• Question: Is there any science experiments we can do at home that aren't the ones we do at school that can really make people go WOW at science?

    Asked by sarahhalls to Cesar, Emily, Jamie, Kate, Philippa on 18 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Kate Clancy

      Kate Clancy answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      There are lots of cool things you can do with your body to understand the impact of environment. Do a really hard lifting workout — as many pullups, pushups, crunches, squats as you can, and see how you feel the next day. I bet you’ll learn a lot about muscle contraction and tearing that way!

      Or try keeping a daily log of your feelings and health for a few months and look for patterns. Do certain times of year, times of day, days of the week or, if you’re female, days of your cycle impact you?

    • Photo: Jamie Gallagher

      Jamie Gallagher answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi Sarah,

      Oh there are so many! I don’t even know were to begin. Lets go a little bit chemistry-wise first.

      Acid + Base= messy fun. Get some bicarbonate soda and add vinegar that will produce a lovely little reaction. If you want to develop it further add some red food colouring, but the bicarbonate in something that looks like a volcano and make Phillipa proud!

      How about a slightly more physics one. Get an iron nail or screw and wrap a wire all around it. Connect both ends of the wire up to a battery AA or D will do nicely. You will enduce a magentic field and the nail will become a magnet and you will be able to pick up paperclips and other light objects. This shows the relationship between electricity and magnetism.

      Here is a more complicated one, but I love it. Get a plate and cover it in tiny marshmallows. put it in the microwave (it is very important that that plate does not rotate- it must stay still. Take the glass plate out and put an overturned bowl over the spinning bit then the plate on this.)
      Very quickly you will see that some of the marshmallows melt and others do not. This is becasue microwaves have “hot spots” where the waves interfere constructivly. Find 2 of these hot spots and measure the distance between the 2. This is the wavelength. The frequency of the microwave is 2.45GHz using these 2 bits of information you can work out the speed of light!!!!! Amazing

      A word of warning though. Be very careful with all of these experiments, have permision of an adult and supervision if appropriate. These can be dangerous if not carried out properly and shouldn’t be attempted unless you are very confident about what you are doing. maybe your teacher could show you one safely.

      I’ll think of some more!

    • Photo: Emily Robinson

      Emily Robinson answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Have you checked out Science Bob… it is a website with cool little experiments that you can do at home! http://www.sciencebob.com/index.php

    • Photo: Philippa Demonte

      Philippa Demonte answered on 18 Jun 2011:

      @sarahhalls There are loads of great home experiments that you can do.

      http://listverse.com/2007/12/03/top-10-coolest-home-science-experiments/

      This website gives 10 fun suggestions, including a homemade volcano, although there’s an even easier home volcano-like experiment you can do with just a bottle of cola and a Mentos mint. I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve seen other people’s efforts.

      Personally my favourite science experiment at home = cake baking 🙂

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