Science experiments for the summer

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Fri May 21, 2010 6:59 pm

My kid is about to turn 4 soon and the plan is to have a water party for her. you know, slides, balloons, kid pool, etc..

I figured, I'd add something fun to it by having a few science experiments for them.

Stuff like mentos + coke, elephant toothpaste (hydrogen peroxide + yeast/potassium iodide).

Any other suggestions for experiments that focus on liquids or cooling off would be nice.

~

Arun

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:13 pm

Water rockets.

-Crissa

ubernoob · Post by **ubernoob** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:38 pm

Non newtonian fluids

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:48 pm

Instant Ice.

Quantumboost · Post by **Quantumboost** » Fri May 21, 2010 10:46 pm

Also, you should totally serve Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream.

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Fri May 21, 2010 11:37 pm

A friend of mine found out that diet soda supercools at a higher temperature than sugar sodas.

Pretty neat, if you know what temperature to set them at so you don't have timing issues with a freezer.

-Crissa

erik · Post by **erik** » Sat May 22, 2010 12:24 pm

angelfromanotherpin wrote:Instant Ice.

I presume this happens because the carbon dioxide escapes and then the pressure and freezing temperature drops quickly. That's how I explained it a while back to my co-workers who often would put their bottle soda in the freezer and were mystified at the process.

Something fun to show kids might be making ice cream manually. It is kind of neat and tasty. It's murder on your arms though. It's probably better when kids are older though and can help out by taking a turn or two themselves on the grinder.

Scared Pepper Experiment could entertain your kid a bit. Could show how some things float on water and do other surface tension experiments as well. Will help to explain how people can float and sink in water.

MfA · Post by **MfA** » Sat May 22, 2010 8:47 pm

ubernoob wrote:Non newtonian fluids

Otherwise known as custard.

Another surface tension experiment is the soap propelled boat.

Renting a dewar with LN2 doesn't need to be very expensive BTW (depending on the kind of companies near you). Apart from LN2 icecream you can also shatter roses and hammer nails in with bananas.

http://van.physics.illinois.edu/website ... banana.php

You'll probably need some fencing though.

The Vigilante · Post by **The Vigilante** » Sun May 23, 2010 4:58 pm

Liquid tension experiment would be a pretty cool band name.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sun May 23, 2010 6:57 pm

The Vigilante wrote:Liquid tension experiment would be a pretty cool band name.

Is that a joke?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_Tension_Experiment

The Vigilante · Post by **The Vigilante** » Sun May 23, 2010 7:09 pm

CatharzGodfoot wrote:
The Vigilante wrote:Liquid tension experiment would be a pretty cool band name.
Is that a joke?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_Tension_Experiment

Maybe I subconsciously knew that band... but I didn't mean to reference it

I really just read "Liquid tension experiment" and went, 'huh, I'd name a band after that'.

erik · Post by **erik** » Mon May 24, 2010 6:22 am

I always thought "Sample Derangements" would be an excellent band name (stolen from WoD flaws). And song titles could even be names of flaws, i.e. Selective Digestion... and well, I had this notion in highschool 15 or so years ago and forgot the rest of them. Back then I had some of the songs in my noggin, but no musical talent, training or know-how to write them proper.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Sun May 30, 2010 10:27 pm

Random thought on this subject at three in the morning: food coloring and flowers/celery/other plant in water. It requires prior planning, but myabe it can be used in the decorations or something.

Nicklance · Post by **Nicklance** » Mon May 31, 2010 2:39 am

Showing them displacement would be cool too.

erik · Post by **erik** » Mon May 31, 2010 5:37 am

A simple siphon demonstration might be fun for water science.