5 Fun Science Experiments To Try At Home
Much like the rest of the world, you're probably self-isolating, which means that you're stuck at home all day long... which means that cabin fever is most likely about to set in. And if you have kids, you've got the added pressure of wondering how on earth you're supposed to keep them entertained. If you've run out of cartoons and movies to show them, here are 5 super fun science experiments to impress your kids with. And here's the kicker: you don't even have to leave the house to successfully perform these tricks! So grab an old CD, a balloon, a candle, 4 straws, a ball chain, and a comb and work your magic. Your kids are going to love these tricks!
1. Candle Seesaw
You'll Need:
- candle
- needle
- 2 shot glasses
Here's How:
1.1 Cut the lower end of a candle so you can see the wick on both ends.
1.2 Stick a needle right through the middle of the candle.
1.3 Place the ends of the needle on a shot glass and light both ends of the wick – now check out your flaming candle seesaw in action. Note: Make sure you only carry out this experiment on a fireproof surface.
2. Bent Water Jet
You'll Need:
- balloon
- comb
Here's How:
2.1 Blow up a balloon and carefully rub the comb over the surface. Do this a couple of times.
2.2 Now turn on the tap just slightly and hold the side of the comb to the water that you rubbed over the balloon. Now watch how the water bends! The charged water particles align themselves with the electric field of the comb. Wow!
3. CD Bubbles
Note: This trick should only be performed in the presence of an adult.
You'll Need:
- old CD
- duct tape
- lighter
Here's How:
3.1 Put duct tape over half of an old CD.
3.2 Quickly jerk off the tape so that the coating on the CD comes off.
3.3 Now hold a lighter under the transparent part of the CD until you can see bubbles start to form on the surface or until the heated part of the CD starts to melt.
3.4 Blow on the CD as if you were blowing bubbles and watch in amazement as the plastic transforms into a long bubble.
4. Swimming Hole
You'll Need:
- 4 bendy straws
- soapy water
- string
Here's How:
4.1 Stick 4 bendy straws together so they form a square.
4.2 Gently dip the straw square into soapy water.
4.3 Now gently place a piece of string that's tied together on top of the soapy water layer.
4.4 Use a pointy object to stab the area that's enclosed by the piece of string, which will burst the soapy water layer. Now gently move the straw square back and forth and watch the hole inside the string dance across the surface.
5. Ball Chain Fountain
You'll Need:
- ball chain
- shot glass
Here's How:
Place the ball chain in the shot glass, pull out one end until it "emancipates" itself, and check out how the tension turns the ball chain into a fountain.
No matter which one of these tricks you decide to start with, your kids are definitely going to be watching with wide-eyed wonder. They're not going to believe what you can do with a common household objects. David Copperfield, eat your heart out!
Check out the 10 Fun & Easy Magic Tricks For Every Party featured in the bonus video.