| It's science fair season again, and we're here to help you show your "mad scientist" side off. If you're interested in taking 1st place at your school's next science fair, try these ideas to leave the judges in awe. |
It's science fair season again, and we're here to help you show your "mad scientist" side off. If you're interested in taking 1st place at your school's next science fair, try these ideas to leave the judges in awe.
Grow Bismuth Crystals
This first experiment (pictured above) is absolutely magical for kids of all ages. For this experiment, you'll need pure bismuth, a hot plate, and two heat-resistant metal cups. Since the bismuth will spend part of the experiment in its molten form, be sure to wear gloves! Pour the bismuth into a cup, then heat it up to around 500°F. Then, sift the bismuth into the second cup. Let the cup cool for about 30 seconds (or until the bismuth seems to solidify) and pour the remaining liquid bismuth off. If it's done right, you'll be left with rainbow geometric crystals that look like they belong in a geology museum!
nce fair project that never fails to shock a parent or two. Find common snack foods, like soda and candy bars. Then, using the nutrition facts on the back, measure the amount of sugar in each snack. Pour that same amount into a plastic bag, or stack the equivalent amount of sugar cubes on a plate. You're sure to see some surprised faces when people find out just how much sugar was in their mid-afternoon snack!
These experiments are sure to leave your audience breathless. Just remember to wear the proper protection when conducting these experiments. With these ideas, you're sure to emerge the victor at your school's next science fair!
Concrete Smash Off!
For this project, you'll use a bowling ball to test the strengths of different concrete mixtures. You will need four ingredients: water, sand, gravel, and concrete, plus a mold to make bricks with. Talk to an Outback Materials supplier in Fresno about getting smaller concrete mixes. For the mold, you can use an old Tupperware container. Make four different bricks, using varying ratios of concrete to the sand and gravel, but keep the amount of water the same. Then, make four more bricks, this time keeping the ratio of sand and gravel to concrete the same, however, use different amounts of water. Then, once your bricks have set, place a brick in a large, clear plastic container. Drop the bowling ball on each brick in turn, noting how different mixtures stand up to the destruction.Show Me the Sugar
If you're really pinched for time, here's a really easy scie| Related articles |
These experiments are sure to leave your audience breathless. Just remember to wear the proper protection when conducting these experiments. With these ideas, you're sure to emerge the victor at your school's next science fair!
| By Brooke Chaplan | Subscribe to 33rd Square |
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