Turn your kitchen table into a science lab with projects that can be done in the blink of an eye. You have most of the ingredients on hand. Your child will provide the necessary curiosity and wonder. What are you waiting for? Take a moment to share the magic of science!
One Fisted Egg
This is an old trick that continues to fascinate kids of all ages. No matter how strong you are, how young or old you are, you will probably never be able to crush an egg in your fist. Try this. Remove any rings from your fingers and place an egg in the palm of your hand. Now wrap your fingers around the egg and squeeze. Squeeze harder. Squeeze as hard as you possibly can.
What happens? Nothing. Even a grown muscular hand will have a difficult, if not impossible, time cracking the egg. Why? When you normally crack an egg you tap it on the edge of a bowl, concentrating the force upon one small area of the egg. When you squeeze an egg in your fist, you are applying equal pressure on all sides of one of the strongest architectural shapes in the world--the three dimensional arch. If your egg breaks, it is likely the result of one finger applying greater pressure on the shell.
Density Discovery
This is a sinker/floater project for big kids! The more you experiment with different objects in the liquids, the greater will be your understanding of density.
What you will need:
2 wide mouth jars or glasses
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
water
2 pieces of candle
Fill one jar half full with water, the other with alcohol. Ask your child if she believes the candle will float or sink in each of the solutions. Then place a piece of candle in each jar.
What happens? The candle floats in the water and sinks in the alcohol. Why? An object in liquid will float or sink depending how its density compares to that of the liquid. Water has the density of 1. Isopropyl alcohol has a density of around .76, and that of wax is .85. Any item whose density is between 1 (water) and .76 (alcohol) will work effectively for this project. Experiment! Try an egg, a frozen pea, a plastic bead, a piece of crayon, rice, or a plastic Lego block.
The Needle and Balloon Trick
What you will need:
needle
inflated balloon
transparent tape
Place a small piece of tape on the balloon, and press it firmly into place. Poke the needle through the tape and balloon.
What happens? It doesn't pop! The tape holds the surface of the balloon together, preventing the air from rushing out and tearing the balloon (the tearing is what causes the balloon to pop with a bang). This is a wonderful trick for your child to perform before his friends.
Traveling Toothpicks
This project almost seems magic. Do not tell what will happen and brainstorm together afterwards the reasons the toothpicks moved.
What you will need:
7 or 8 toothpicks
dinner plate
few drops of liquid detergent
2 or 3 lumps of sugar
Pour just enough water into the plate to float the toothpicks. When the water is still, lay the toothpicks with one end facing the center of the plate and the other end towards the rim. When you are finished, the toothpicks should be in a rough star shape. Place the lumps of sugar in the center of the star, one on top of the other. Watch carefully!
What happens? When you place the sugar into the water the toothpicks gravitate towards it. Why? The sugar absorbed water and pulled a small current of water towards itself, dragging the toothpicks along in the current.
Remove the sugar, and now place a few drops of the detergent into the center of the toothpick star.
What happens? When you place the liquid detergent into the water, the toothpicks move away sharp and fast to the outside edges of the plate. Water has a 'skin' caused by surface tension. The soap weakens this skin and the toothpicks are pulled by the stronger surface tension around the rim of the plate.
