24 Hour Science Projects » easy project

Toilet Paper Science Project

sciencemom — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:27:40 +0000

With today’s increased awareness of how important it is to take care of the environment, it’s great when kids can do a science experiment with results that could change the way their own family takes care of the earth. Our toilet paper experiment (or – as the supermarket calls it – “bathroom tissue”), does just that! A Straight Flush helps kids find out which toilet tissue is the most biodegradable. The results of the experiment may influence what brand of toilet paper that home purchases.

A Straight Flush compares the weight of tissue samples before and after spending time in our ’simulated’ toilet. It requires really accurate scales, which can be expensive. We’re cheap at our house, so we opted to use the scales in the post office. (You could also ask to use the scales at a pharmacy or at a grocery store.) We still laugh at the thought of how it looked for us to traipse into the post office with samples of toilet paper.

Whatever it takes for our kids!

PS Toilet Tissue science projects are just gross enough to be great Middle School Science Projects!

Go here to read more about toilet paper and septic systems.

Cool Science Experiments for Homeschool – or Just the Home

sciencemom — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:57:40 +0000

If you’re looking for a cool science experiment for the science fair, try 24 Hour Science Projects!

We’re always on the lookout for cool science experiments! Today’s post is really cool to do, and is written by a real rocket scientist – and mom – named Aurora Lipper.

Cool Science Experiment Using Soda and Mentos

By Aurora Lipper

There are generally two types of changes: physical change and chemical change. The Seltzer Pressure Rocket experiment, whereby you pop a film-roll canister off its lid by adding an effervescent tablet to water, is a chemical reaction. When a firecracker bursts, there is a loud noise and a release of energy- again, a chemical reaction. However, the online homeschool experiment I will teach you is quite explosive, yet it is a physical change.

A physical change is one that does not involve any chemical combination, and no new substance is formed. A chemical change is actually a chemical combination of two or more substances to form an entirely different substance. For example, chopping a block of wood into pieces is a physical change whereas burning a piece of wood is a chemical change.

Today I am going to show you how to build a mento-soda geyser, an experiment that I have included in the online homeschool curriculum that I have designed. This is an experiment that has become one of my favorites, and I have performed innumerable times. Here It Is! Remember to gather some of your friends to enjoy the geyser effect.

The Mento-Soda Geyser: Take a two liter soda (preferably Diet Coke) bottle and spill out some coke to leave an empty space at the top. Drill a hole in the cap of the bottle. Now take a roll of mentos mints and make holes in the center of each (about 8 to 10 mints). Take the help of an adult to drill the holes. Tie a knot to one end of a sewing thread and pass the thread through all the mints.

Pass this thread under the bottle cap and tape the free end of the string to the top of the cap in such a way that when you screw the cap onto the bottle the mints remain suspended in the empty space of the bottle just above the level of the soda. Your apparatus is now ready. Stand it securely in an open lawn so that it does not tip over. The best thing about online homeschool is that you can perform all your activities in and around your home.

Now when you are ready for the spectacular geyser display, remove the tape and let the mints fall into the soda. What do you see? The soda will be thrown into the air up to 10 to 15 feet high like a geyser. This will go on for about 15 to 20 seconds till most of the soda is spewed out.

How does this happen? In order to get the bubbly soda you enjoy, carbon dioxide is pumped into the liquid under high pressure. This carbon dioxide gas remains trapped in the liquid suspension and the bubbles are released when you pour the drink into a glass or when you shake the bottle.

There is enough tension between the molecules of the liquid to hold the bubbles confined. When you add the mints, this tension is broken by the sugar and gelatin in the mints. Carbon dioxide bubbles are released and get deposited in the tiny pores on the surface of the mint. These bubbles grow in size and are released out of the liquid. As there are many mints, the bubbles are multiplied and the pressure of the gas in the bottle begins to increase to such an extent that it escapes from the hole in the cap, taking with it the soda.

This is a physical change as no new substance is formed. Search through your online homeschool curriculum for lessons and examples on physical change and chemical change.

Want some more exciting stuff? Your next step is to download a free copy of the “Homeschool Parent’s Guide to Teaching Science” which is filled with great science experiments and activities at the link below.

A great free resource for really cool science experiments and activities is the Homeschool Science Experiment Guide.

Another good homeschool resource for science ideas, experiments and activities, is the homeschool science blog (just click on the Blog link). Definitely worth bookmarking.

Have Fun!

About the Author – Aurora Lipper has been teaching science to kids for over 10 years. She is also a mechanical engineer, university instructor, pilot, astronomer, a real live rocket scientist (You should see the lab in her basement!) and a mom. She has inspired thousands of kids with the fun and magic of science.

PS If you’re looking for cool science experiments for the science fair, try 24 Hour Science Projects!

Easy Science Projects

sciencemom — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:45:10 +0000

It’s Friday night, and you’ve been putting it off for a month. But on Monday, your child’s science project is due. And you haven’t even started. You need an easy science project that can be done quickly, but it has to be good…

It’s not an easy thing to find! Science projects that are easy often don’t meet the requirements of the teacher or the science fair. And projects that are fast often aren’t enough to teach your child anything. We know. With four boys, our family has waited until the last minute to do a science project more than once. But the good news is that there really are good science experiments that can be done quickly and easily. Here are some hints to finding a quality, but easy science project:

~Find out exactly what type of science project your child needs. Some teachers want a demonstration science project that the child can present to the class. Some teachers want a science report. Occasionally, scientific models or nature collections will be allowed. Most teachers, however, want an experiment based science project that follows the scientific method.

~Ask your child for several ideas. He or she will be the scientist, after all!

~Do an internet or library search for “science projects on…” You may find exactly what you need this way.

~Make a list of possible projects. Go ahead and discard projects that are on advanced chemistry.

~Take a look at the ingredients and equipment. If there are items not readily available or are wickedly expensive, you’ll know that project isn’t for you. There are plenty of experiments that can be done with things in the home, or at the supermarket.

~Find out how long the science experiment or project takes. If it takes more than two or three days, you probably want to reconsider. The ideal easy science project will not take more than a few hours, in case something goes wrong and you have to repeat. And unfortunately, this does happen.

Although an easy science project isn’t always easy to find, you and your child can work together to find a project that is easy to do, but also educational and fun. Take a look at our Online Science Project Guides, science projects that are fun, easy, affordable, and teacher pleasing! Find out about these guides, and get a free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects” at http://www.24 hourscienceprojects.com. We’ve got your easy science project!