Search Results

This simple, yet surprising physics demonstration challenges preconceptions about forces, and demonstrates the strength of atmospheric pressure.

Visitors test solutions of water, sugar, salt, and hydrochloric acid and the solids salt and sugar. They clip leads from the hand generator to wires immersed in each substance.

In this quick activity, learners observe how the added sugar in a can of soda affects its density and thus, its ability to float in water.

In this demonstration, learners observe as a bottle is placed on a table with wooden hoop balanced on top and a pencil balanced on top of the hoop.

In this activity, learners explore how ordinary marshmallows expand when heated in a microwave.

In this physics demonstration, learners will be surprised when a handkerchief holds water in an upside-down glass.

In this demonstration, learners observe the effects of density and pressure. A "diver" constructed out of a piece of straw and Blu-Tack will bob inside a bottle filled with water.

In this chemistry activity, learners are asked to form a hypothesis about the behavior of milk as household detergents act upon it.

In this chemistry demonstration, learners investigate the rule "likes dissolve likes" by combining three, immiscible liquids to create a colorful density column.

In this activity, learners investigate how changing the center of gravity of a balloon affects how it travels. Learners fill a balloon with a little bit of water and insert into an empty balloon.

In this demonstration, learners will be "wowed" as three matches burn to form a triangular pyramid shape and "magically" rise off the table.

Visitors mix urea with water in one flask and mix calcium chloride with water in another flask. They observe that the urea flask gets cold and the calcium chloride flask gets hot.

In this chemistry demonstration, learners observe a chemical reaction that produces a colorful effect.

Visitors mix water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a large flask. They then add citric acid to the mixture and stopper the flask. The resulting reaction creates carbon dioxide gas.

Visitors separate a mixture of pebbles, salt crystals, and wood shavings by adding water and pouring the mixture through a strainer.

Visitors observe a graduated cylinder with a golf ball floating about halfway in liquid. The bottom half of the cylinder contains a concentrated solution of salt.

In this physics demonstration, learners will be surprised when a lemon slice appears to magically levitate within a pint glass.

Visitors use heat to shrink samples of polystyrene. They compare samples from containers that were shaped in different ways during manufacturing.

In this activity, learners are challenged to lift a floating ice cube out of a glass of water using just one end of a piece of string.

Learners analyze mixtures of dyes using filter paper chromatography. They place spots of the different dyes at the bottom of a piece of filter paper, and hang the paper to touch the surface of water.