Simple Science Experiments to Try at Home

Last week, pupils enjoyed watching and participating in a fascinating workshop that explored the creative side of science. The show was jam-packed with fun facts: Did you know that you can draw with a carrot? Did you know that dog and cat wee glows under ultraviolet light? Did you know that that light travels so fast that it could orbit the entire earth 7 times in just 1 second?

Dr. Jasmine suggested several simple experiments that you can try at home:

1. Crush some Cornflakes or Rice Krispies into a fine powder then hold a magnet over them.  The magnet should pick up particles of iron!
2. Put a coin, metal nut, grape and / or (if you're brave) a blob of paint inside a clear, white or yellow balloon; blow it up; give it a little momentum by rotating it to start off the spinning and watch what happens! Also, you can experiment with the sounds made by these different objects whilst they are spinning inside the balloon.
3. Put baby powder on your fingers and rub them along a smooth metal pole. Be warned, the sound produced could be used as a form of torture!
4. Cut two strips of paper (about the length of a sheet of A4). Use tape to make each into 2 equal sized circles (by overlapping the ends). Then, stick the two circles together so that they are one on top of the other and perpendicular to each other. Cut each circle in half (so that they are half the original width) and, hopefully, you should be able to open it up to create a perfect square frame!
5. Make 3D shapes using a construction kit, such as K'Nex. Dip them in a solution of washing up liquid and water and admire the unusual shaped bubbles they create!
6. You will need two pairs of 3D cinema glasses and scrunched sheets of clear plastic sheet (cellophane) for this. Wear one pair of glasses, hold a piece of scrunched cellophane in front of you with light behind it. Then hold the other pair of 3D glasses behind that and rotate them until you can see different colours.

Have fun experimenting!