Hot Science Experiments How-Tos — Page 27 of 30 « Science Experiments

How To: Bend fiber optic light in water

Whether you're bored out of your mind or a budding scientist, this is one cool experiment to do at home. This science tutorial teaches you how to bend fiber optic light in water using a 532 nm, 50 mW laser.

How To: Draw holograms by hand

Here are various tricks which are possible with "scratch holography." To make one of these holograms, all you really need is a plastic CD case and a couple of thumb tacks pushed through a stick.

How To: Make a 3D magnetic field viewer

Watch this video to make a three-dimensional magnetic fields visible using suspended steel filaments (or iron filings).

How To: Do the dancing penny experiment

A science experiment for all ages. Keep the kids busy over the holiday. This demonstration will entertain them for hours. You can have fun making one for each of the kids in your family. All you need is a penny and a bottle.

How To: Levitate bubbles using dry ice

Another of my Halloween demonstrations. This simple but amazing video explains how everyday bubbles can float on a magic layer of air. It all has to do with density of air and some dry ice.

How To: Make a really foamy reaction with elephant toothpaste

Elephant toothpaste is the name given to the catalyzed decomposition reaction of 30% hydrogen peroxide that uses soap to collect the oxgen gas that is produced. It is a favorite of most students at chemistry shows.

How To: Make water rapidly crystallize

A seed crystal is dropped into an unstable supersaturated solution of sodium acetate NaC2H3O2 and it completely crystallized in front of your eyes. This demonstration is prepared by heating 700 grams of sodium

How To: Make an indoor flame thrower

When you use lycopodium powder, it explodes into flames when it is exposed to fire then dust form in this experiment. Be careful don't accidentally set your house on fire.

How To: Use the flame test to determine an unknown metal

The flame test is used to visually determine the identity of an unknown metal of an ionic salt based on the characteristic color the salt turns the flame of a bunsen burner.

How To: Dissolving polymer experiment

Styrofoam is a polymer and when brought into contact with acetone the polymer breaks down into its monomers. This demonstration shows the process of depolymerization. It looks pretty cool.

How To: Make an aluminum iodine volcano

The reaction of aluminum metal and iodine creates a plume of purple iodine while creating glowing aluminum iodide. A very interesting reaction.

How To: Make a magnesium reaction in dry ice

This reaction is between metallic magnesium and carbon dioxide. Magnesium reacts with oxygen in the air to form magnesium oxide, but when the only source of oxygen is from CO2 the reaction becomes much more energetic. The products are white magnesium oxide and black carbon.

How To: Instantly freeze soda experiment

The trick in this how-to video works with any carbonated beverage (never use beer). Take your beverage and cool it down to a temperature around 20F or -7C. Either the freezer or outside if it is cold enough. When opened it will freeze instantly.

How To: Make an indoor hydrogen rocket

The picture may look like a mushroom cloud, but it is actually a can filled with hydrogen exploding. The can is fired into the ceiling. This demonstration still needs a little improvement in the area of safety (but it looks really cool). The problem is the partial pressure of hydrogen drops as the gas escapes and is replaced with air. This causes the reaction to be an explosion instead of a flame. Hydrogen is a tempermental element like that.

How To: Make quarters shiver in dry ice

When a quarter in pushed into dry ice, a strange thing happens. The quarter starts to quiver. It is a normal room temperature quarter. I did nothing to the quarter. This is not a trick but really happens. The evaporating CO2 creates a small air current causing the quarters to vibrate.

How To: Create ice when boiling from a vacuum experiment

This can actually happen. It seems unnatural, but the laws of physics don't lie. Liquids require heat to boil, and if the conditions are right one liquid can be boiled in order to freeze a second. Under a vacuum, the water in an acetone/water mixture can freeze while the acetone boils. Watch the video and see for yourself.

How To: Make a compass out of a needle floating in water

Make a compass out of a needle floating in water.

How To: Make a battery with Coke, salt, and paper towel

Make a low voltage battery at home using only coke, salt, and a paper towel. Make a battery with Coke, salt, and paper towel.

How To: Make a penny operated nitric acid fountain

Watch this video to learn how to make a penny operated nitric acid fountain. Nitric acid acts upon copper to yield nitric oxide in an exothermic reaction. The expanding gas displaces water from another flask; actually bubbles in this set up. When the gas cools, the water is drawn back into the flask, dissolving the nitric oxide and forming a blue solution with the copper ions still there. Very cool science experiment with a neat reaction.

How To: Use binoculars to gaze at the stars

You can use a simple pair of binoculars to sweep the milky way or even spy on your neighbor. Learn and understand the binoculars, here and now.

How To: Dress for success in stargazing at night

For successful stargazing at night, dressing warm is the key. Do you want to shiver while enjoying the night lights, or do you want to enjoy it?

How To: Photograph the stars through your telescope

Want to be an astrophotagrapher? Here is the simple facts of taking photos of those beautiful stars using your telescope and a camera. More advanced photographers tend to use a chilled camera though, so watch and learn.

How To: Lift an ice cube with a match

Join Colin as he shows you how to lift an ice cube without touching it with your hands! Cool huh? All you need is water, salt, ice, and a match of course.

How To: Make super cool water

This is how to make super cool water--My freezer was set to -2 degrees Fahrenheit and I used Dasani water.

How To: Break chemical bonds

A difficult concept for many students to understand is the energy involved in breaking and forming bonds. A hydrate is a substance that has water bonded to it. In order to dehydrate you must add energy (endothermic) to break the bond to water. When hydrating you are forming a bond to water and will release energy (exothermic). This visual demonstration reinforces the concept.

How To: Hydrate a video lab

This experiment is intended to introduce students to hydrated compounds. These compounds have water molecules coordinated in their chemical structures. Examples CuSO4*5H2O, BaCl2*2H2O, and NaC2H3O2*3H2O.

How To: Analyze the drinking bird toy

When was the last time you saw one of these? This classic children's toy seems very simple, but the chemistry involved is very interesting. Do you know how it works?

How To: Make solid rocket fuel ignition with zinc and sulfur

Once used as solid rocket fuel because the reaction requires no oxygen, sulfur and zinc react vigorously. The reaction with zinc produces flame and a near explosion. Sparks fly and smoke billows in this dramatic chemical demonstration.

How To: Make underwater fireworks with chlorine and acetylene

Chlorine gas is bubbled up along with acetylene gas through a large graduated cylinder filled with water. Where the bubbles of the two collide, an instantaneous, bright flash of light occurs.

How To: Make a Sugar Snake from Sulfuric Acid and Sugar

Sugar (a carbohydrate) is dehydrated with concentrated sulfuric acid. Since a carbohydrate was once considered just hydrated carbon, if you remove the water, carbon would be left over. The acid rips the water out of the sugar and the heat generated by this reaction causes the water to turn to steam. A black mass of carbon is produced.