Simple Science ExperimentsTry This at Home

Lance Rougeux

Vortex Generator

What do you see inside?

What shape does the air make when it comes out of

the bucket?

Air Cannon Vortex Generator

pumpkinlever

Sandwich bagdartboards

Sandwich bag dart boards

• Materials– Pint or quart-size

plastic bags– Several sharpened

pencils– Water– Sink, pan or bucket

What is happening?

• Most plastics are made of very long molecules called polymers.

• Sandwich bags are made of polyethylene which consists of many polymers forming a web of molecules.

• The molecular web, with all its connections, resists being torn.

saltengineering

Salt engineering

• Materials– Ruler– Cardboard tube– Tissue paper or

wax paper– Rubber bands or

masking tape– Table salt– Broomstick

What is happening?

• The tiny salt crystals transfer most of the force we apply toward the walls of the cardboard cylinder instead of straight down.

• Trusses and beams made for bridges and tall building use similar designs to spread or change the direction of forces and loads.

Take a stab at it

Take a stab at it!

• Materials– Potato– Straw

What is happening?

• The air trapped inside the straw gives the straw enough strength to penetrate the skin of the potato.

• As the straw enters the potato, the potato plug compresses the air inside the straw, increasing the air pressure, and strengthening the straw.

Alka seltzer rockets

Alka Seltzer Rockets

• Materials– Film canister with a

snap-on lid– Water – Alka-Seltzer tablet

What is happening?

• A chemical reaction occurs between the water and the Alka-Seltzer tablet creating carbon dioxide bubbles.

• The CO2 gas builds up pressure inside the film canister until the force is so great that it has to escape.

Non-newtonian fluids

Non-Newtonian fluids

Non-Newtonian fluids

• Materials– Corn starch– Water– Pan

Simple Science ExperimentsTry This at Home

Lance Rougeux