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10 Simple and Fun DIY Woodworking Projects

Woodworking may sound complicated and daunting, but there are plenty of plans online that are simple, fast and budget-friendly. These projects are perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon, and many are easy enough for you to build with kids. Once you decide on a project, simply search online for free woodworking plans, check out the supply lists, purchase your supplies and start working on your project. For a few ideas to get you going, check out these 10 simple and fun DIY woodworking projects:

Shoe Organizer

For a quick, easy project that you can complete in about an hour, consider making a shoe organizer. If you have little floor space, a wall-mounted organizer works well. Otherwise, there are plenty of plans available online that include a bench on top for seating and shelving below for shoe storage.

Wooden Bench

Benches are practical, simple projects for both indoors and outdoors. Build a rustic bench for your garden or patio, or create a more polished one for your kitchen table or mudroom.

Side tables often cost up to $100, but you can build your own for a fraction of that cost. What makes a DIY table even more appealing is that you can build it with the exact dimensions that you want for your room.

Drawer Organizer

If you find your drawers quickly becoming disorganized and messy, a drawer organizer is just what you need. Make one for your office desk for organizing paper clips and pens, or build one for your vanity for organizing your blushes and lipsticks.

Sofa Sleeve Cup Holder

For a creative project that keeps your cup safe and secure while you’re relaxing on the couch, a sofa sleeve cup holder is easy and fun to make. These handy devices fit right over the arm of the couch and include a hole for keeping your cup in place. This is one of the easiest DIY woodworking projects on this list, as all it requires is that you cut one hole and attach three pieces of wood together.

Magazine Storage Container

If you get magazine subscriptions, you know how quickly they pile up. By making a storage container for them, it helps you keep them organized on your bookshelves and prevents them from getting bent and damaged.

A fun project for both kids and adults is a birdhouse. Although you may feel more comfortable cutting the wood on your own, kids can help hammer, glue and paint the houses. Not only do kids enjoy this special kind of bonding time, but they get excited watching birds go in and out the house throughout the day.

Drawer Spice Rack

No one wants to dig through drawers or cabinets trying to find the cinnamon or nutmeg, but many people find it difficult keeping spices organized. If this is you, a drawer spice rack is an answer you need. These tiered racks keep spices organized in neat rows and fit nicely in your kitchen drawer for easy access while you’re cooking.

Knife Block

If you find yourself piling your knives in a drawer, one DIY project you may appreciate is a knife block. This not only keeps your knives organized but also keeps them safely out of the reach of little kids’ hands.

A step stool is a must if you’re a parent of little kids. Build one so your kids can easily reach the bathroom sink or keep one in the kitchen for getting items off the top shelf. Although this DIY project requires a few cuts, the end result is worth it and helps give kids a sense of independence.

Top 5 physics experiments you can try at home

October 17, 2022 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Physics is key to understanding the world around us. While some aspects may seem tricky to understand, many fundamental physics concepts can be broken down into simple concepts, some of which can be demonstrated using basic equipment at home.

This list of 5 physics experiments you can try at home is a great starting point for understanding physics and hopefully a source of inspiration for little scientists everywhere!

1. Archimedes and Density

The story behind Archimedes’ discovery of density is that he was asked by the King of Sicily to work out whether a goldsmith had replaced some gold from a crown with silver. Archimedes needed to work out if the goldsmith had cheated without damaging the crown.

The crown weighed the same as the gold the King had given the goldsmith, but gold is more dense than silver so if there was silver in the crown its density would be less than if it was pure gold. Archimedes realised that if he could measure the volume of the crown he could work out its density, but calculating the volume of a crown shape was a tough challenge. According to the story, Archimedes was having a bath one day when he realised that the water level rose as he lowered himself into the bathtub. He realised that the volume of water displaced was equal to the volume of his body in the water.

Archimedes placed the crown in water to work out its density and realised the goldsmith had cheated the king!

Density Experiment

One fun way to demonstrate density is to make a density column. Choose a selection of liquids and place them in density order, from the most dense to the least dense. Carefully pour a small amount of each into a tall jar or glass starting with the most dense. You should end up with a colourful stack of liquids!

Colourful density column made with oil, blue coloured water, washing up liquid, honey and golden syrup

2. Split light into the colours of the rainbow

Isaac Newton experimented with prisms and realised that light is made up of different colours ( the colours of the rainbow ). Newton made this discovery in the 1660s. It wasn’t until the 1900s that physicists discovered the electromagnetic spectrum which includes light waves we can’t see, such as microwaves, x-rays waves, infrared and gamma rays.

How to split light

Splitting white light into the colours of the rainbow sounds tricky but all you need is a prism . A prism is a transparent block which is shaped so light bends ( refracts ) as it passes through. Some colours bend more than others so the whole spectrum of colours can be seen.

prism on a windowsill splitting light into it's constituent colours

If you don’t have a prism you can also use a garden hose! Stand with your back to the sun and you’ll see a rainbow in the water! This is because drops of water act like a prism.

3. Speed of Falling Objects

Galileo’s falling objects.

Aristotle thought that heavy objects fell faster than lighter objects, a theory that was later disproved by Galileo .

It is said that Galileo dropped two cannonballs with different weights from the leaning tower of Pisa which hit the ground at the same time. All objects accelerate at the same rate as they fall.

If you drop a feather and a hammer from the same height the hammer will hit the ground first, but this is because of air resistance!

If a hammer and feather are dropped somewhere with no air resistance they hit the ground at the same time. Commander David Scott proved this was true on the Apollo 15 moonwalk!

Hammer and Feather Experiment on the Moon

Brian Cox also proved Galileo’s theory to be correct by doing the same experiment in a vacuum!

While you won’t be able to replicate a hammer or heavy ball and feather falling you can investigate with two objects that are the same size but different weights. This means the air resistance is the same for both objects so the only difference is the weight.

Take two water empty water bottles that are the same size. Fill one to the top with water and leave the other empty. Drop them from the same height. Both will hit the ground at the same time!

2 water bottles , one empty and one full of water for a Galilieo gravity experiment

4. Newton’s Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton pops up a lot in any physics book as he came up with many of the laws that describe our universe and is undoubtedly one of the most famous scientists of all time. Newton’s Laws of Motion describe how things move and the relationship between a moving object and the forces acting on it.

Making and launching a mini rocket is a great way to learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion .

The rocket remains motionless unless a force acts on it ( Newton’s First Law ).

The acceleration of the rocket is affected by its mass. If you increase the mass of the rocket its acceleration will be less than if it had less mass ( Newton’s Second Law ).

The equal and opposite reaction from the gas forcing the cork downwards propels the rocket upwards ( Newton’s Third Law ).

Mini bottle rocket made with a 500ml bottle

4. Pressure

Pressure is the force per unit area.

Imagine standing on a lego brick. If you stand on a large brick it will probably hurt, if you stand on a smaller brick with the same force it will hurt more as the pressure is more!

Snow shoes are usually very wide, this is to reduce the pressure on the snow so it sinks less as people walk on it.

Pressure equation. Pressure is force divided by area

Pressure and Eggs

If you stand on one egg, it will most likely break. If you stand on lots of eggs with the same force you increase the area the force is applied over and therefore reduce the pressure on each individual egg.

That’s five easy physics experiments you can do at home! Can you think of any more?

Old blackboard with Einsteins equation written in chalk

Last Updated on November 9, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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How to Do DIY Physics Experiments That Will Impress Everyone

Science experiments are a great way to introduce kids, or the kid in all of us, to fundamental scientific principles . Here are some cool physics projects that you can do at home.

For any of these experiments, it's a good idea for an adult to supervise children, to always wear safety glasses, and if working with fire, to have a fire extinguisher handy.

Amaze Your Friends With a Fireproof Balloon

For this experiment, all you need is a balloon and a candle. Fill the balloon three-quarters full with water, and top it off with air by blowing the balloon up as far as it will go. Tie it off.

Light the candle, then slowly lower the balloon over it. Behold, the balloon won't pop!

This is due to water's incredible ability to absorb heat . The water in the balloon disperses the heat generated by the candle, and keeps the latex of the balloon from getting hot enough to break. But, when the water in the balloon can't absorb any more heat from the candle, the balloon will burst, and you'll probably get a little wet.

The Lava Lamp

From your kitchen, grab a bottle of vegetable oil, food coloring, some salt, and either a large glass or a glass jar.

Fill the glass container 2/3rds full of water and fill the remainder with vegetable oil. Add some food coloring, then slowly pour one teaspoon of salt into the container. Watch as beautiful colored orbs of oil gently fall to the bottom of the container.

At first, the oil will stay at the top of the container because oil is lighter than water . The key to making the oil fall to the bottom is the salt, it binds to the oil, making it heavier than the water. However, once the salt dissolves in the water, the oil will rise again to the top of the container. Groovy!

Grow Some Crystals

This classic experiment takes few days to complete, but it's well worth the wait.

You'll need some distilled water, salt or Epsom salts, a piece of wire or a pipe cleaner, and a glass container. First, heat the distilled water to a point just below boiling. Fill the glass container at least half full with the hot water. Add enough salt or Epsom salts to the water to create a saturated solution (the point when no more salt will dissolve in the water) and stir well.

Make a loop in the wire or pipe cleaner and lower the wire into the mixture. Place the container in a warm spot and wait. After a few days, you should see spectacular crystals forming on the loop of the wire.

This experiment works because of the temperature change of the water , and the solubility , the capability of the salt to be dissolved. As the water cools, the solubility of the solution decreases, and the salt precipitates out of the solution and onto the wire to form crystals.

Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult

To build this mini-catapult, you'll need at least 10 large popsicle sticks, a bunch of rubber bands, a pair of scissors, and some marshmallows for cannonballs. Marshmallows for cannonballs? How dastardly!

Stack eight popsicle sticks, and hold them together with rubber bands at each end. On the two remaining sticks, use the scissors to make a small notch on each side of the stick. Place them together and use a rubber band to hold the sticks together at the notch.

Then, pull the two sticks slightly apart and slide the eight-stick bundle between them. Steady your new catapult with one hand, and use your other hand to place a marshmallow on the top stick. Pull it back and release to fire!

You can also bind a plastic spoon with a rubber band to the top stick to make a bucket for holding your cannonballs. The castle walls will fall!

Make a Prism

You can make a rudimentary prism with just distilled water and clear gelatin. Empty a packet of gelatin into a pot and add only half the amount of water listed in the gelatin package instructions.

Place the pot on the stove, and as the pot warms, stir the gelatin gently to dissolve it. After the gelatin has dissolved , place the mixture into a small container and let it sit for 30 minutes to cool.

Cut the gelatin into squares or prism shapes, which is half of a square or rectangle cut on the diagonal. Shine a flashlight through the gelatin to see the light broken up into its spectral colors . You can also shine a laser pointer through the gelatin to see the light bend.

Create a Whirlpool

You can make a cool whirlpool by using two empty 2-liter soda bottles, a metal washer that has an opening smaller than the mouths of the bottles, and duct tape. Fill one of the 2-liter bottles, 2/3 full of water.

Place the washer on top of the filled bottle, and place the empty bottle upside down on top of the washer. Tape the two bottles together and quickly flip the bottles. You should see a water vortex (aka whirlpool) form as the water from the top bottle flows into the bottom bottle.

The vortex forms because the water spins faster around the edges of the bottle, creating a hole in the middle. This vacuum then fills with air from the bottom bottle, and water from the top bottle flows around it.

Build a Potato Battery

For this experiment, you'll need a potato, a galvanized nail, a piece of copper sheeting, or a copper coin such as a penny, two alligator clip leads with clips on both ends, and a voltmeter .

Galvanized nails have a zinc coating, and they can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store. Be sure to use a fresh potato because the experiment depends on the liquid inside the potato.

Stick the galvanized nail into the potato, making sure that it doesn't go all the way through. About an inch (2.5 cm) away from the nail, stick in the penny.

Connect the penny to the red lead of the voltmeter using one of the alligator clips. Most voltmeters have red and black leads, but if your voltmeter has yellow and black leads, connect the penny to the yellow lead.

Connect the galvanized nail to the black lead of the voltmeter, and make sure both alligator clips are securely attached. Your voltmeter should show a positive reading. If it shows a negative value, simply switch the leads. You've produced electricity from a potato!

Construct a Balloon Hovercraft

You can make a small hovercraft that can slide along floors and tables by putting friction and Newton's Third Law of Motion into action. You'll need a balloon, the cap from a one or two-liter plastic soda bottle, a CD or DVD that you no longer use, an etching knife or scissors, and a glue gun.

First, create a nozzle by using the etching knife or scissors to create a hole in the bottle cap about the width of a drinking straw. Place glue all around the rim of the bottle cap, and attach it to the center of the CD or DVD. Wait for the glue to dry then check to see if has made a good seal with the CD or DVD, reapply glue if needed.

Blow up the balloon and pinch off the opening with your fingers then wrap the opening of the balloon around the nozzle of your hovercraft. Place the hovercraft on a flat surface and watch it go!

The Egg in a Bottle

This "oldie but goodie" experiment shows the relationship between atmospheric pressure and temperature. You'll need a couple of boiled and peeled eggs and a glass bottle or jar that has an opening that is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the boiled eggs. You'll also need a small piece of paper and a source of fire, such as a match or lighter. Parents should help kids with this one.

Place the glass container on a table and fold the paper into a strip that will fit inside the glass container. Light one end of the paper strip and drop the burning paper into the container. Next, set the egg on top of the opening of the glass container, and wait.

As if by magic, the egg will be sucked slowly into the bottle. This happens because the burning paper has changed the air pressure within the bottle. Soon after the egg is placed on top of the container, the fire will be extinguished, and the air inside the container will start to cool and contract. This lowers the air pressure within the container, so that the pressure in the container is lower than the air pressure outside the container. Because a ir flows from a high-pressure system to a low-pressure system, t he higher outside pressure pushes the egg into the bottle.

You can do all these experiments at home with kids, and they are a wonderful introduction into the worlds of science and engineering.

Researchers at NTU Singapore have now licensed their novel fireproof wood coating, which enhances both safety and aesthetics in mass timber construction.

Transparent solar panels will soon become a window of energy and light in your home

Best Physics Experiments For Kids

Rolling, bouncing, racing, zipping, squishing, and more! Physics is fun, and these simple physics experiments are perfectly fun physics for kids; you can even do them at home or with small groups in the classroom. Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our science experiments for all year-round learning and play.

THE BEST PHYSICS PROJECTS FOR KIDS

FUN PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

Can physics be playful? Absolutely, and we will show you AMAZING physics projects for kids that are easy to set up, budget-friendly, and of course playful! Hands-on is the way to go with our young scientists, explorers, and engineers.

From catapults to rockets and ramps to light and sound, you will find a little bit of everything to start enjoying physics at home or add to your classroom lessons with your kids. We even have some free fun printable packs to help you get started at the bottom of this page.

Oh and if you are looking for an equally awesome collection of chemistry experiments for kids , we have that too!

WHAT IS PHYSICS?

Physics is, most simply put, the study of matter and energy and the interaction between the two .

How did the Universe begin? You might not have the answer to that question! However, you can pull off these cool physics experiments to get your kids thinking, observing, questioning, and experimenting.

Let’s keep it basic for our younger scientists. Physics is all about energy and matter and the relationship they share.

Like all sciences, physics is all about solving problems and figuring out why things do what they do. Keep in mind that simple physics experiments can involve some chemistry too!

Kids are great for questioning everything, and we want to encourage…

In the physics experiments below, some of the things you will learn a little about are static electricity, Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, simple machines, buoyancy, density, and more! And with easy household supplies, you can still do awesome physics projects at home on a budget!

Encourage your kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time. Science always includes an element of mystery that kids naturally love to figure out! Learn more about using the scientific method with kids here .

We have a brand new series surrounding the NGSS science standards so you can work all these great ideas into your lesson plans.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS

Want to turn one of these fun and easy physics experiments into a science project? Then check out these helpful resources.

Click here to get your FREE Physics Ideas Pack !

SIMPLE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

You will love these neat physics project ideas we have to share with you. I handpick my selections based on what I think my son would enjoy, what supplies are needed, and what amount of time needs to be dedicated to each activity.

Click on each link for the full descriptions of each of the experiments and activities.

AIR PRESSURE CAN EXPERIMENT

Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment.

AIR RESISTANCE EXPERIMENT

Whoa! A physics experiment in under 10 mins and all you need to do is go raid the computer printer! Make simple air foils and learn about air resistance.

AIR VORTEX CANNON

Make your own homemade air cannon and blast down dominoes and other similar items. Learn about air pressure and the movement of air particles in the process.

BALANCING APPLE EXPERIMENT

Can you balance an apple on your finger? We explored balancing apples and gravity with real apples for our Ten Apples Up On Top Dr Seuss theme and it was pretty challenging! Now let’s try to balance a paper apple (use our FREE printable template to make your own).

BALLOON CAR

There are I am sure many ways for you to come up with a balloon car. I have two balloon car design suggestions to get the creative juices flowing! You can make a LEGO balloon car or you can make a cardboard balloon car . Both work off of a similar principle and really go. Find out which makes the fastest balloon car,

BALLOON ROCKET

Explore fun forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project. Also see our Valentine’s Day version , and we have a Santa balloon rocket too! This simple experiment can be turned into any fun theme. You can even race two balloons or set it up outside!

Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh. and a bowl of water too!

CAPILLARY ACTION

Check out these fun ways to demonstrate capillary action. Plus, all you need is a handful of standard household supplies.

COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS

Learn about the forces of capillary action as you change your flowers from white to green. Or any color you like! Easy to set up and perfect for a group of kiddos to do simultaneously.

COLOR WHEEL SPINNER

Famous scientist, Isaac Newton discovered that light is made up of many colors. Learn more by making your spinning color wheel! Can you make white light from all the different colors?

DANCING SPRINKLES EXPERIMENT

Explore sound and vibrations when you try this fun dancing sprinkles experiment with the kids.

DENSITY TOWER EXPERIMENT

Explore how some liquids are heavier or denser than other liquids with this super easy physics experiment.

DROPS OF WATER ON A PENNY

How many drops of water can you fit on a penny? Explore surface tension of water when you try this fun penny lab with the kids.

EGG DROP PROJECT

Check out our mess-free version of a classic science experiment. This egg drop challenge is a great way to introduce kids to the scientific method as you test out ideas to protect your egg from cracking.

Let the egg race experiments begin! Which egg will roll to the bottom of the ramp first? Help your kids make predictions as to what will happen with different size eggs and different angles of ramps.

Older kids may also find learning about Newton’s 3 Laws to be interesting, and explore how they can apply those ideas to their egg races.

ELECTRIC CORNSTARCH

Can you make oobleck jump? Learn about static electricity with this fun cornstarch and oil experiment.

FLOATING PAPERCLIP EXPERIMENT

How do you make a paperclip float on water? This is an awesome physics activity for young kids and older ones too! Learn about surface tension of water, with a few simple supplies.

FLOATING RICE

Can you lift a bottle of rice with a pencil? Explore the force of friction with this easy physics experiment.

HOMEMADE COMPASS

Learn about magnets and magnetic fields with this fun and easy DIY compass project. Build your own compass that will show you which way is north.

HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT

Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean and buoyancy with this simple physics activity.

Check out more awesome shark week activities here.

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOWS

Explore light and refraction when you make rainbows using a variety of simple supplies—awesome hands-on science for kids of all ages.

KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS

Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for simple physics.

KITE BUILDING

A good breeze and a few materials are all you need to tackle this Kite making physics project at home, with a group or in the classroom. Learn about forces needed to keep a kite up in the air, as you fly your own kite.

Explore physics with common items found around the house. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids.

LEGO PARACHUTE

If your mini-figure was about to go skydiving, would they have a LEGO® Parachute? And would their parachute actually work and carry them safely to the ground? Experiment with different materials to see what makes a good parachute.

LEGO building ideas - make a parachute for a LEGO minifigure

LEGO ZIP LINE

Can you set up a LEGO zip line and see how well it holds up when in motion? This LEGO® building challenge is also a great way to introduce gravity, friction, slope, energy, and motion while getting creative with your LEGO® design. You could also add a pulley mechanism like we did here for this toy zip line .

LEMON BATTERY

What can you power with a lemon battery? Grab some lemons and a few other supplies, and find out how you can make lemons into lemon electricity!

MAGNET DISCOVERY TABLE

Explore magnets with these simple discovery table ideas. Magnets are fascinating science and kids love to play with them!

MAGNIFYING GLASS

Here’s how you can make your own homemade magnifying glass from a plastic bottle and a drop of water. Find out how a magnifying glass works with some simple physics.

MARBLE RUN WALL

Pool noodles are amazing and cheap materials for so many STEM projects. I keep a bunch on hand all year-long to keep my kid busy. I bet you didn’t know how useful a pool noodle could be for physics projects. Learn about gravity, friction, energy and more with hands-on physics fun!

MARBLE VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Grab some marbles and find out which one will fall to the bottom first with this easy viscosity experiment.

PAPER CLIP EXPERIMENT

All you need is a glass of water and paper clips for this simple physics experiment that explores surface tension.

PADDLE BOAT DIY

Learn about kinetic and potential energy with this simple paddle boat project.

PAPER HELICOPTER

Make a paper helicopter that actually flies! This is an awesome physics challenge for young kids and older ones too. Learn about what helps helicopters rise into the air, with a few simple supplies.

POPSICLE STICK CATAPULT

Want to learn how to make a catapult with popsicle sticks? This Popsicle stick catapult design is an easy physics experiment for kids of all ages! Everyone loves to launch stuff into the air.

We have also made a spoon catapult , LEGO catapult , pencil catapult , and a jumbo marshmallow catapult !

DIY popsicle stick catapult Inexpensive STEM activity

LEGO RUBBER BAND CAR

We made a simple LEGO rubber band car to go along with our favorite superhero book. Again these can be made as simple or as detailed as your kids would like to make them, and it’s all STEM!

PENNY SPINNER

Make these fun paper spinner toys out of simple household materials. Kids love things that spin and spinning tops are one of the earliest toys made in the US.

POM POM SHOOTER

POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT

We tested a variety of fluids all with a unique viscosity for this fun pop rocks science experiment. Grab a few packs of pop rocks and don’t forget to taste them too!

RAINBOW IN A JAR

This water density experiment with sugar uses only a few kitchen ingredients but produces an amazing physics project for kids! Enjoy finding out about the basics of color mixing all the way up to the density of liquids.

RISING WATER EXPERIMENT

Add a burning candle to a tray of water, cover it with a jar and watch what happens!

ROLLING PUMPKINS

It doesn’t get much easier than pumpkin rolling on homemade ramps. And what makes it even better is that it’s also a great simple physics experiment for kids.

Pumpkin Rolling with Homemade Ramps for Kids Physics

RUBBER BAND CAR

Kids love building things that move! Plus, it’s even more fun if you can make a car go without just pushing it or by adding an expensive motor.

SALT WATER DENSITY EXPERIMENT

This easy to set up salt water density experiment is a cool variation of the classic sink or float experiment. What will happen to the egg in salt water? Will an egg float or sink in salty water? There are so many questions to ask and predictions to make with this easy physics experiment for kids.

SCREAMING BALLOON EXPERIMENT

This screaming balloon experiment is an awesome physics activity for young kids and older ones too! Explore centripetal force or how objects travel a circular path.

SHADOW PUPPETS

Kids love their shadows, love to chase shadows, and love to make shadows do silly things! There’s also some fun things to learn about shadows for physics. Make simple animal shadow puppets and learn about the science of shadows.

Shadow Science Physics Activity with Paper Animal Puppets

SIMPLE PULLEY EXPERIMENT

Kids love pulleys and our homemade pulley system is sure to be a permanent fixture in your backyard this season. Make a pulley simple machine, learn a little physics, and find new ways to play.

We also have this simple pulley system you can make with a paper cup and thread.

Homemade Outdoor pulley for kids Summer Science Activity

SINK OR FLOAT

Use items straight out of the kitchen for our sink or float experiment. Plus I am sure your child will be able to come with other fun things to test! This is a simple physics experiment and totally engaging for young kids.

SNOWBALL LAUNCHER

Explore Newton’s Laws of Motion with this easy-to-make indoor snowball launcher. All you need are a few simple supplies for hands-on fun!

SOUND EXPERIMENT

Kids love to make noises and sounds is all a part of the physical sciences. This homemade xylophone sound experiment is truly a simple physics experiment for kids. So easy to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and play!

SPECTROSCOPE

Create your own DIY spectroscope from a few simple supplies and make a rainbow from visible light for a fun physics project for kids.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

Balloons are a must for this one! This simple experiment explores the fun physics that kids love. I bet you’ve even tried it yourself. Although it’s themed for Valentine’s Day, you can make it your own!

BROKEN TOOTHPICK

Is it magic or is it science? Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water, and see capillary action at work.

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Test the viscosity or “thickness” of different household liquids with this easy physics experiment for kids.

WATER DISPLACEMENT EXPERIMENT

Learn about water displacement and what it measures with this simple physics experiment for kids.

Valentines Water Displacement Science Experiment and STEM Activity

VALENTINE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

5 simple physics experiments with a Valentine’s Day theme, including a balloon rocket, static electricity, buoyancy, and more!

Get ready for the best Valentines Day science with a variety of easy to manage Valentines Day physics activities for us to test out today for simple science and STEM.

SIMPLE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS MAKE LEARNING A BLAST!

Make sure to bookmark all of our resources to make your science and STEM planning a breeze.

MORE FUN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Chemistry is cool and we have the coolest chemistry activities for kids to share with you. Just like our awesome physics activities, we decided we needed to put together a chemistry experiments checklist for you. Don't miss a single experiment because each one is totally unique and yes, very cool too. We love homemade science.

Wow, I see so many ideas here I want to try? Gravity art, nuts and bolts sculptures…my daughter is going to love these!

Great list of activities! I know that even as an engineer, physics “sounds” hard. Anything we can do to get kids trying it, playing with it and learning it helps remove that stigma. Thanks for including our slime, too 🙂

Your welcome! Yes Physics does sound intimidating but it doesn’t have to be.

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Teaching Expertise

50 Awesome Physics Science Experiments for Middle School

August 1, 2022 // by Carly Gerson

Physics is a subject that can be difficult for students to understand. With complex equations and situations, students often struggle to visualize what the problem actually means. Experiments and activities are an excellent way for students to create a simulation of what the problem looks like in real life. Not only do experiments and activities help students better understand the situation, but also create an interactive way to engage students.

Read on to learn about fun and educational experiments!

1. Newton's Cradle

Newton's Cradle is a classic physics experiment that uses basic materials to demonstrate kinetic energy and potential energy . Students will love watching after the initial drop how the marble causes the other marbles to move. This is a great way to demonstrate the basic concept of energy transfer in an engaging way.

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

2. Simple Bernoulli Experiment

The Bernoulli experiment is an excellent way to teach students about pressure in the air. This is also a great experiment for teachers with limited materials. Students will use construction paper, tape, a bendy straw, a ping pong ball, scissors, and a pencil to demonstrate how large vehicles like planes can stay high in the air. This abstract concept will be brought to life quickly!

3. Car Science Experiment for Air Resistance and Mass

One physics concept that will be fun to teach your students is the impact of mass on motion. Your students will feel like modern physicists as they place cars with different masses on their race track. While it may seem like a simple experiment, students can complete many trials to find an average time to go down the track based on mass.

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

4. Archimedes' Screw Simple Machine

This fun project is a great way for school students to learn about moving liquids, in particular water. Archimedes' Screw is a commonly known machine that moves water upward and transfers it from one place to another. Kids will love watching as the liquid moves through their homemade creations.

5. Layering Liquids Density Experiment

Children will love participating in this tasty and colorful activity. Have students use different colored juices or beverages to test out the density of each one. Everyone will watch in amazement as the different colored liquids float to different places. This experiment requires the basic supplies of a beaker and different types of liquids.

Learn More: Inspiration Laboratories

6. Launching Easter Eggs Experiment

This activity would make for an incredibly fun science fair project or a great science activity during the Easter season. Using a mini catapult and plastic eggs, students will test how mass impacts the distance traveled by the egg. This experiment will definitely make your students smile!

7. Balloon in a Bottle Properties of Air Experiment

Balloon science is a fantastic way to engage your students in physics learning! Students will follow along in amazement as the balloon is inflated inside of the plastic bottle. By changing the properties of the bottle, students will learn about how air moves and is transferred.

Learn More: Steve Spangler Science

8. Elephant Toothpaste

Elephant toothpaste is a viral science experiment that is taking over the internet. Students will enjoy this explosive science experiment that combines dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and a few other ingredients to make this silly-looking creation.

Learn More: Teach Beside Me

9. How to Make a Pendulum Wave

This physics science project is both fun to make and incredible to look at! Using washers and a few other simple materials, students will stare at their experiment for hours on end. Besides being mesmerizing, students will learn about waves and motion.

Learn More: NightHawkInLight

10. Creating Catapults

A homemade catapult is a great way to use cheap materials in a science experiment. Have students use household materials to determine which combination makes for the best catapult.

Learn More: Science Gal

11. Inertia Tower Activity

This creative activity uses sheets of paper or index cards to separate a tower of cups. The object of this activity is to remove the papers without disturbing the rest of the tower. Students will love this engineering project.

Learn More: Perkin's E-Learning

12. Marshmallow Catapult

This marshmallow catapult is a great way to test out your students' engineering skills. Using materials like a tissue box and pencil, students will have so much fun trying out different sizes and shapes of marshmallows to see which one goes the furthest.

Learn More: Random Scraps

13. Rice Friction Experiment

Friction can be a challenging concept to teach middle school students. Your students will love getting a better understanding through this simple science experiment. Using a plastic bottle, funnel, chopstick, and rice, students will learn how to increase and decrease friction.

Learn More: Carrots Are Orange

14. Balancing Robot

Add arts and crafts to physics class in this fun and adorable activity. Students will learn about balance and distribution of mass. You can even have your students color their robots and then compete!

Learn More: Buggy and Buddy

15. Heat Energy Ice Cream Lab Activity

Students will be their own heat source in this delicious science experiment. Have students learn about heat transfer and the reaction between the liquid and salt. Once students are done learning, this tasty experiment will be a hit!

Learn More: Delish

16. Gravity and Free-Fall Inquiry Lab

Students can use one of their favorite childhood books to learn about the concept of gravity. Using a stuffed moose and a muffin, students can learn about how mass and other factors impact gravity and the speed of falling.

Learn More: The Trendy Science Teacher

17. Color Mixing Tray Experiment

Students can learn all about color and how light transforms color in this interactive activity. Afterward, students can create their own color wheel!

18. How to Make Corncob Popcorn

For science teachers looking to better engage their students, look no further than this tasty activity. Students will learn about pressure and how heat impacts the corn kernels and make delicious popcorn!

Learn More: Tinker Lab

19. Skittles Density Rainbow

Using a different quantity of Skittles in each liquid, students will learn about how solids impact the density of liquids. This is a cool science experiment your students will ask to do again and again.

Learn More: Gift Of Curiosity

20. Mini Wave Model

FL4O3ONIJWUUVPV.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&width=1024&height=1024&fit=bounds&md=a40d4931aca339f39468f3ad81876cf0

This more complex activity will be one that your students will want to bring home and show their families. Since this activity uses a drill and hot glue, adult supervision is incredibly important.

Learn More: Instructables

21. Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Students will love this fun science experiment as they watch the carbonation of the soda water lift the raisins and "make them dance". Students will also learn about density.

22. Learning With Dry Ice

Using dry ice is a great way to teach students about how clouds are formed. Inspire future meteorologists in this visually appealing experiment.

Learn More: Penguin Dry Ice

23. Sink or Float Experiment

If you are looking for experiments with water that will keep kids cool and entertained on a hot day, try out this food floating activity. Students will use different fruits and vegetables to see if it floats on water or sinks to the bottom.

Learn More: KC Edventures

24. Learning About Arches

Students can learn about how heavy-weight objects such as cars on a bridge are supported through arches. This activity will have students test out different types of arches to see which one holds the most weight.

Learn More: Imagine Childhood

25. Heat Changing Colored Slime

This unique experiment requires very specific materials, but when purchased will lead to a really cool science experiment. Students will love learning about thermodynamics and how heat can change the color of certain materials.

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain

26. Homemade Marble Run

Using household materials, create a track for marbles using only objects your kids find in the house or in the classroom. This activity can also be done by purchasing PVC pipes or other more traditional track materials. Your kids will love testing out different types of marble runs and seeing how it impacts the time it takes the marble to complete it.

27. Candy Bar Sink or Float Activity

Students can use their favorite tasty treats to make predictions on whether their candy will sink or float. This would be a great activity to complete at home or in the classroom during the Halloween season.

Learn More: Reading Confetti

28. Ice Hockey Puck Friction Experiment

In this activity, students will use different flat circular items like bottle caps and coins to determine which materials make the best ice hockey puck. This activity will help students learn about friction. This is a great experiment for an icy winter day.

Learn More: Science Sparks

29. Transfer of Momentum Basketball Activity

For a quick science activity during recess or on a sunny day, have students use different-sized balls to learn about momentum. Students will have so much fun playing and learning at the same time.

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

30. Pumpkin Boats

Have students learn about buoyancy and density in this fun pumpkin challenge. Students can make different-sized pumpkin boats and then make predictions about whether or not their pumpkin boat will sink or float.

Learn More: The Preschool Toolbox

31. Air Resistance Experiment

Using differently sized and types of pieces of paper, students will learn about air resistance as they drop the different pieces of paper from high up and watch them fall. Have students time how long their paper took to hit the ground and what they learned about air resistance.

Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands

32. Growing Pumpkins Inside of Pumpkins

While this is more of a biology and ecology activity, students of all ages will love learning about nature and caring for their very own pumpkin. Students can experiment in different growing conditions and track the time it takes for the pumpkins to grow.

Learn More: Life With Moore Babies

33. How to Make a Hovercraft

Using simple household materials, students can learn about air resistance in this unique craft. Students will love creating their very own hovercraft that they can take home and practice what they learned at school back at home.

34. Forces and Motion Worksheet

Determine your students' level of understanding of force and motion with this worksheet. You can use this as a pre or post-unit assessment to see what your students already understand and what they still need to learn.

Learn More: Teach Junkie

35. St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rockets

This holiday-themed activity is a great way to teach students about air resistance and acceleration. Kids will attach their balloons to a track on a string and let go to watch their balloons quickly move along the track.

Learn More: Housing A Forest

36. Marshmallow Shooter

Your students will love this silly activity that incorporates a favorite sweet treat and a unique contraption. The marshmallow will go flying through the air and students will notice how the force of the pull impacts the motion of the marshmallow.

Learn More: Teky Teach

37. Gravity and Magnetism Science Experiment

This exciting activity will have your students wanting to learn more about magnetism and how it works! Simply use a large magnet and paper clips to demonstrate how magnetism counteracts gravity.

Learn More: Rookie Parenting

38. Magic Toothpick Star Experiment

Students will watch in awe as this science experiment seems to create magic. With simple materials like toothpicks and water, students will learn about the properties of liquids and how they impact solids.

Learn More: Living Life And Learning

39. Water Powered Bottle Rocket

Bottle rockets are a fun science experiment to bring the science classroom outdoors . Students will love learning about pressure and how it impacts the velocity of an item. You can even have your students decorate their own rockets!

40. Surface Tension Experiment

Surface tension is a unique concept that students will experience in their life. Using dish soap and pepper, students will watch as the pepper seems to magically move away from them.

41. Magnetic Levitation Activity

For another magical seeming activity, attach some magnets to a surface. Then poke a pencil (or another object) through the circular magnets. Your students will be amazed as they watch the power of magnetism making your pencil seemingly float!

Learn More: Arvin D. Gupta Toys

42. Friction Ramp

Students can learn all about friction between different objects in this easy-to-set-up experiment. Have students make equal-sized "cars" made of different materials. Then students will watch as they see which cars move and which ones fail to budge.

Learn More: Teaching Ideas

43. Walking on Eggs

Students will love this seemingly sneaky activity where they walk on a carton filled with eggs. Your students can make predictions as to why the eggs don't break and reflect on their knowledge of arches.

Learn More: Playdough To Plato

44. Rubber Band Powered Car

This adorable craft will teach your students about force and how when force is applied, there is motion. Students can also try to see which rubber band car will move the farthest and go the fastest.

45. Making a Water Wheel

An at-home or in-classroom water wheel is a great activity to replicate how water powers vehicles and creates power. Your students will love seeing how their creations allow for movement to occur.

Learn More: Deceptively Educational

46. DIY Pulley Physics

This pulley system will show your students that simple machines aren't always so simple. Using whatever materials your students can find and some string, they can create intricate pulley systems along your classroom walls. This would make a great display for the entire school year.

Learn More: The Homeschool Scientist

47. How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim

Your students will watch in awe as they learn that they can change the density and buoyancy of an object by slightly altering the object. All you will need is an orange, a jar, and some water! This is an easy experiment to have all of your students partake in.

Learn More: Woo Jr.

48. Paper Airplane Test

Paper airplanes have been around for a very long time! Your students can test out different designs to see which shape of the paper airplane will fly the furthest and which shape will stay in the air the longest. The designs can include different materials as well as differently folded airplanes. This activity would make for a great classroom competition!

Learn More: Feels Like Home

49. Rising Water Experiment

Water experiments in the classroom can be so much fun! This activity will teach your students how fire can impact water and make it rise. Your students will love watching what seems like magic! Since this activity includes fire, it requires close adult supervision.

50. Physics Mystery Bag Challenge

This unique physics activity has students work in groups to solve a physics mystery. Each group of students receives the same bag of mystery items and is told what type of machine they need to create. The challenge is that there are no instructions. Using the items, students will compete to see which group creates the best of the designated machine.

Learn More: Teaching Highschool Math

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8 Awesomely Simple Science Experiments You Can Do at Home

Science can be a little intimidating. Whether it's the latest research in quantum mechanics or organic chemistry, sometimes science can make your head spin.

But you don't have to go through eight years of school or work in a high-tech lab to do science.

There are plenty of experiments you can do at home. You might even have a few of the materials just lying around the house.

Here are a few easy ways for you to see science in action.

Tornado in a bottle

You can create your own tornado in a bottle. All you need is two bottles, a tube to connect the bottles, and some water.

When you whirl the liquid in the top bottle, it creates a vortex as it drains into the bottom bottle. That's because as the water flows down, air must flow up, creating a spiraling tornado.

You can even add glitter, food dye, or lamp oil to the bottle to make the tornado even cooler.

Rainbow in a glass

This experiment takes advantage of density to create a rainbow in a glass. When you add sugar to a liquid, it causes the solution to become more dense. The more sugar you add, the more dense the solution is.

If you have four different solutions that are all different colours and densities, the colours will layer on top of each other — the denser, more sugary solutions will sit on the bottom and the lightest will sit on the top.

Gooey slime

When you mix glue, water, and a little bit of food colouring, then add some borax, a gooey slime forms. That's because the glue has something called polyvinyl acetate in it, which is a liquid polymer.

The borax links the polyvinyl acetate molecules to each other, creating one large, flexible polymer: slime.

Pasta rocket

Believe it or not, you can create a very simple hybrid rocket engine using nothing but some yeast, hydrogen peroxide, a jar, fire and … a piece of uncooked pasta.

When you mix the yeast and hydrogen peroxide together, they react and create pure oxygen gas. When this gas is funneled through a piece of pasta, all you need is a little bit of fire and you've got yourself a pasta rocket.

Homemade lava lamp

Alka-seltzer is great if you're suffering from heartburn or an upset stomach. But you probably didn't know that it's also great if you're looking to create your own homemade lava lamp.

Because oil and water have different densities and polarities, when you mix them together, the water sinks to the bottom. When you add food colouring, which is water based, it will sink to the bottom as well.

If you crumble in an alka-seltzer tablet, it reacts with the water, causing coloured droplets of water to rise to the top where they then pop, release air, and sink back to the bottom.

This creates a similar show to what you'd see in a lava lamp.

Instant ice

In order for water to become ice, it needs a nucleus in order for solid crystals to form. Usually, water is loaded with particles and impurities that enables ice to form. But purified water isn't. Because of this, purified water can reach an even colder temperature before becoming solid.

If you throw an unopened bottle of purified water into the freezer for a little less than three hours, the bottle will be chilled well below the temperature at which regular water freezes.

When you pour this super-cooled water onto a piece of ice, it provides the water with nuclei, causing it to freeze instantly.

Ferromagnetic fluid

This experiment makes it easy to see magnetic fields in action . All you need is some iron oxide, some water, and a jar.

When you place an extremely powerful magnet along the outside of the jar, the iron filings are attracted to it, piling up, and following the magnet as you move it around.

Baking soda volcano

In this experiment, a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar creates 'lava' bursting out of a model volcano.

As the reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, pressure builds up inside a plastic bottle hidden inside the volcano until the gas bubbles and erupts.

This article was originally published by Business Insider .

DIY lists /

Fun With Physics! 10 DIY Physics Projects For Kids

Physics is fun. No, really, hear us out! We've put together a list of really cool projects to help your child gain a hands on understanding of physics fundamentals like inertia, momentum, pressure, and leverage. Witness the explosive effects of pressure by launching your own rocket. Build a pulley system using string and a broom. Watch confetti dance to invisible sound waves, and much more!

(Ages 8-16 )

Use the power of electromagnetism to create your own spinning sculpture!

(Ages 9-11 )

Ever wondered if you can see sound? Well, in this experiment, you’ll use a Ziploc® brand sandwich bag to turn music into motion. It works because sound is a wave: a vibration that travels through the air (or another material) like a wave travels through water. Normally, we only hear these vibrations, and we can't see them. But by using the vibrations to make sprinkles dance, you’ll be able to see sound waves!

(Ages 9-16 )

How to Make a Pendulum Wave Toy

A pendulum is a hanging weight that swings back and forth, like the swinging arm on a grandfather clock or a swing on a playground. When you pull a swing - or any pendulum - up to one side, gravity tugs it back down. But since the swing is attached by a rope or chain, it doesn’t just drop to the ground. Instead, it swings back and forth, over and over.

But what happens when you have a bunch of different-sized pendulums swinging together? Make this mesmerizing pendulum wave toy to find out!

Water squirters work by pressurizing reservoirs of water with air. As you pump the squirter, it gradually adds air to the reservoir, increasing the pressure. When you pull the trigger, the pressure is allowed to release and a stream of water shoots out!

In this DIY project, we'll learn how to use the exact sample principles found in water squirters to launch a water rocket sky-high! Follow along with these simple steps and you'll be blasting off in no time.

Want to make a bottle rocket without the hassle of gathering materials? Blast off with a Bottle Rocket crate from the KiwiCo Store ! It includes a step-by-step video tutorial link, illustrated blueprint instructions, all the materials, and a special-edition Tinker Zine magazine for more project fun!

(Ages 5-11 )

Explore the science behind density and pressure with this DIY bottle diver. Make a scuba diver toy and watch it sink or float by squeezing the bottle.

Take your paper airplanes to new heights by making a motorized launcher for them.

(Ages 5-16 )

Are slinkies magical floating toys or do they somehow follow the laws of physics? Grab your favorite timeless fidget toy, head outside, and find out for yourself!

Use excess office supplies to experiment with and learn about inertia!

This setup is a compound pulley, which combine both fixed and moveable pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage.

In a pulley system, a wheel's job is to let the rope move freely. Here, this set up works with no wheels. The broom can act as the wheel since it's low-friction enough that the rope can easily move over it.

Learn about helicopters by making a rubber band powered flying toy!

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Get inspired.

Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers

We Are Teachers

55 Best Science Experiments for High School Labs and Science Fairs

Fire up the Bunsen burners!

The cool thing about high school science experiments and projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.

Many of these science experiments for high school are intended for classroom labs, but most can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom lab into a true scientific method experiment!

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

Biology Experiments for High School

When it comes to biology, science experiments for high school students usually bring dissection to mind. But there are plenty of other useful labs and hands-on projects for teens to try. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Mash potatoes to learn about catalase

Three test tubes in a red holder, filled with a white substance

Catalase is found in nearly all living cells, protecting them from oxidative damage. Try this lab to isolate catalase from potatoes using hydrogen peroxide.

Learn more: Potato Catalase/Practical Biology

2. Extract DNA from a strawberry

Collage of steps to extract DNA from a strawberry (Science Experiments for High School)

You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.

Learn more: Strawberry DNA/Numbers to Neurons

3. Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment

Pea plants growing in white square containers on a lab table

Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Re-create his cross-pollination experiments with a variety of pea plants you’ve grown yourself.

Learn more: Mendel’s Pea Plants/Love to Know

4. Make plants move with light

Diagram of plant seedlings moving toward light affected by different variables (Science Experiments for High School)

By high school age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So science experiments for high school students on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.

Learn more: Phototropism/Science Buddies

5. Test the five-second rule

We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).

6. Taste foods to find your threshold for sour, sweet, and bitter

Human tongue with an arrow pointing to the papillae

The sense of taste is fascinating—what some people think is delicious, others just can’t stand. Try this experiment to test subjects’ taste perceptions and thresholds using a series of diluted solutions.

Learn more: Taste Threshold/Science Buddies

7. Complete a field survey

Students examining the water in a ditch in a green field (Science Experiments for High School)

Teaching students to conduct field surveys opens up the possibility of lots of different science experiments for high school. Show them how to observe an area over time, record their findings, and analyze the results.

Learn more: Field Survey/Love to Know

8. See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria

Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit , bacillus cereus and rodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.

Learn more: Antibiotics Project/Home Science Tools

9. Witness the carbon cycle in action

Test tubes filled with plants and green and blue liquid

We know that plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, right? Well, this experiment helps you prove that and see the effect light has on the process.

Learn more: Carbon Cycle/Science Lessons That Rock

10. Look for cell mitosis in an onion

Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes.

11. Test the effects of disinfectants

Petri dish divided in half with bacteria and paper disks on the surface

Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.

Learn more: Antiseptics and Disinfectants/Amy Brown Science

12. Investigate the efficacy of types of fertilizer

How to choose the fertilizer that will make plants grow the fastest.

Let’s spice things up in the botanical kitchen! Mix up some “recipes” for your students’ plants by experimenting with different types of fertilizer and see which one they devour the most.

Learn more: Best Fertilizer/Education.com

13. Explore the impact of genetic modification on seeds

Competition between crops and weeds and introduction of genetically modified seeds

Let’s go green and see what happens when we pit our crops against some weeds! Will genetically modified plants come out on top or will the weeds reign supreme? Let’s find out in this exciting biotech and plant challenge!

Learn more: Genetically Modified Seeds/Science Buddies

Chemistry Experiments for High School

Perhaps no class is better suited to science experiments for high school kids than chemistry. Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? Students will love it!

14. Watch a beating heart made of gallium

Blob of gallium with the image of a beating heart and the periodic table symbol for gallium

This is one of those science demos that’s so cool to see in action. An electrochemical reaction causes a blob of liquid metal to oscillate like a beating heart!

Learn more: Gallium Demo/Science Notes

15. Break apart covalent bonds

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one.

Learn more: Covalent Bonds/Teaching Without Chairs

16. Measure the calories in various foods

Collage of steps for measuring calories with a homemade calorimeter (Science Experiments for High School)

How do scientists determine the number of calories in your favorite foods? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Learn more: DIY Calorimeter/Science Buddies

17. Detect latent fingerprints

Fingerprint divided into two, one half yellow and one half black

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints/HubPages

18. Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Collage of reaction rate experiment steps (Science Experiments for High School)

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of science experiments for high school students. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Learn more: Reaction Rate/Numbers to Neurons

19. Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ

Open circuit equipment for testing for electrolytes (Science Experiments for High School)

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Learn more: Electrolytes Experiment/Science Buddies

20. Extract bismuth from Pepto-Bismol

Piece of bismuth extracted from Pepto Bismol

Bismuth is a really cool metal with a rainbow sheen. It’s also an ingredient in Pepto-Bismol, and by carefully following the procedures at the link, you can isolate a chunk of this amazing heavy metal.

Learn more: Extracting Bismuth/Popular Science

21. Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! (Click through to the YouTube link for an explanation of how this one works.)

22. Test and sort elements

Students using electrical circuits to test items in a petri dish (Science Experiments for High School)

Elements in the periodic table are grouped by metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. But how do chemists determine where each element belongs? This ready-to-go science kit contains the materials you need to experiment and find out.

Learn more: Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids/Ward’s Science

23. Discover the size of a mole

Supplies needed for mole experiment, included scale, salt, and chalk

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole?/Amy Brown Science

24. Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

Aluminum foil bowl filled with bubbling liquid over a bunsen burner

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Sweet!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry/Dunigan Science TpT

25. Make soap to understand saponification

Colorful soaps from saponification science experiments for high school

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Students use oils and other ingredients to make their own soap, learning about esters and saponification.

Learn more: Saponification/Chemistry Solutions TpT

26. Uncover the secrets of evaporation

This systematic and classic example of changing one variable at a time by creating several mini-projects will have your high schoolers engaged in a high-level review of the classic scientific method.

Learn more: Evaporation/Science Projects

27. Investigate the principles of pyrotechnics

Explore how fireworks work - a high school chemistry experiment.

Let’s dive into the explosive world of fireworks and discover the colorful secrets behind these dazzling pyrotechnic displays! Your students will be ecstatic to use party poppers (and sparklers, if you’re feeling really daring) to explore the science behind fireworks.

Learn more: How Fireworks Work/Royal Society of Chemistry

Physics Experiments for High School

When you think of physics science experiments for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.

28. Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber

DIY vacuum chamber made from a jar and large hypodermic needle

You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool experiments, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.

Learn more: Vacuum Chamber/Instructables

29. Put together a mini Tesla coil

Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!

30. Boil water in a paper cup

Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.

31. Blast music using magnets

A paper speaker built from magnets, cardboard, and a paper plate

We spend a lot of time telling teens to turn down their music, so they’ll appreciate the chance to turn it up for once! Using strong magnets and an amplifier (both available on Amazon), plus a few other supplies, they’ll build a speaker and measure how the magnets affect the volume.

Learn more: Paper Speaker/Science Buddies

32. Construct a light bulb

Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb! You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.

33. Measure the speed of light—with your microwave

Student measuring the distance between holes in cooked egg whites (High School Science Experiments)

Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment! By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven, and in turn, the speed of light.

Learn more: Microwave Speed of Light/Science Buddies

34. Generate a Lichtenberg figure

Lichtenberg figure generated on a sheet of Plexiglassd in

See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figure/Science Notes

35. Build your own Newton’s Cradle

Student swinging the right ball on a DIY Newton's Cradle made of popsicle sticks and marbles

Newton’s Cradle demonstrates the concept of momentum—and it’s really fun to play with! Challenge students to design and build their own, experimenting with different materials or changing up the number of balls to see how it affects momentum.

Learn more: How To Make a Simple Newton’s Cradle/Babble Dabble Do

36. Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads

A wood platform holding a weight suspended by chains from two sticky note pads interleaved together (Science Experiments for High School)

Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!

Learn more: Sticky Notes Friction/Science Buddies

37. Bounce balls to explore stored energy and energy transfer

Colorful rubber balls bouncing against a white background

Learn about potential and kinetic energy by bouncing balls and measuring their heights on each rebound. This is one of those classic physics science experiments for high school that students are sure to enjoy!

Learn more: Rebound Experiment/Science Buddies

38. Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation

A cloud chamber constructed of a plastic container, cookie sheet, and dry ice, and

Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.

Learn more: Background Radiation/Science Buddies

39. Slide into kinetic friction

Measure the effect of friction on different surfaces.

Students will investigate kinetic friction and its effects on the speed of a rolling object by giving the objects a little push and watching them fly, on surfaces both smooth and rough. Stay tuned to see which texture wins the race!

Learn more: Effect of Friction on Objects in Motion/Science Buddies

40. Harness the power of air drag

Design and test parachutes to study air drag.

Who can make the slowest descent? Students will use the power of drag to create a design that takes its sweet time falling to the ground. They’ll be encouraged to tinker and tweak until they have the ultimate sky-sailing machine.

Learn more: Science World and Scientific American

41. Magnetize a motor

5 high school physics science projects with magnets.

Magnets lend themselves as a helpful material in many a science experiment. Your students will explore the properties of magnetism with any one of these five experiments using magnets. They’ll even learn the basics of Fleming’s left-hand rule.

Learn more: Simple Electric Motor/School Science Experiments

42. Explore interference and diffraction

$Explore interference and diffraction using CDs.$

Investigate the physics of light and optics using CDs and DVDs. Though both of these optical objects might be quickly becoming a thing of the past, your students can utilize their diffraction patterns to explore the science behind optics.

Learn more: Science Buddies

Engineering Experiments for High School

Engineering involves the hands-on application of multiple types of science. Teens with an interest in designing and building will especially enjoy these STEM challenge science experiments for high school. They’re all terrific for science fairs too.

43. Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine

Da Vinci flying machine built from a paper cup and other basic supplies

Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.

Learn more: Da Vinci Flying Machine/Student Savvy

44. Peer into an infinity mirror

Rectangular and circular mirrors with lights reflecting into the distance (Science Experiments for High School)

Optical illusions are mesmerizing, but they also help teach kids about a variety of science concepts. Design and build a mirror that seems to reflect lights on and on forever. The supplies are basic, but the impact is major!

Learn more: Infinity Mirror/Science Buddies

45. Design a heart-rate monitor

DIY heart rate monitor made from blue fabric and a red heart

Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But can you build your own? It takes some specialized supplies, but they’re not hard to track down. You can buy items like an Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.

Learn more: Heart Rate Monitor/Science Buddies

46. Race 3D printed cars

Simple 3-D printed race cars with vegetables strapped to them (Science Experiments for High School)

3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library: Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)

Learn more: 3D Printed Cars/Instructables

47. Launch a model rocket

Model rockets built from water bottles and other supplies

Bottle rockets are another one of those classic science experiments for high school classes, and for good reason! The engineering involved in designing and launching a rocket capable of carrying a specified payload involves the practical application of all sorts of concepts. Plus, it’s fun!

Learn more: Bottle Rockets/Science Buddies

48. Grow veggies in a hydroponic garden

Vertical hydroponic garden made from PVC pipes and aluminum downspouts

Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.

Learn more: Hydroponics/Instructables

49. Grab items with a mechanical claw

KiwiCo hydraulic claw kit (Science Experiments for High School)

Delve into robotics with this engineering project! This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions.

Learn more: Hydraulic Claw/KiwiCo

50. Play volleyball with machines

Challenge your students to design and build machines that will volley a Ping-Pong ball back and forth, using only basic materials. They can even compare their results to those from students around the world!

Learn more: Volleyball Challenge/Science Buddies

51. Construct a crystal radio

Homemade crystal radio set (Science Experiments for High School)

Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch! This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.

Learn more: Crystal Radio/SciToys

52. Build a burglar alarm

Simple electronic burglar alarm with a cell phone

The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.

Learn more: Intruder Alarm/Instructables

53. Walk across a plastic bottle bridge

Students sitting on a large bridge made of plastic bottles

Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!

Learn more: TrussFab Structures/Instructables

54. Unleash the power of geothermal energy

How to use heat as a source of renewable energy.

This experiment is all about tapping into the fiery fury deep underground within the Earth and harnessing it for clean, renewable power. It will definitely spark your students’ interest and exploration of geothermal energy.

Learn more: Geothermal Energy/Science Buddies

55. Construct a Rube Goldberg machine

In this activity, students will unleash their creativity as they design and build their very own contraptions that perform a simple task in the most complicated way possible. Your students will be using the engineering design process, problem-solving skills, and teamwork to create truly unique machines.

Learn more: Design and Build a Rube Goldberg/Teach Engineering

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Whether you're a student looking for a science fair idea or a teacher seeking new science experiments for high school labs, find them here!

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