays in the air? (Keep reading, however, this question needs a bit of clarification.)

The NGSS Standards do apply! Examples:

• 3-5-ETS1-3 Engineering Design – Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, using fair tests in which variables are controlled and the number of trials considered.
• MS-ETS1-2 Engineering Design – Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

How Does a Helicopter Work?

In basic terms, an actual helicopter is a type of aircraft that creates lift (an upward force of air) with horizontally spinning rotor blades. These rotor blades are sometimes referred to as simply rotors or blades.

The physics of paper helicopters are different from real helicopters. Traditional paper helicopters do not use a power source to spin their blades and create lift. These models are typically created with two blades and dropped from a fixed height and spin as they descend.

Paper helicopters spin because of the earth’s gravity, lift, and configuration of the rotors. When dropped, the helicopter’s mass experiences gravity, and it naturally falls to the floor which causes paper blades to bend slightly upward due to lift. The lift force of the air pushes on each of the blades equally but in opposite directions, horizontally and vertically. As a result of the horizontal equal, opposite, and offset forces, the helicopter spins around as it descends.

The helicopter descends due to unbalanced forces: The weight of the helicopters is greater than the lift force of air.

2BrokeScientists studied the airflow around a helicopter and found that there were high-pressure areas under the blades. This high pressure results in equal and opposite opposing forces that cause the spin.

Framing the analysis in terms of Newton’s Third Law of Motion , a pair of equal and opposite forces acting horizontally under each blade and on the body of the paper helicopter cause rotation.

Simple Paper Helicopter

A simple paper helicopter can be made easily at home or school. Multipurpose U.S. letter-size printer paper (8.5 x 11 inches, 21.6 x 27.9 cm) works well for the model. The design is simple to make with only a few cuts and folds, and its parts can be easily adjusted to examine changes regarding flight behavior. To conduct the paper helicopter experiment, we should know the parts first!

Paper Helicopter Parts

The paper helicopter parts are similar to a real helicopter’s parts. The common paper helicopter with two blades has four major parts:

Blades – These two parts are identical rectangles arranged vertically at the top of the helicopter. These parts are sometimes called rotors , blades , rotor blades , wings , or even propellers . The blades provide the lift and are factors that cause the helicopter to spin. The width of the two blades together equals the width of the paper template used to make the helicopter. The thickness of the blades is one layer of paper.

Body – The top of the body of the paper helicopter connects to the blades. The body shape is a rectangle and is perpendicular to the blades. It is located between the blades and the tail. It is as wide as the paper template used to make the helicopter. The thickness of the body is one layer of paper.

Tail – The top of the tail connects to the bottom of the body. The thickness of the tail is three layers of paper. The width of the paper helicopter tail is one-third the width of the template. The tail provides the paper helicopter flight stability.

Stabilizer – The stabilizer is essentially the bottom tip of the tail. A horizontal fold in the tail creates the stabilizer. This fold also provides the paper helicopter flight stability by shifting the model’s center of mass downward.

Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables

The paper helicopter experiment requires that you control some variables, change others, and look for cause and effect. A variable is a characteristic or quantity that can be measured or counted in an experiment. Most experiments for this age group account for three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.

Independent variables are manipulated by the researcher. These variables are changed and studied to determine if they are the cause in a cause-and-effect relationship. Independent variables are not influenced by other variables. Sometimes independent variables are not manipulated by the researcher but monitored to see how their changes may affect other variables. For example, time (seconds, days, years) is an independent variable that can be tracked to see how it may affect other variables (e.g., the growth of a plant).

Dependent variables are what researchers observe, measure, or count in an experiment. Changes in dependent variables depend on various influences. Independent variables are factors that may change a dependent variable.

Why are Variables Important in an Experiment?

That’s the point of an experiment: To find out what may or may not influence a dependent variable! These types of variables are the “effect” in a cause-and-effect relationship.

Controlled variables are variables that the researcher does not allow to change. The variables are maintained to be constant so that they do not influence any of the dependent variables. Variables that are kept the same for every measurement and test in an experiment, ensure that the dependent variables produce data that are as accurate as possible.

Knowing variables’ roles helps researchers be systematic with their observations, accurately collect relevant data, and be logical with their scientific thinking.

How Do You Make a Paper Helicopter Fall Slower?

A common problem to examine is how to make a paper helicopter fall slower. In other words, many paper helicopter designers want to know how to make a paper helicopter that stays in the air the longest. A simple two-rotor paper helicopter is a good design choice to study this common problem.

The researcher can manipulate any of the four helicopter parts to determine what factors affect the flight time of a paper helicopter. By adjusting a part of the helicopter, researchers are manipulating the independent variable to determine if this change affects the time the helicopter stays in the air (time in the air is the dependent variable). Parts of the helicopter that do not change from a standard model to an adjusted model, are considered control variables.

Paper Helicopter Variables

To ensure that testing is fair so that cause-and-effect data are a reliable source of information, the three types of paper helicopter variables need to be defined. For our paper helicopter experiment example, the independent, dependent, and controlled variables are identified as follows.

I ndependent Variables :

• blade length (which changes the body height)
• body height (which changes when the rotor blade length is adjusted)

Dependent Variable :

Controlled Variables (Helicopter Parts):

• rotor blade width and thickness
• body width and thickness
• tail length, width, and thickness
• stabilizer length, width and thickness

Controlled Variables (Materials and Conditions):

• paper size and mass
• drop height
• drop start time

From a persnickety perspective, there are more variables to control like the angle between the blades and the body. This should be 90 degrees by the way. How deep you go as far as what variables are controlled–what you look at–depends on the students’ age group and experience.

By taking into account the types of variables in an experiment, our actually scientific inquiry question for the paper helicopter experiment is:

Does changing the blade-length-to-body-height ratio of a paper helicopter affect how long it stays in the air?

It’s important to note that since paper helicopters easily offer many cause-and-effect relationships to explore, students may eagerly start changing parts of the helicopter to see what happens–how flight changes. Once students get their hands on a template, without focused guidance, teachers may see many different configurations, and helicopters being thrown up into the air.

The time to be creative with designs to more freely explore flight dynamics is after a procedural scientific experiment is conducted.

Paper Helicopter Experiment Considerations

If you are conducting the paper helicopter experiment in a classroom, you will need to set up a testing area. Two paper helicopter models are needed as well to explore how to make a paper helicopter fall slower. It may be easiest to refer to each model by their blade lengths: shorter-blade model and longer-blade model.

The student tester usually holds the completed helicopters away from their body and just above their head while standing on a chair. This drop distance is sufficient for comparing two different helicopters. Make sure there is enough clearance between the tester and any objects or observers to not interfere with the paper helicopters’ descent (i.e., to avoid introducing unwanted variables).

Having multiple students drop the two different helicopter types from the same height and at the same time can provide a simple and solid experimental design.

Here’s an example from NASUWT showing three students testing paper helicopters at once:

How Many Trials Should a Good Experiment Have?

What is a trial in a science experiment? A trial is one of many tests that make up the experiment itself. For example, each time you drop the paper helicopter from a fixed height to see if increasing the blade length increases how slowly a paper helicopter falls, you are conducting a trial.

We want a good experiment–one that offers fair testing and produces not only accurate data but lots of accurate data. The more trials we have, the more evidence we have that random factors are not influencing the outcome.

Other ways to think about the role of trials are: How many trials in an experiment should you conduct to get valid results? How many trials are required to validate a hypothesis? We want the results to truly represent what we are investigating.

So, how many trials should a good experiment have? As many as possible. Three trials minimum seems to be a consensus. With easy-to-test paper helicopters, students can conduct many trials in a short period of time. Multiple helicopters can be tested at once as well. With a design such as the aluminum foil boat investigation , fewer trials are possible because it takes more time to prepare and test.

How to Collect Data in a Science Experiment

If you can gather as much good data as possible without too much logistic fuss, do it! For example, provide half of your class with the shorter-blade paper helicopter template. The other half of the class would be given the longer-blade helicopter template.

When ready, the two helicopter groups could be separated, face each other, hold up their models at the same height, and then drop them simultaneously. Repeat as needed. Students should keep their hands and arms as far away from the helicopters as possible, holding the tips of the blades before release.

Videos of the experiment offer easily reviewable data that would offer a more sound determination to see if longer or shorter rotor blades cause a paper helicopter to stay in the air the longest. Each model type should be clearly identified especially if relying on videos for data analysis.

Other Ways to Collect Data

There are other ways to collect data while ensuring a fair test. Establishing a fixed height from the floor (i.e., controlling the distance-flown variable) can be done by hanging a small mass from the classroom ceiling with thread.

One successful set-up I have used has a paper clip on one end of a thread with a piece of blue painter’s tape on the other end. The top end with the paper clip is tucked into the metal drop ceiling frame grid, and the piece of blue paper tape has enough mass to hang down properly and be easily visible. I prefer not to have a paper clip hanging on the lower end because if hit or smacked for “fun” it could hurt someone’s hand, stick in the ceiling, etc.

A distance of 200 cm from the tape to the floor is a good distance to establish as a controlled variable for dropping and observing paper helicopters. Place six to eight of these paperclip-thread systems around the classroom to create testing spaces for groups of two to four students.

Paper Helicopter Flight Times

The easiest and quickest way to determine which paper helicopter model falls more slowly may be the aforementioned multi-copter drop method with or without a video recording. So, if you need a quick and easy STEM activity, go this route.

Another way to perform a fair test requires a stopwatch. After setting up the six to eight test stations around the classroom with the paperclip, thread, and blue painter’s tape, each group of students can perform the 200 cm drop and time the helicopter models multiple times.

If students do, say, ten trials for each model they should have sufficient data to minimize random factors. Each group’s ability to time the drops accurately will factor into the integrity of the results. Measuring the paper helicopters’ times over a fixed distance will also produce data that can be analyzed mathematically. Some examples of mathematical analyses are:

• represent and interpret data in a chart or graph
• measures of center (e.g., average time for each model)
• measures of variability (e.g., differences in trial times for each model)

Other Simple Paper Helicopter Launcher Ideas

There are other ways to launch paper helicopters rather than dropping them from your hand. For example, two meter sticks, side-by-side, can launch two to four helicopters at once. Two people are needed to hold the ends of the meter sticks. A bit of practice helps to keep the sticks level at a prescribed height and to separate them at the same time for launching.

With the two-stick method, you can launch even more helicopters at once using longer pieces of wood. Consider using two 1 in. x 2 in. x 8 ft. furring strip boards for launching seven to ten paper helicopters at once with just two people.

Paper Helicopter Experiment Lesson Plan

The focus of this paper helicopter investigation explores how the independent variables of blade length and body height together affect time aloft. Remember that, the blade length cannot be changed without changing the body height (unless we change the mass, which is a variable we are controlling). This means for both types of helicopters:

Blade length (shorter) with body height (taller) = equals = Blade length (longer) with body height (shorter)

And, as a reminder, our paper helicopter scientific inquiry question is:

Lesson Plan Parts and Documents

Paper Helicopter Template – There are four free printable pdf templates (8.5 x 11 inches, 21.6 x 27.9 cm). Each helicopter template is one page with the two types of helicopters:

• paper helicopter template with instructions and labels
• paper helicopter template with instructions (no labels)
• paper helicopter template with minimal instructions
• paper helicopter template no instruction (just cutting and folding lines)

Choose the template that makes the most sense for your students. Generally, the lower the grade level, the more instruction, and guidance are needed to make a paper helicopter.

Teacher Lesson Plan Outline

Grade Levels 4 – 7 (8 – 10 works too!)

Time How deep do you want to go? What is the grade level? Are you looking for a quick STEM activity or a long-term stem project ? Consider 45 minutes (one class) to 90 minutes (two classes), and keep in mind any extension activities.

Scientific Inquiry Question Does changing the blade-length-to-body-height ratio of a paper helicopter affect how long it stays in the air?

If you’re working with lower grade levels, or want to simplify the question, pose it like this: Does changing the blade length of a paper helicopter affect how long it stays in the air?

Standards Connections Common Core Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Elementary School

• 3-5.Engineering Design
• 3-PS2-1 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Middle School

• MS.Engineering Design
• MS-PS2-2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Materials and Set-Up (for the multi-test station method)

• Stopwatch (can be an online version )
• 8.5 x 11.5-inch paper helicopter template – one per group
• Group of two to four students students
• Six to eight helicopter test stations spaced about the classroom. A testing station consists of a thread hanging from the ceiling vertically that ends with a piece of tape 200 cm above the floor.

Paper Helicopter Experiment Lesson Documents

If you would like additional instructional activities to extend the paper helicopter activity and go deeper into learning, check out the Paper Helicopter Experiment (purchase link) resources at TPT !

You’ll find all the resources shared in this blog post, plus :

• teacher lesson presentation with custom graphics
• paper helicopter experiment report template
• pre/post test
• reading comprehension activity
• thinking routines writing activity
• group member role definitions
• vocabulary definitions for the paper helicopter experiment
• vocabulary definitions for the scientific method

Books about Paper Helicopters and Flight

Check out this captivating collection of books (paid links) that explore the fascinating world of flight. From exploring the mechanics of flight and the similarities between living creatures and machines to unraveling the story of the Wright Brothers, these books provide an immersive experience of the wonders of aviation.

Planes, Jets and Helicopters: Great Paper Airplanes Make your own fantastic flying paper aircraft! Instructions to fold paper, fly, and troubleshoot paper planes and helicopters from standard 8.5 by 11-inch paper. No glue, scissors, or tape required! Two dozen fold and fly designs with fold-by-fold illustrated instructions.

Science Comics: Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared A National Science Teachers Association Best STEM Book Winner in 2017! A delightfully illustrated comic about the history of the Wright brothers told by Katharine Wright Haskell, the younger sister of American aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright.

P lanes, Gliders and Paper Rockets: Simple Flying Things Anyone Can Make–Kites and Copters, Too! A STEM-oriented book for older students who have access to tools and want to go beyond paper designs. Great for going deep into making hands-on, DIY flying crafts with everyday materials!

Paper Helicopter Experiment Summary

Teachers, are you searching for an engaging and cost-effective STEM activity to foster scientific thinking among your upper elementary and middle school students? High school students as well can benefit from the paper helicopter experiment!

This exciting low-budget DIY activity encourages students to develop essential scientific thinking skills by creating hypotheses, gathering relevant data, and interpreting results to draw conclusions. As a result, they will gain invaluable skills that will serve them well in future studies.

But the benefits don’t stop there! The paper helicopter experiment also allows students to explore various scientific concepts such as gravity, lift, and air resistance. Students will better understand these essential scientific principles by testing different blade sizes.

The paper helicopter experiment’s simplicity and low-cost nature make it an excellent starting point for Year 1 students to learn the MYP Design Cycle . Students can better understand the design process by identifying a problem related to helicopter design, creating a prototype, testing and evaluating their design, and communicating their findings.

To get started, check out the free resources in this blog post and on TPT ! They offer step-by-step instructions for building a paper helicopter and comprehensive tips for conducting the experiment and analyzing results. So what are you waiting for? Get started on this exciting hands-on STEM activity today!

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Science project, break a ruler using newspaper and atmospheric pressure.

In those rare moments when we actually think about the air around us, we typically think of the oxygen that allows us to breathe. But did you know that oxygen makes up only 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere? The rest is composed of nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and trace amounts of many other gases. These gasses form our atmosphere, a layer of air that is 80 miles thick. Like any type of matter, the gases in air have mass , and since Earth’s gravity causes the atmosphere to press down on the Earth’s surface, we call this force atmospheric pressure . Pressures are expressed in force per unit area. At sea level, the 80-mile column of air exerts a pressure of 15 lbs per square inch ( psi ). We don’t usually notice the earth’s atmosphere pressing down on us, because we’ve lived with it our entire lives! However, this cool science experiment can help us appreciate just how powerful air pressure is.

How can we see and feel the power of air pressure?

• Smooth table in a clear area
• Safety goggles
• Flimsy wooden ruler, yardstick, or meter stick (about 1/8 inch thick)
• First, set your ruler or meter stick on the table. If you’re using a wooden ruler, allow about five inches of the ruler to protrude over the edge of the table.  If you are using a yardstick or meter stick, make sure it is thin enough, and allow 12 to 16 inches of it to hang off the edge of the table. 
• Place a piece of double-folded newspaper over part of the meter stick that is on the table.
• What do you think will happen when strike the stick with a karate chop?
• Locate a spot on the meter stick a couple inches beyond where it protrudes off the table.
• Using the side of your palm, try to chop the stick in two using a knifehand (“karate chop”) strike. Don’t use your hand to brace the meter stick!
• Next, unfold the newspaper and cover the stick with one or two sheets of newspaper. Smooth the paper over the stick so that there are no air pockets. Again, make sure the appropriate length of stick extends over the edge of the table.
• Predict what you think will happen this time when you strike the meter stick.
• Give the meter stick your best strike (again, no bracing allowed!).

During the first chop, the ruler probably flew off the table and didn’t break. During the second chop, you may have managed to chop the stick in two!  (If you didn’t get this result for the second chop, try again, making sure that your newspaper lies perfectly smooth and that you strike cleanly.)

You were able to chop the stick in two because of air pressure. When you spread out the newspaper on top of the stick, you basically created a large suction cup because you’re preventing air from flowing underneath. When you strike the ruler, it tries to lift up against the newspaper, but because the air can’t flow very quickly into the space between the table and the newspaper, most of it simply pushes down on the newspaper (and the ruler).

Suppose you had 8 inches of ruler covered by the newspaper. If the ruler were one inch wide, that would mean that the area is 8 square inches.  Remember that the 80 mile column of air above us presses down at 15 pounds per square inch. That means your stick had 120 pounds of pressure holding it down while you chopped (This isn’t a perfect explanation, but it should give you a rough idea of what’s going on). The point is that when the ruler tries to lift off of the table, it has to push against all 120 of those pounds .

If you live at a higher altitude, the air pressure is a bit less.  For instance, citizens of the mile high city of Denver, Colorado have a shorter column of air (about 79 miles) pressing down on them—but it’s still more than enough pressure to hold the stick down.

Going Further

There are lots more experiments showing the power of air pressure. Air pressure can push an egg into a bottle orr crush a can .

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CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm PDF Download

CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm Download here in pdf format. These Lab Manual may be freely downloadable and used as a reference book. Learning does not mean only gaining knowledge about facts and principles rather it is a path which is informed by scientific truths, verified experimentally. Keeping these facts in mind, CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm have been planned, evaluated under subject Improvement Activities. Check our CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm . We are grateful to the teachers for their constant support provided in the preparation of this CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual.

CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm

The laboratory is important for making the study complete, especially for a subject like Science and Maths. CBSE has included the practicals in secondary class intending to make students familiarised with the basic tools and techniques used in the labs. With the help of this, they can successfully perform the experiments listed in the CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual.

CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm Features:

• Basic Concept of Experiments
• Before performing the experiments the basic concept section of every experiment helps the students in know the aim of the experiment and to achieve the result with the minimum mistake
• Lab Experiments with Interactive session and NCERT Lab Manual Questions 
• Completely solved CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual Questions are provided.
• Practical Based Questions
• PBQs based on every experiment with their answers, covering Previous Years’ Questions, are provided experiments for complete coverage of concepts Web support

By performing the experiments, students will know the concept in a better way as they can now view the changes happening in front of their eyes. Their basics will become solid as they will learn by doing things. By doing this activity they will also get generated their interest in the subject. Students will develop questioning skills and start studying from a scientific perspective. Here we have given all the necessary details that a Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm student should know about CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual. From CBSE Science practical to Lab manual, project work, important questions and CBSE lab kit manual, all the information is given in the elaborated form further in this page for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm students.

Benefit of the CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual for Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm :

• Basic concepts of every experiment have been covered for better understanding. The matter is presented in the simple and lucid language under main-headings and sub-headings.
• Detailed observation tables and graphical design of experiments are provided wherever it is necessary.
• Diagrams are well-labelled and neatly drawn.
• CBSE Class 11 Lab Manual Questions with their answers
• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are completely solved with the scoring key giving the explanation of every answer
• Group/Suggested Activities have also been given.
• Two Practice question Papers have also been included based on the latest guidelines issued by the CBSE.

The CBSE is a prestigious educational board in India that conducts the final examinations for the Chapter 8 3 Activity 1 To Make a Paper Scale of Given Least Count, e g , 0 2 cm, 0 5 cm . The syllabus for the practical exam is designed by CBSE according to the CCE guidelines.

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Science Experiments For Kids at Home

Bring The Lab Home And Add Some Jazz To Your Science Lessons With These Science Experiments For Kids. Science is not just limited to textbooks and laboratories. You can make Science come to life in your kitchen sink or your backyard with science experiments for kids.

Science is fun when you can see the magic unfold right in front of your eyes! Stuck at home with the kids? Here is a list of fun science experiments for kids to jazz up your afternoon.

Here Are Some Exciting Science Experiments For Kids:

All of these science experiments for kids must be performed under the supervision of adults.

Looking for more science experiments for kids? Here are some more fun science experiments for kids to do at home that are sure to get your child excited about science.

Easy Science Experiments For Kids To Do At Home

• Making Fires With A Lens And The Sun
• Making static electricity with a comb
• Oxidization experiment using apples 
• Reversing numbers: Light refraction experiment 
• Thermal conductivity of water and air: Fireproof balloon or not?
• Air expansion experiment
• Balloon pop or not?
• Bend water with static electricity
• Exploding lunch bags
• Sound and light experiment
• Fizzy oranges
• Heat conduction
• Water solubility test
• Transparent, translucent and opaque objects
• Light and shadows experiment
• Evaporation and condensation experiment
• Density of objects experiment

Experiment 1: Making fires with a lens and the sun

Fire is something that kids are always curious about. They are always drawn to dangerous things like a moth to a flame! This is one of the best science experiments for kids to help them learn about fire.

What you need: a magnifying glass, paper, and sunlight

How to do the experiment: Place the magnifying glass above the piece of paper such that the sunlight falls directly on the paper through the lens. Adjust the magnifying glass above the paper in such a way that it forms a very small circle on the paper.

This means that you’re concentrating the sunlight at that circular point. After some time, you’ll observe that the paper starts to burn catches flame from that circular point. And voila! You’ve learned to make fire!

Experiment 2: Making static electricity with a comb 

This experiment based on electrostatics is one of the coolest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: a plastic comb, a paper

How to do the experiment: Cut the paper into small pieces. Now, bring the comb near the pieces of paper. You’ll observe that nothing happens. 

Now, use the comb and brush your hair. Comb your hair several times. Now, bring the comb near the paper pieces. You will see the paper pieces start sticking to the comb. This is because combing your hair charged the comb and the charged comb induces an opposite charge in the paper. As we know, opposite charges attract so the paper sticks to the comb.

Experiment 3: Oxidization experiment using apples

This is one of the science experiments for kids that can be easily done at home with things in your refrigerator.

What you need: an apple, lemon, vinegar

How to do the experiment: Cut an apple into four slices. Put one slice of apple on a plate. Pour some lemon juice on another slice of apple. Pour vinegar on the third slice and put the fourth slice into a glass with some water. 

After some time, you’ll notice that the first slice on the plate has turned brown, while the second slice hasn’t. The third slice of apple might have some brown spots on the surface. And, the fourth slice also has some brownish spots on the surface. 

This is because the liquids, water, vinegar, and lemon juice prevent the surface of the apple from getting into direct contact with oxygen in the air. 

Experiment 4: Reversing numbers: Light refraction experiment 

This is one of the easiest science experiments for kids to help them understand the concept of refraction.

What you need: paper, a pen, and glass

How to do the experiment: Take an empty glass and put it on the table. Write any number on the piece of paper, for example, 100. Paste this paper on a wall such that the paper is at a small distance from the glass. 

Look at the number through the glass. You will see 100. 

Next, fill water in the glass and look at the paper through the glass now.

You will see 001!

Experiment 5: Thermal conductivity of water and air: Fireproof balloon or not?  

Looking for ways to explain the concept of thermal conductivity to kids? This is one of the coolest science experiments for kids to learn about thermal conductivity at home.

What you need: 2 balloons, syringe, water, candle

How to do the experiment: Light the candle. Bring an inflated balloon near the flame. The balloon will burst. 

Now, fill some water into another balloon. Inflate the balloon and bring it near the flame. This time, the balloon won’t burst!

Experiment 6: Air expansion experiment

Confused about your science lesson on air expansion? Here is one of the best science experiments for kids at home that will help you teach the concept easily.

What you need: a candle, glass, a plate, and water

How to do the experiment: Put some water on the surface of the plate. Put the glass upside down on the plate. Nothing happens.

Now, remove the glass and put a candle in the center of the plate. Light the candle. Put the glass upside down such that the candle is inside the glass. You will find that the water from the plate starts collecting inside the glass and the water level rises.

Experiment 7: Balloon pop or not?

This is one of the coolest science experiments for kids at home that teaches them about the science of polymers.

What you need: 2 balloons, a needle, a tape

How to do the experiment: Inflate a balloon and prick it with the needle. It will burst. 

Now, inflate the other balloon and tape it around. Prick the balloon with the needle. Rather than bursting, it will just start leaking air. 

Experiment 8: Bend water with static electricity

Looking for another way to teach the concept of static electricity? This is one of the most amazing science experiments for kids to understand their lesson on static electricity.

What you need: an inflated balloon

How to do the experiment: Rub the balloon on your hair. Turn on the tap and bring the balloon close to the tap water. You will find water getting attracted to the balloon and changing its normal course. 

Experiment 9: Exploding lunch bags

Have a fun afternoon with your child with one of the most exciting and noisiest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: warm water, baking soda, Ziploc bag, tissue paper, and vinegar

How to do the experiment: Fill the Ziploc bag with ¼ cup of warm water, ensure that it’s not very hot. Add ½ cup vinegar to it. Place 3 teaspoons of baking soda in the middle of the tissue paper and wrap it.

Partially close the zip on the Ziploc bag and add the tissue into the bag quickly and close the zip completely. Put the bag in the sink and step back. The bag will start to expand and grow and finally burst.

Experiment 10: Sound and light experiment

Help your child bring their lessons on sound and light to life with one of the most fun and easy science experiments for kids at home.

What you need: 2 cardboards, a source of light (flashlight)

How to do the experiment: Switch on the flashlight and sit a little far from the flashlight. Keep two cardboards in between so that the light from the flashlight is blocked by the cardboard. Remember that you, the cardboards and the flashlight should be in the same line. 

Now, play music on your phone and keep it next to the flashlight. 

You will not be able to see the light coming from the flashlight but will still be able to hear the sound coming from the phone. 

This is because the sound waves travel in different directions but light does not. 

Experiment 11: Ph test

Teach your child a scientific magic trick with one of the simplest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: litmus paper, lemon, baking soda

How to do the experiment: When you put litmus paper into lemon juice, the paper will turn red. 

But the same litmus paper when put into baking soda solution becomes blue. 

This is because lemon juice is acidic in nature while baking soda solution is a base. 

Litmus paper turns red when it comes in contact with acids and turns blue when it is dipped into a base. 

Experiment 12: Fizzy oranges

Help your child learn about acids and bases with this simple but one of the most amazing science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: baking soda, orange

How to do the experiment: Cut the orange into slices and put some baking soda on it. Now, put it in your mouth. You will feel lots of little bubbles getting developed inside your mouth. 

This simple science experiment for kids at home shows the reaction between an acid and a base. 

Orange has citric acid and baking soda is a base. Mixing them together results in the creation of carbon dioxide bubbles. 

Experiment 13: Heat conduction

Explain thermal conductivity to your child with one of the easiest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: steel scale, wax, table, candle

How to do the experiment: Put a steel scale horizontally on a table such that one end of the scale ( end B) is in the air. On the other end of the scale (end A), which is on the table, put a little piece of wax. 

Now, light a candle and place it under end B, such that the flame heats up the scale. 

After some time, the wax on end A starts to melt. 

This happens because steel is a good conductor of heat and it lets the heat travel from one end to the other. 

Experiment 14: Water solubility test

This is one of the easiest and fun science experiments for kids to do at home to teach them about water solubility.

What you need: sand, salt, water, 2 glasses

How to do the experiment: Take two glasses full of water. Put salt into the first glass and stir it. After some time, it will dissolve.

In the second glass of water, put sand and stir. The sand does not dissolve.

This experiment shows that salt is water-soluble while sand is not. 

Experiment 15: Transparent, translucent and opaque objects

Help children learn about transparent, opaque and translucent objects with one of the easiest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: a flashlight, cardboard, butter paper, a sheet of glass

How to do the experiment: Switch on the flashlight. Put the cardboard in between you and the flashlight(with all three in the same line). You won’t see any light.

Now, remove the cardboard and place the butter paper in its place. You will be able to see light partially. 

Now, remove the butter paper and put the sheet of glass instead. You will now see the light from the flashlight clearly.

This happens so because cardboard is opaque, butter paper is translucent and the sheet of glass is transparent. 

Experiment 16: Light and shadows experiment

Teach your little one about light and shadows with one of the simplest science experiments for kids to do at home.

What you need: a stick or pipe

How to do the experiment: Fix the stick on the ground in the morning. You will see the shadow of the stick is long and slant. 

At noon, the shadow will be straight and very small.

In the early evening, you will see the shadow is again long and slant (in the opposite direction). 

This is because this shadow is formed due to sunlight and the sun is directly over the head at noon. 

Experiment 17: Evaporation and condensation experiment

Learn all about evaporation and condensation with one of the most amazing science experiments for kids at home.

What you need: water, container

How to do the experiment: Heat water in a container. You will see steam rising above the surface of the water. This happens because of the process of evaporation. 

Now cover the container with a plate and let the water cool down for some time. You would find tiny drops of water on the inner surface of the plate. This is condensation. 

Experiment 18: Density of objects experiment

Help your child learn about the density of different objects using one of the easiest science experiments for kids at home.

What you need: rocks, matchstick, glass jar, water

How to do the experiment: Pour some water into the glass jar. Put rocks/stones into the jar. Then put a matchstick into the jar. Shake the jar. 

You will see that all the rocks settle at the bottom but the matchstick stays floating in the water.

This is because the heavier substances settle down and the lighter ones float in the water. 

The Importance Of Doing Science Experiments For Kids

Science is an important part of our lives. It explains and helps us make sense of what’s happening around us. But, the theoretical part of science can sometimes be confusing for kids. Learning science becomes easier when kids can connect their science lessons to the real world. These science experiments for kids will help your child understand their science lessons in a fun and engaging manner.

These cool science experiments for kids help them understand that the abstract concepts in their lessons have an influence over their everyday lives. Pave the path for your little scientist with these fun and easy science experiments for kids. 

We hope that you try these amazing science experiments for kids at home and kids get to learn lots of new things. Looking for more activities and games to do with your child at home? Osmo has a wide variety of games, worksheets and activities that will boost your kids learning – math games for kids , activities for kids at home and STEM activities for kids .

Frequently Asked Questions on Fun Science Experiments For Kids at Home

What are science experiments for kids.

Science experiments for kids are those experiments that are performed scientifically. Also, researchers perform experiments to challenge and test the existing hypotheses to either agree or disagree with them. Science experiments help children understand the facts about the world around them. They also motivate kids to explore and learn.

What do science experiments teach kids?

Science experiments for kids teach them to explore and learn new things. They also support them develop their key abilities like planning, problem-solving, and a sense of achievement. It also fosters curiosity and supports kids learn new methodologies of thinking and discovering.

Why Are Science Experiments For Kids Important?

Science experiments for kids help them in early science learning with the right amount of guidance and motivation to think out of the box. Science experiments for kids also help them perform better in their academics and achieve their goals.

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Independent and Dependent Variables Examples

The independent and dependent variables are key to any scientific experiment, but how do you tell them apart? Here are the definitions of independent and dependent variables, examples of each type, and tips for telling them apart and graphing them.

Independent Variable

The independent variable is the factor the researcher changes or controls in an experiment. It is called independent because it does not depend on any other variable. The independent variable may be called the “controlled variable” because it is the one that is changed or controlled. This is different from the “ control variable ,” which is variable that is held constant so it won’t influence the outcome of the experiment.

Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is the factor that changes in response to the independent variable. It is the variable that you measure in an experiment. The dependent variable may be called the “responding variable.”

Examples of Independent and Dependent Variables

Here are several examples of independent and dependent variables in experiments:

• In a study to determine whether how long a student sleeps affects test scores, the independent variable is the length of time spent sleeping while the dependent variable is the test score.
• You want to know which brand of fertilizer is best for your plants. The brand of fertilizer is the independent variable. The health of the plants (height, amount and size of flowers and fruit, color) is the dependent variable.
• You want to compare brands of paper towels, to see which holds the most liquid. The independent variable is the brand of paper towel. The dependent variable is the volume of liquid absorbed by the paper towel.
• You suspect the amount of television a person watches is related to their age. Age is the independent variable. How many minutes or hours of television a person watches is the dependent variable.
• You think rising sea temperatures might affect the amount of algae in the water. The water temperature is the independent variable. The mass of algae is the dependent variable.
• In an experiment to determine how far people can see into the infrared part of the spectrum, the wavelength of light is the independent variable and whether the light is observed is the dependent variable.
• If you want to know whether caffeine affects your appetite, the presence/absence or amount of caffeine is the independent variable. Appetite is the dependent variable.
• You want to know which brand of microwave popcorn pops the best. The brand of popcorn is the independent variable. The number of popped kernels is the dependent variable. Of course, you could also measure the number of unpopped kernels instead.
• You want to determine whether a chemical is essential for rat nutrition, so you design an experiment. The presence/absence of the chemical is the independent variable. The health of the rat (whether it lives and reproduces) is the dependent variable. A follow-up experiment might determine how much of the chemical is needed. Here, the amount of chemical is the independent variable and the rat health is the dependent variable.

How to Tell the Independent and Dependent Variable Apart

If you’re having trouble identifying the independent and dependent variable, here are a few ways to tell them apart. First, remember the dependent variable depends on the independent variable. It helps to write out the variables as an if-then or cause-and-effect sentence that shows the independent variable causes an effect on the dependent variable. If you mix up the variables, the sentence won’t make sense. Example : The amount of eat (independent variable) affects how much you weigh (dependent variable).

This makes sense, but if you write the sentence the other way, you can tell it’s incorrect: Example : How much you weigh affects how much you eat. (Well, it could make sense, but you can see it’s an entirely different experiment.) If-then statements also work: Example : If you change the color of light (independent variable), then it affects plant growth (dependent variable). Switching the variables makes no sense: Example : If plant growth rate changes, then it affects the color of light. Sometimes you don’t control either variable, like when you gather data to see if there is a relationship between two factors. This can make identifying the variables a bit trickier, but establishing a logical cause and effect relationship helps: Example : If you increase age (independent variable), then average salary increases (dependent variable). If you switch them, the statement doesn’t make sense: Example : If you increase salary, then age increases.

How to Graph Independent and Dependent Variables

Plot or graph independent and dependent variables using the standard method. The independent variable is the x-axis, while the dependent variable is the y-axis. Remember the acronym DRY MIX to keep the variables straight: D = Dependent variable R = Responding variable/ Y = Graph on the y-axis or vertical axis M = Manipulated variable I = Independent variable X = Graph on the x-axis or horizontal axis

• Babbie, Earl R. (2009). The Practice of Social Research (12th ed.) Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 0-495-59841-0.
• di Francia, G. Toraldo (1981). The Investigation of the Physical World . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-29925-1.
• Gauch, Hugh G. Jr. (2003). Scientific Method in Practice . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-01708-4.
• Popper, Karl R. (2003). Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge . Routledge. ISBN 0-415-28594-1.

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Science Projects > Chemistry Projects > Acid Base Reactions & pH Experiments  

Acid Base Reactions & pH Experiments

Experimenting with acids and bases can make for exciting chemistry projects!

Acidic solutions have a higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).

These are hydrogen atoms that have lost an electron and now have just a proton, giving them a positive electrical charge.

Basic solutions, on the other hand, contain hydroxide ions (OH-). One of the simplest activities to show how acids and bases react with each other (and to demonstrate their different properties) is to make a vinegar and baking soda volcano .

For another reaction experiment , put an Alka-Seltzer tablet in the bottom of a clear plastic film canister (the kind where the cap fits inside instead of closing over the outside).

Fill the canister with warm water and then quickly put the cap on and watch the acid-base reaction!

The pH scale is used to measure how acidic or basic a solution is. Acids have a pH below 7; bases have a pH above.

Neutral solutions (like distilled water) with a balanced number of H+ and OH- ions have a pH of 7. Do the following projects to explore the cool effects of pH.

Litmus is a natural acid-base indicator extracted from a type of lichen. If you have red and blue litmus paper , you can test different solutions for whether they are acids or bases.

Blue litmus paper turns red when a solution is acidic; red litmus paper turns blue in basic solutions.

Try testing window cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, orange juice, and apple juice—pour a little of each into separate test tubes or small glasses or jars.

Use the litmus paper to determine which are acids and which are bases. Here are the pH levels of some other substances that you might test:

• Lemon juice (2)
• Vinegar (3)
• Egg whites (8)
• Baking soda (9)
• Ammonia (10)

Human blood has an ideal pH of 7.4; even slight fluctuations can seriously affect our bodies.

You can also make your own pH indicator —use a blender to mix one part chopped red cabbage with two parts boiling water and use the juice to test different solutions.

Acids will turn the pigments in the indicator to a reddish color; bases will turn the pigments bluish or yellow-green.

Mystery Pitcher

Make ordinary water turn bright pink and then back to clear! This makes a great “magic trick” to impress your friends – just be careful no one mistakes it for fruit punch and drinks any!

>> Check out our project video to see this trick in action!

What You Need:

• Phenolphthalein solution
• Sodium carbonate
• 5 glasses and a non-see-through pitcher of water

What You Do:

1. In the first glass put a little less than 1/8 teaspoon of sodium carbonate, in the second put 6 drops of phenolphthalein solution, and in the third put three droppers-full of vinegar.

2. Add a few drops of water to the first glass and stir to dissolve the sodium carbonate.

3. Fill all the glasses with water from the pitcher, then pour all of them back in the pitcher except for the glass with vinegar.

4. Refill the remaining four glasses – the water will be red!

5. Now pour all five glasses back in the pitcher. Refill the glasses one last time—the liquid will be colorless again!

What Happened:

Phenolphthalein is a pH indicator, but it only turns colors in reaction to bases. When you poured the four glasses back into the pitcher, the phenolphthalein reacted to the sodium carbonate, a base, and turned the solution to bright pink “kool-aid.” To change it back to “water,” all you had to do was add the acidic vinegar, which turned the phenolphthalein colorless again.

Rainbow Reaction Tube

Amaze your friends by mixing two solutions to make a rainbow!

Watch as purple sinks to the bottom and red floats to the top, and they mix together to form every color in between.

• 10ml graduated cylinder
• Universal indicator
• Distilled white vinegar

2. Add 3 drops of vinegar to the solution in the graduated cylinder, and it should turn red.

3. In a beaker, put two scoops of sodium carbonate and then add about 30 ml of water. Mix together with the stirring rod until the sodium carbonate dissolves. The solution should be clear.

4. To start the reaction, fill one dropper full with sodium carbonate solution. Squeeze the dropper into the graduated cylinder quickly, rather than drop by drop. The clear solution should instantly turn dark purple, and slowly sink to the bottom, swirling around to make the rainbow.

5. Let the contents of the cylinder settle, until you can see each color from bluish-purple to red. To make the rainbow disappear, pour it into an empty beaker, and it should turn yellow or yellowish green.

Universal indicator changes colors to show the pH level of a substance. In this case, when you mixed an acidic solution (vinegar) with a basic one (sodium carbonate), the indicator made a colorful spectrum — from dark blue to red. Interestingly, if you had added the solutions in the opposite order, you would not have seen a rainbow. To get the rainbow effect, another scientific principle is at work— density . The sodium carbonate solution you made is denser than the indicator solution, so it sinks to the bottom. As the sodium carbonate solution makes its way to the bottom, some of its molecules mix with vinegar molecules, making a new solution, which shows up as a color of the pH scale.

If you don’t turn the graduated cylinder upside down, the rainbow will last several days. Over time the colors will mix together through the process of diffusion. The molecules of each solution will mix throughout the graduated cylinder, rather than staying concentrated at the top or bottom. Once you mix the acid and base solutions together, the solution will be pH neutral, and look yellow or slightly green.

To make a different kind of rainbow tube, try making this rainbow density column with all household materials.

More Chemistry pH Projects:

• Green Eggs & Ham
• Fizzy Bath Bombs
• Acid & Apples
• Copper-Plated Nails

Welcome! Read other Chemistry articles or explore the rest of the Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

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Universal indicator ‘rainbow’

In association with Nuffield Foundation

• Five out of five

Try this demonstration to create a rainbow effect using universal indicator, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide

In this experiment, students observe as hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide are added to opposite ends of a long glass tube filled with a neutral universal indicator solution. As the demonstrator inverts the tube a few times to mix the solutions, students can see a ‘rainbow’ of universal indicator appear.

The demonstration itself takes only a few minutes. It provides a good attention-grabbing lesson starter or lesson endpoint.

• Eye protection
• Glass tube (see note 6 below)
• Rubber bungs to fit the glass tube, x2
• Beaker, 100 cm 3
• Dropper pipettes, x3
• Clamp stand, boss and clamp
• Deionised or tap water
• Hydrochloric acid, 0.1 M
• Sodium hydroxide solution, 0.1 M (IRRITANT)
• Universal indicator solution (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE)

Health, safety and technical notes

• Read our standard health and safety guidance.
• Wear eye protection throughout.
• Hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC047a . The concentration of the solution is not critical.
• Sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq), (IRRITANT at concentration used) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC091a . The concentration of the solution is not critical.
• Universal indicator solution (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard  HC032 and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB000.
• The glass tube needs to be about 60 cm long with an internal diameter of around 1 cm.
• Add sufficient universal indicator to about 60 cm 3  of deionised or tap water in a beaker, to give a solution with a visible green colour.
• Ensure that one end of the glass tube is firmly stoppered with a rubber bung.
• Fill the tube to about 2 cm from the top with the universal indicator solution. Then clamp the tube vertically. It is important to leave a space above the liquid in the tube so that there is an air bubble – this helps the mixing in step 8.
• Add 3-4 drops of the hydrochloric acid solution. The top few centimetres of the liquid should turn red.
• Stopper the upper end of the tube, remove it from the clamp, carefully invert it and then clamp it vertically again.
• Remove what is now the top stopper. Add 3–4 drops of the sodium hydroxide solution. The top few centimetres of the liquid should turn purple.
• Stopper the tube. Both ends of the tube should now be firmly stoppered.
• Remove the tube from the clamp and carefully invert it 2 or 3 times. The movement of the air bubble will mix the contents and produce a ‘rainbow’ in the tube, showing all the colours of Universal indicator from red through orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

Teaching notes

A white background is useful to show the colours.

Additional information

This is a resource from the  Practical Chemistry project , developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Practical Chemistry activities accompany  Practical Physics  and  Practical Biology .

The experiment is also part of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Continuing Professional Development course:  Chemistry for non-specialists .

© Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry

• 11-14 years
• 14-16 years
• 16-18 years
• Demonstrations
• Acids and bases

Specification

• A solution with pH 7 is neutral. Aqueous solutions of acids have pH values of less than 7 and aqueous solutions of alkalis have pH values greater than 7.
• Students should be able to: describe the use of universal indicator or a wide range indicator to measure the approximate pH of a solution.
• Recall that relative acidity and alkalinity are measured by pH.
• 3.3 Recall the effect of acids and alkalis on indicators, including litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthalein
• C6.1.4 recall that relative acidity and alkalinity are measured by pH including the use of universal indicator and pH meters
• C3.3k describe techniques and apparatus used to measure pH
• (a) substances as acidic, alkaline or neutral in terms of the pH scale, including acid/alkali strength
• 1.8.2 describe the effects of acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions on indicator papers (red and blue litmus papers and universal indicator paper) and the use of a pH meter to give pH data to at least one decimal place;
• 1.8.1 describe the effects of acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions on indicator papers (red and blue litmus papers and universal indicator paper) and the use of a pH meter to give pH data to at least one decimal place;
• 8. Investigate reactions between acids and bases; use indicators and the pH scale
• Acid-base titrations.
• Choice of indicator.

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Toilet Paper Solar System - Scale Model

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The distances between our planets are so vast they are almost incomprehensible. Visualize the expansiveness of our “cosmic neighborhood” with a roll of toilet paper!

Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.

Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Provide evidence showing that the sun is the source of heat and light for Earth.

Students will understand the relationship and attributes of objects in the solar system.

Use computational thinking to analyze data and determine the scale properties of objects in the solar system.

 4 rolls of toilet paper                                                           Clear tape to repair toilet paper tears

 4 markers                                                                            A way to mark the sun

 Rocks/weights to keep TP from blowing if outside

 Toilet Paper Solar System Worksheet for each student or student group       

 Printouts of planets (see note below) , stickers for planets, or other way to denote planets. (Optional)

If you use the planet print outs, you must let students know that the distance between planets is to scale,

and the sizes of planets are to scale , BUT THEY ARE NOT ON THE SAME SCALE! 

If planet size were on the same scale as distance, you would hardly be able to see any of the planets,

they would be teeny tiny!

Our solar system is so immense that the distances in space can be difficult for anyone to comprehend. In this activity, students will unroll a roll of toilet paper to build a scale model of distances in the solar system. While understanding these distances, students will explore why the sun is so essential to life on earth by examining the temperatures of each planet relative to the distance away from the sun. They will grasp that the location of the earth from the sun allows for life to be sustained due to the perfect amount of heat and energy produced by the sun.

• Give each student or student group a worksheet.
• Divide your students into 4 groups.
• Assign each group one close planet (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and one far planet (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
• Place a marker to designate the sun.
• Instruct students to use their worksheet table and toilet paper to find the scaled distance of their planet from the sun, affixing their planet and toilet paper to the ground (using tape or pins, depending on your ground) as they go.
• The number in the table is the number of sheets of toilet paper needed to reach the orbit of each planet. Each time they will start their unrolling of toilet paper from the sun.
• Have them repeat this as a group for their second planet.
• Have students write the planets average temperature in marker on the toilet paper under each planet.
• Have students answer the questions on the worksheet to make connection about the sun’s role in temperature throughout the solar system and in the temperature of planets.

Notes for teachers

• 100 sheets of toilet paper stretch out to nearly 42 feet. Make sure you have room for your model before you start, a hallway, multipurpose room, or field works well.
• Be aware that even slight wind can blow toilet paper, you can ask students to place rocks on TP if working outdoors.
• Planets do not have to all be in a line! The planets in our solar system lie in a general circle around our sun. If you have the space- tell students to spread out. It will demonstrate distance better than if planets are all in one line.

Answers/Additional Information for worksheet

• Why Earth is called the “Goldilocks Planet”- it is not too hot and not too cold for life to exist.
• Could any of Earth’s life forms live on another planet? Why or why not? – This question is designed to help your students think critically. There is no right answer. You can dig deeper by discussing extremophiles and showing the videos on our video tab .Life forms that exist in extreme conditions may be able to live on other planets. Scientists call these extremophiles (an organism, that lives in conditions of extreme temperature, acidity, alkalinity, or chemical concentration). Astrobiologists (scientists who study and look for life in outer space as well as on Earth) study extremophiles to learn about what life forms may exist beyond our world.
• The sun is essential for supporting almost all of life on Earth- Why? Heat and energy. Life on Earth can exist because of our location, we are not “too hot or too cold” and because the sun provides energy to plants, which in turn provide energy to herbivores and omnivores, which in turn provide energy for carnivores. The sun is the source of almost all life on Earth. The few exceptions are the extremophiles discussed earlier.
• What would happen to all living things if the earth was where Jupiter is? Most likely every living thing would perish.
• Imagine we discover life in outer-space- in a neighboring solar system. What is most likely to support that life? A sun. Help students understand that each star in the sky is a sun. Each star/sun is smaller or larger than our sun. Many planets exist around these suns. To date, NASA's Kepler space telescope has discovered roughly 30 Earth-size exoplanets in their host stars' “habitable zone”. Scientists discovered the first planet outside our solar system (what we call an exoplanet) in 1988. Since then scientists have discovered 3,706 planets!

Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrates the distance between planets

Learn more about extremophiles

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What's the explanation of 'paper pieces and comb experiment' about static electricity on atomic level?

I know that the charged comb induces static electricity in the paper pieces.how does that happen? Do the atoms in the paper get ionized,the same what happens when the comb was rubbed on hair?please correct me if I'm wrong in any way.Thanks.

• electrostatics
• electricity
• material-science

3 Answers 3

Induction of dipole polarization by static electricity.

A comb is charged with static electricity by combing hair. In turn, the charged comb attracts pieces of paper. Are the paper atoms ionized in the same way the comb ionizes hair atoms?

Short Answer No, the paper's atoms are not ionized. Ionization implies sufficient work done to the electrons in the paper to completely free them from the paper molecules.

Rather than completely freeing (ionizing) electrons from the paper's atoms and molecules, the $E$ field from the excess electrons on the charged comb displaces the positive and negative charges away from their neutral position.

The $E$ field from the comb polarizes the atoms in the paper's molecules, 1) causing the electrons in the paper's molecules to move farther from the comb, and 2) causing positive nuclei to move closer. Due to the inverse square law, the $E$ field from the comb's electrons is weaker farther from the comb. Thus, the attractive force on the paper molecules' nuclei (which are closer) is stronger than the repulsive force on the paper molecule's electrons (which are farther). As a result, the paper moves toward the comb.

Production of Static Electricity

• The plastic molecules of a comb have a greater affinity for electrons than hair molecules. The fact that we must expend more work removing an electron from plastic molecules than hair molecules is a reflection of the greater force exerted by the plastic atoms/molecules. As a result, when in close surface contact, the plastic attracts electrons from the hair and keeps some of the hair's electrons after they separate.
• Excess electrons accumulate on the comb (called static electricity ) when the comb and hair are brought close enough for the plastic molecules to capture and retain electrons from the hair molecules.
• Note: Rubbing is not required to produce static electricity, only contact and withdrawal are necessary. Rubbing (parallel motion with pressure) increases the chances for new surface-surface contact and capturing electrons, thus rubbing usually produces more static electricity than a single contact and withdrawal. Due to the microscopic surface irregularities of materials (called asperities), all the surface molecules do not come close enough to capture an electron with a single contact. But, by applying pressure and rubbing, the surfaces have more opportunity to make intimate contact, thereby allowing the more electronegative material to capture electrons.
• The effect of rubbing molecules of dissimilar electron affinity, and the resultant capture of electrons by the more electronegative material, results in static charge accumulation and is called the triboelectric effect (note: "tribo" is a Greek word referring to "rubbing").

Induced Charge - Paper-Comb Attraction

• Before contact, the comb and hair molecules are neutral, having equal numbers of positive nucleons and negative electrons. After contact with hair, the plastic comb is negatively charged with excess electrons, and the hair is left positively charged with an electron deficit.
• The negative charge from the excess electrons in the comb produces a negative electric field, which decreases in strength with distance. (The field from a point charge diminishes at $\frac {1}{r^2}$ . The comb is not a point-charge, but the $E$ field from the comb still diminishes with distance.)
• Paper is a solid and an insulator, so very few electrons move between molecules in the paper matrix below the breakdown voltage. Nevertheless, the $E$ field from the comb causes a slight polarization of the electrons within the paper molecules throughout the paper (i.e., attraction of each nucleus and repulsion of each electron cloud).
• The comb's negative $E$ field causes charge movement/polarization within each of the paper molecules. The polarization is produced as follows: 1) The comb's negative $E$ field attracts each of the positive nuclei in the paper, causing them to move slightly closer to the comb (in relationship to their neutral/unbiased electron clouds). 2) The comb's $E$ field repels each of the paper molecules' negative electron clouds, causing them to move slightly away from the comb (in relationship to their nuclei).
• The paper experiences a net force in the direction of the comb because of the greater attractive force acting on the nuclei and lesser repulsive forces acting on the electron clouds of each atom in the paper: 1) The nuclei of the paper molecules are closer to the comb than the paper's electron cloud. The negative $E$ field from the comb results in a stronger attractive force on the nuclei because they are closer than the electron cloud. 2) And conversely, the negative $E$ field and force repelling the electron cloud in the paper molecules is weaker because they are farther away from the comb. 3) Therefore, the attractive force from the comb $E$ field acting on the closer positive nuclei of the paper molecules is stronger than the force repelling the more distant electron clouds of paper molecules. 4) The net effect is an attractive force between comb and paper.
• When the comb and paper are still separated, the paper molecules are polarized, not ionized. That is, the net charge of the paper is unchanged, each molecule still has a net neutral charge.

In Summary: This comb-paper attraction effect is due to the electrons on the comb being slightly closer and therefore having a slightly stronger attraction to the nuclei of the paper atoms, and the electrons on the comb being slightly farther away and therefore slightly less repelled. In short, the stronger attraction to the nearer nuclei than the weaker repulsion from the farther electrons, results in a net attractive force.

Charge Movement upon Touching the Comb and Paper

• When the charged comb and paper touch, some electrons will flow from the comb onto the surface of the paper, because the paper is relatively deficient of electrons compared to the charged comb.
• But, since the paper is an insulator, only a few electrons will flow onto the surface of the paper and neutralize the electron-deficient paper molecules.
• Electrons will flow from the comb on to the paper, but the paper will quickly accumulate sufficient negative charges to create a repulsive $E$ field that will neutralize the attraction and prevent further flow at the surface interface.
• Even though the comb will lose a few electrons to the surface of the paper, the comb will still retain its charge/excess negative charges and the bulk of the paper molecules will remain polarized by the $E$ field of the comb. As a result, the polarization of the paper molecules by the comb's $E$ field is retained, and the paper will remain stuck to the comb.
• If the charged comb and neutral paper are separated after having touched, the molecules on the surface of the paper will take away a small number of the excess electrons from the comb. But, in the bulk of the paper, its molecules will remain neutral.

First of all let's do a small experiment as follows:

Rub your comb on your hair on a dry day and bring the comb near some small pieces of paper. You would find that the comb attracts the paper pieces. We can guess that this is due to electric field, so why not check this with a stronger electric field? Now repeat the same experiment with an electric field which is 10 times or 100 times stronger, which you can easily produce in a capacitor in a laboratory. You would be surprised to find that the paper pieces are not attracted by the field . So, electric field is important but there should be some additional conditions imposed on the electric field .

Explanation:

When you rub the comb on your hair electric charges are accumulated on it, but the charge distribution is localized . This means that the electric field is non-uniform. This electric field polarizes the paper pieces and there are both positive and negative polarization charges. The non-uniform field exerts forces on these polarization charges and we have a net force due to all these forces, whereas in the uniform field case (like the capacitor) all these forces cancel each other and there is no net force .

Q. Why are the paper pieces only attracted and not repelled?

A. This is because the net force is always directed along the direction of positive gradient, i.e., the direction along which the electric field lines gets denser.

Conclusion:

The attraction of the paper pieces is due to generation of non-uniform electric field that polarizes the paper pieces and attracts them non-uniformly so that there is a resultant attractive force due to the force gradient.

It is true that the pieces of paper are attracted by the comb. So, we can say that the comb are also attracted by them.

But according to the Gauss Law, if we enclose one of that pieces by an imaginary sphere, the flow of the electric field will be zero around its surface, because the paper is neutral, so there are no net charges inside the sphere.

But for the flow, integrated along the surface be zero, it is not necessary that the E-field be zero at all of its points. It would only be the case if the positive and negative charges had a spherical symmetry inside the paper. That is the normal situation.

But after the electrified comb induces electric dipoles in the pieces, the situation changes. We can now imagine 2 spheres, both touching the comb. One centred at the geometrical centre of the positive charges, and the other at the centre of the negative charges.

The flow of the E-field is the same for both, only having opposite sign, because there are the same number of positive and negative charges.

But they have different radius, and the bigger sphere (related to the slighted more distant charge centre) has a bigger surface area, and as a consequence smaller E-field at each point.

At the comb, where both spheres touch, the E-field is different from zero, and the product of that field by the amount of net charges in the comb generates the force of attraction.

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