Not all bubble recipes are created equal — but don’t worry, I’ve tested and tweaked until I found the ones that work best! Below are two powerful bubble recipes that you can

Bubbles by the sea

try at home. One uses Guar Gum, the other Xanthan Gum— both natural thickeners that help create stretchy, long-lasting bubbles.

You can buy your tri-string wand here!

Giant Bubble Solution Guar Gum Recipe Card

Ingredients to make 2 litres of bubble solution:

1.     4 grams Guar Gum (≈ 2 level teaspoons)

2.     300 mL Fairy Liquid Original

3.     10 grams Baking Powder (≈ 2 teaspoons, NOT baking soda)

4.     2 tablespoons Glycerine (vegetable glycerine ideal)

5.     1–2 teaspoons Rubbing Alcohol (optional – for guar gum slurry)

6.     2 litres Warm Water (filtered or distilled is best)

Method 1:

1.      Mix 4 g guar gum into 300 mL Fairy liquid (alkaline). Stir for 2-3  minutes.

2.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir again.

3.     Add 10 g of baking powder (acidic) to 1 litre of warm water.

4.     Add the water to the washing up liquid mix and top up with cold water to reach a total of 2 litres. Mix gently.

5.     Let the solution rest overnight if possible – improves performance.

6.     Remove any residual foam from the top of the bubble solution.

Method 2:

1.     Mix 4 g guar gum with 1–2 tsp of rubbing alcohol to form a smooth paste (prevents clumps).

2.     Stir the paste into 1 litre of warm water in a large container. Whisk or blend to dissolve.

3.     Add 10 g baking powder and stir gently.

4.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir again.

5.     Gently mix in 300 mL Fairy Liquid. Stir slowly to avoid foam.

6.     Add more warm water to reach a total of 2 litres. Mix gently.

7.     Let the solution rest overnight if possible – improves performance.

Giant Bubble Solution Xanthan Gum Recipe Card

 Ingredients to make 2 litres of bubble solution

1.     3 grams Xanthan Gum (≈ 1½ level teaspoons)

2.     300 mL Fairy Liquid Original

3.     10 grams Baking Powder (≈ 2 teaspoons, NOT baking soda)

4.     2 tablespoons Glycerine (vegetable glycerine ideal)

5.     1–2 teaspoons Rubbing Alcohol (optional – for xanthan gum slurry)

6.     2 litres Warm Water (filtered or distilled is best)

Method:

1.     Mix 3 g xanthan gum with 1–2 tsp of rubbing alcohol to make a paste (prevents clumps).

2.     Add this paste to 1 litre of warm water in a large container. Blend well to dissolve fully.

3.     Stir in 10 g baking powder until fully mixed.

4.     Add 2 tablespoons glycerine and stir gently.

5.     Slowly mix in 300 mL Fairy Liquid. Avoid foaming.

Bubble at Bloom 2024

6.     Top up with water to make 2 litres. Stir gently.

7.     Let sit overnight for best bubble performance.

Tips for Bubble Success:

• Use a cotton loop or homemade string-and-stick wand – or buy our tri-string wand (see link above).
• Avoid foam – don’t shake after adding the Fairy Liquid. Scoop out excess foam.
• Best used on humid, wind-free or light breezy days.

• Keep the String Clean!

Little scientists love exploring — but if the string wand gets dropped on the ground, it can pick up grass, dirt, and grit. These bits can contaminate your bubble solution and stop it from working properly.

If the string gets messy, rinse it with clean water before dipping it back in the solution.

A contaminated solution can’t be stored — but a clean one can last for up to 2 weeks in a sealed container!

Bubble Magic Science:

• Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum create stretchy bubble walls.
• Glycerine slows evaporation and strengthens bubbles.
• Baking Powder balances low pH of the washing up liquid for bubble stability.
• Fairy Liquid is like the secret superhero of bubble making. It helps the water stretch, stay together, and float without popping too fast.

The Science Behind the Suds

Not all washing-up liquids are created equal when it comes to making bubbles! Fairy Liquid (especially the original green version) is a favourite among scientists and bubble performers. Here’s why:

High Surfactant Concentration

Fairy contains a high level of surfactants — the special ingredients that reduce water’s surface tension. This makes the bubble walls more elastic. That means they stretch further without breaking.

Strong & Stretchy Bubbles

Fairy helps create tough, flexible films. That’s why you can make giant bubbles or bounce bubbles on a magic glove using the right recipe!

Slows Down Evaporation

Some versions of Fairy include additives that act like glycerine, helping the bubble stay moist and flexible – so it lasts longer in the air.

Less Foam, More Fun

Fairy creates fewer unwanted bubbles when handled gently, meaning you get a clear surface for giant bubble wands or bubble bounce tricks.

Scientifically Trusted

Bubbleologists, teachers, and performers across the UK and Ireland have tested many brands — and Fairy keeps coming out on top.

Top tip: Always use Fairy Original Green for the best bubble results!

Ready to put your solutions to the test? Here are three brilliant bubble experiments to discover which recipe is best!

Bubble Test 1: Recipe Comparison – How Long Does It Last?

Bubble blowers and wands are available in our online store

1. 1. Blow a bubble the size of a tennis ball using a bubble tube.
   2. Use a stopwatch or just count to time how long it lasts before it bursts.
   3. Repeat 3 times for each bubble solution. Record and calculate the average time – to do this add all 3 times together and divide the answer by 3.

Why is it important to make sure all bubbles are the same size?

When we compare how long the bubbles last, we want to make sure we are being fair. If some bubbles are big and others are small, that could change how long they stay before popping. By keeping all the bubbles about the same size, we can be sure that we’re really finding out which solution makes the longest-lasting bubbles.

Good scientific practice also means repeating our tests to make sure our results are reliable. We do each test a few times and then take an average of the results. This helps us make sure that what we see is not just a one-time thing.

By repeating the tests and being fair, we learn how to be good scientists and discover the most accurate answers!

Bubble Test 2: Bounce on a Magic Glove

May bouncing bubbles in the kitchen

1. 1. Blow a tennis ball-sized bubble with a bubble tube.
   2. Hold the tube high, gently flick it, and let the bubble fall onto your gloved hand.
   3. Count how many times it bounces before it pops.
   4. Repeat 3 times for each bubble solution and calculate the average number of bounces.

How do we make sure our bubble bouncing test is fair?

1. Same Bubble Sizes: All bubbles should be about the same size, like a tennis ball. This makes sure we’re comparing bubbles equally.
2. Same Drop Height: We should flick the bubbles from about the same height each time, so the first drop is fair.
3. Bounce Height Depends on the Push: The height the bubble bounces after it hits the glove depends on how hard we push it. We need to make sure our pushes are gentle and similar each time, and that the bubble hits the glove and not the arm. If we push too hard or too fast, the bounce might be higher or the bubble might burst.

By doing this, we make sure our test is fair, and we can see which solution makes the bubbles bounce the most!

Tri-string wands also available in our online store www.science2life.com/shop

Bubble Test 3: Stretch Test with the Tri-String Wand

Before you start, make sure your tri-string wand is fully soaked in bubble solution. Play with the wand to create bubbles of all sizes and get the string ready!

To measure bubble length, use a measuring tape or mark the ground using foot lengths or strides.

Test Instructions:

• Dip the string section of the wand into the bucket of bubble solution. You have to make sure the whole of the string is covered. DO NOT STIR this will tangle up the string.
• Keeping the sticks of the wand together remove the string from the bubble solution. Lift the sticks high. Open up the sticks. You will see a bubble film stretch between the strings.
• If it isn’t windy you will have to walk backwards (safely!) to catch the air in the bubble film.

To Make a Bubble:

On a calm day: Walk backwards to let the air fill the film – you will need to practice the speed at which you walk. Too slow and nothing will happen – Too fast the bubble film will burst

On a breezy day: Stand with your back to the wind.

The wind will inflate the bubble for you! You don’t need to move – just open the wand and let the wind do the magic. If it is too windy the pushing forces of the air molecules will burst the delicate bubble film.

1. 1. Measure the length of your longest bubble at the point that it just pops or breaks.
   2. Repeat 3 times for each solution.
   3. Because wind can affect your results, should you repeat the test more than 3 times?

Science Note:

The large loop and gentle movement help trap air in the bubble film. The soaked string creates a stable surface that stretches into a giant bubble before breaking away.

 Top Tip: Close the Wands to Make the Bubble Fly!

When you’re ready to release your bubble, gently bring the two wands back together. This pinches the soap film and seals off the bubble, allowing it to float away instead of collapsing.

Why This Works:

• The soap film is like a stretchy curtain between the 3 lengths of string.
• If you don’t close the wands, the film stays open and the bubble won’t break off — it just pops or collapses.
• Closing the wands snaps the film shut, turning the long soap tunnel into a complete bubble.

Think of it like tying the end of a balloon — the air stays inside the bubble because you’ve sealed it off just in time.

Final Bubble Thoughts

Bubbles at Bloom in the walled garden, Phoenix Park, Dublin

Making giant bubbles isn’t just magical — it’s science in motion! From stretchy bubble walls to floating spheres of shimmering colour, every bubble you blow is an experiment in surface tension, evaporation, and elasticity.

Now that you’ve tested your bubble potions…

•  Which recipe gave the best bounces?
•  Which one created the longest bubbles?
•  Which floated the longest before popping?

You used both glycerine and baking powder in your recipes — but what if you changed the quantities?

Try adding more glycerine. Will your bubbles bounce even more?
What happens if you leave out the baking powder? Does it affect how long your bubbles last?

 What other bubble questions can you investigate? Can you design your own experiments to test them?

Whether you’re a budding Bubbleologists or a full-time fizz fanatic, there’s always more to discover.

Don’t forget to share your experiments and bubble-tastic photos — tag @scientificsue and join the bubbly adventure!

Keep exploring… and keep bubbling!

You can buy your trip-string wand here!

The post Bubbleology at Home! A Science Quest with Scientific Sue appeared first on Science2Life.

Let Loose the Jitterbug!

A thrilling engineering activity using electric excitement with off-centre cam magic!

Unleash Creativity and Spark Imagination with the Jitterbug Engineering Kit!

Dear Educators, Teachers, and Home Schooling Heroes,

Are you ready to take your young learners on an electrifying journey into the world of science, engineering, and artistic expression? Look no further! Introducing the captivating Jitterbug Engineering Kit – an innovative, hands-on experience designed to ignite curiosity and inspire the budding engineers and artists in your classrooms or homes.

The Science of Jitterbugging: Building the Circuit

The heart of the Jitterbug Engineering Kit lies in its ability to transform ordinary objects into jittering, vibrating masterpieces. Each kit includes a battery holder with a battery, wires, and a switch, all connected to a powerful mini 5V motor. The magic begins when an off-centered cam is attached to the motor, creating an enchanting jittering effect.

Why Jitterbug?

• Engaging Science: Explore the basics of circuitry and witness the principles of electrical engineering in action. The Jitterbug introduces children to the world of science through a hands-on, interactive experience.
• Unleash Creativity: The Jitterbug is not just about wires and circuits; it’s a canvas for creativity. Connect the unit to any object, and watch it come to life with jittering movements. The possibilities are endless!

A Jitter Critter

Artistic Expression: Elevate the learning experience by incorporating artistic elements. With the kit, children can add lollipop legs to a 300 ml pot, transforming it into a quirky, jittering creation. Let their imagination run wild as they decorate their unique masterpieces.

Perfect for Classrooms and Homeschooling:

Whether you’re a teacher in a traditional classroom or a home educator seeking engaging activities, the Jitterbug Engineering Kit is a versatile tool that aligns with educational standards and provides a dynamic learning experience.

• Hands-On Learning: The Jitterbug encourages active participation, fostering a deeper understanding of scientific concepts. Students learn by doing, making abstract theories tangible and memorable.
• Cross-Curricular Integration: Bridge the gap between science and art. The Jitterbug seamlessly integrates STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) concepts with artistic expression, promoting a holistic approach to education.
• Easy Implementation: The kit comes complete with all necessary components and a step-by-step guide, making it easy for educators and parents to facilitate the learning process without the need for extensive preparation.

Join the Jitterbug Movement:

Are you ready to witness the magic of jittering creations and empower young minds with the wonders of science, engineering, and art? Embrace the Jitterbug Engineering Kit and embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of traditional education.

Order your Jitterbug Engineering Kit today and watch as your students or children light up with excitement, curiosity, and a newfound passion for learning.

Order Now and Unleash Your Child’s Inner Scientist!

Seize the opportunity to ignite your child’s passion for engineering and order your Jitterbug Kit today!

Use the promo code MAGIC24 during the month of January to receive a 15% discount!

All of Science2Life activities can be used to entertain children – however they have been created with the curriculum in mind, so are perfect activities to generate mesmerizing examples of the topics they can be used to explore.

Plus our Science iT! activities can up scaled-up to be used in workshops within the classroom, for festival and birthday celebrations, which provide opportunities for children to collaborate on initiatives, explorations and creations.

The idea behind our Science iT! activities is to ignite children’s natural innate curiosity about the world around them (and the items in it) and to channel their enthusiasm for scientific discovery as early as possible.

Currently Science2Life have the following Science iT! activities:

1. The Magical EVANESCO Spell
2. The Magical AMORTENTIA Spell
3. The Super Bouncing Bubble Kit
4. Make your own Fossil Kit
5. Colour Changing Bracelet Kit
6. Pneumatic Monsters Activity
7. Creative Circuits
8. The Magical Wandarama
9. Gone Fishing
10. The Jitter Bug

Each of the above activities can be turned into a workshop programme! Interested? Give us a call!

Scientificsue@science2life.com

+447970884728

https://www.science2life.com/product/10-jitterbug-a-science-it-activity

#science #engineering #Electric-circuits #Jitterbug #STEAM #bringingscience2life

www.Science2Life.com

Facebook: Scientific Sue

Twitter: @ScientificSue

The post Create Your Own Jitter Bug appeared first on Science2Life.

Introduce your child to the fascinating world of PNEUMATICS!

Our Pneumatic mini-beast activity classroom kit makes 30 beasts whose mouths open using the power of pneumatics.

Are you ready to ignite your child’s curiosity and imagination? Introducing our innovative Pneumatics Science Kit – the perfect blend of fun and education for budding young scientists and engineers!

Discover the power of air pressure!

With our interactive kit, children embark on a hands-on journey exploring the wonders of pneumatics. They’ll dive into the science behind air pressure, learning how it’s harnessed to create a simple pneumatic toy. Using air to produce movement whilst exploring forces and energy in an easy and fun way.

Build, Experiment and Learn!

Is this a friendly spider?

Watch as your child’s eyes light up while they assemble their very own pneumatic models. This kit allows them to build, experiment, and understand the principles of compressed air in action.

Engaging and Educational!

Our kit isn’t just about building – it’s about learning through play! Each of our Science iT! activities are designed to challenge young minds, fostering problem-solving skills and encouraging creative thinking in a fun and engaging way.

This creative activity also helps to develop children’s understanding of control through investigating simple pneumatic systems and designing and making a simple model of a toy that has moving parts (in this case a mouth) controlled by moving air – pneumatics.

Perfect for Budding Scientists!

Whether at home or in the classroom, our Pneumatics Science Kit is ideal for children aged 5 and above. It’s an excellent hands-on tool to complement science lessons and spark a lifelong interest in STEM subjects. Want a more complicated system using piping with syringes? We also have that covered!

Witness the Magic of Adaptation!

Is this Pneumatic Monster Camouflaged?

Through this playful creation, children not only build their monster creepy crawlies but they’ll also learn about the clever mechanism animals use to blend into their surroundings.

Encourage your children to experiment with different materials and colours, observing how alterations affect their monster’s visibility. It’s an engaging hands-on opportunity to understand how camouflage works and its significance in the animal kingdom.

Once the children’s creations have been built, send them out into the garden or playground to see if the colouring they have chosen will allow their creature to be hidden using camouflage.

Mediterranean Octopus

Red Glider Butterfly, Screech Owl, Vietnamese Mossy Frog & Goldenrod Crab Spider

Why Choose Our Kits?

• Educational Fun: Combines play with learning, making science enjoyable!
• Comprehensive Guide: Easy-to-follow instructions for hassle-free assembly.
• Perfect For Home and School: Promotes interactive family time and learning together.

Give the Gift of Exploration and Discovery!

Surprise your young scientist with our Pneumatics Science Kit. It’s a fantastic gift that unlocks a world of scientific exploration and creativity!

Want to make a birthday a little more creative? Then this activity will not only engage the children but it can be their ‘go home’ party gift.

Order Now and Unleash Your Child’s Inner Scientist!

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to inspire and educate through the marvels of pneumatics. Order your kit today and watch as your child’s imagination takes flight!

Activity Kit – Making 4 Pneumatic Monsters

Classroom Kit – Making 30 Pneumatic Monsters

Teaching notes included

This creative activity can also be used to investigate camouflage as an adaptation and why it helps organisms to survive. The activity can reinforce the usefulness of being able to ‘hide’ in an environment in a fun way – and which child doesn’t like playing hide-and-seek?!

Engage your children in an exciting hands-on activity by introducing them to a simple pneumatic toy project. This delightful creation, powered by the inflation of a balloon, offers an excellent opportunity for students to explore basic principles of air pressure while unleashing their creativity.

In this project, children construct a charming creepy crawly toy with a unique twist—the toy’s mouth is animated by the inflation of a balloon. This dynamic feature adds an element of surprise and fosters curiosity among students. Not only does it serve as an entertaining toy, but it also provides an interactive platform for learning about pneumatic systems.

Encourage students to personalise their creepy crawlies by decorating them with vibrant colours and patterns. This creative aspect opens the door to discussions about camouflage in the animal kingdom, making the project an interdisciplinary learning experience.

Through this hands-on activity, students will not only grasp the fundamentals of pneumatic systems but also gain insight into the fascinating world of adaptation and survival strategies. This project not only enhances their understanding of science and engineering but also cultivates artistic expression and critical thinking skills.

Note: The balloon can be inflated by the children directly blowing down the tube or with the aid of a balloon pump.

The Mini-Beast Art Kit will allow your children  to:

 Activity 1: Creature Design Sheet

 Objective: Children will sketch and decorate their own creepy crawly creature.
 Focus: Shape, colour, pattern, camouflage techniques, body structure (legs, wings, antennae).
 Top Tip: Encourage them to think about how their creature hides in its habitat—leaf patterns? Muddy textures? Bark-like colours?

 Add-on: Give their creature a name and write one “super power” or adaptation that helps it survive.

 Activity 2: Creature Fact Bookmark

 Objective: Children will choose a real-life insect, bug, or small animal that inspired their pneumatic toy and create an information bookmark.
 Focus: Name, habitat, adaptations, diet, and a fun fact.

 Challenge: Can they link their design to something real? (e.g., “My creepy crawly is based on the stick insect—it’s almost invisible in the woods!”)

 Activity 3: Monster Profile Card

 Objective: Create a “Meet My Monster” profile card.
 Focus: Drawing of the final creature, a short story, character traits, habitat description, and what makes it unique.

 Optional Prompt:

• My monster’s name is…
• It lives in…
• It eats…
• It hides by…
• When it feels threatened, it…

 Extension Idea: Use the envelope to create a habitat pocket! Decorate it and tuck the creature design or profile inside.

Bonus Idea: Display Wall

Create a class gallery of monsters! Use string and pegs or a wall board to hang:

• The Monster Profile Cards
• The Bookmarks
• Photos of the finished pneumatic creations

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes

Children love to be engaged in learning, especially through interactive projects that they can really get involved and be hands on with.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes are part of our STEAM Academy. The activities use everyday life objects, toys and knick-knacks and turns them into fun, innovative, hands-on experiences designed to encourage children to:

• discover the amazing world of science and engineering
• to perform engaging activities that show how science and engineering is at work in their everyday lives
• to foster a lifelong love of science and engineering
• to give a basic grounding in scientific concepts and scientific thinking
• to increase children’s motivation to learn and
• enhance their perception, creativity and logic.

Hands-on learning is learning by doing.

Children involved in our ‘Science iT!’ activities and programmes are introduced to various STEAM learning methods and activities. Our creative programmes involve learning activities that require active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work. We all know how curious children are about the world around them and how they love using the word ‘why?’

The aim of our activities is to provide optimal learning opportunities that strategically help children grasp mathematics, engineering and science concepts.

The inclusion of the arts component into STEM makes it more fun to learn, and more approachable to children.

Art education allows children to learn things in a more open-ended way and make them applicable to real life.

Links to the curriculum

All of Science2Life activities can be used to entertain children – however they have been created with the curriculum in mind, so are perfect activities to generate mesmerizing examples of the topics they can be used to explore.

Plus our Science iT! activities can up scaled-up to be used in workshops within the classroom, for festival and birthday celebrations, which provide opportunities for children to collaborate on initiatives, explorations and creations.

The idea behind our Science iT! activities is to ignite children’s natural innate curiosity about the world around them (and the items in it) and to channel their enthusiasm for scientific discovery as early as possible.

The post Use Pneumatic Science to Open and Close your Monsters Mouths! appeared first on Science2Life.

Defy Gravity, Discover Science, and Delight in Dragons!

Looking for a simple yet magical hands-on science activity that ties in beautifully with physics in the classroom—or sparks curiosity at home? Then let us introduce you to Scientific Sue’s Acrobatic Dragon: a gravity-defying creature that performs the ultimate balancing act—on the tip of its nose!

With just a few household materials and a dash of imagination, children can build their very own acrobatic dragon—and learn all about the centre of mass, balance, and gravity while they play.

• Acrobatic Dragon Template

Aim of the Activity

Create a majestic cardboard dragon that can balance on its nose like a circus performer on a tightrope! With a little science and clever design, you’ll wow your friends and family while exploring some serious physics fundamentals.

What You’ll Need

• Acrobatic Dragon Template (PDF download)

• Thin card (recycled cereal boxes work great!)

• Scissors

• Glue or sellotape

• Colouring pens or pencils

• Small weights: paperclips, playdough blobs, or coins

Secrets for Success

1. Download and Print the template. You can print it directly onto thin card, or print on paper and glue it to recycled card (hello, breakfast boxes!).

2. Cut and Colour your dragon to bring it to life—make it fierce, funny, or full of flair.

3. Test the Balance. Try to balance it on your fingertip. Spoiler alert: it probably won’t stay up—yet!

4. Shift the Balance. To make your dragon balance on its nose, you’ll need to adjust where its centre of mass is. Add weights to the front tips of the wings until it balances.

5. Experiment! Try different weights, card thicknesses, or even scaling the dragon up or down. What happens to the balance point?

Science in a Nutshell: The Physics of Balance

Every object has something called a centre of gravity (also known as the centre of mass)—it’s the point where the weight is evenly balanced in all directions. Think of it as the “sweet spot” that keeps things upright.

• When the centre of mass is high, an object is more likely to topple over.

• When it’s low and directly above a base, the object becomes more stable.

The wings of your dragon have been strategically designed to extend and hold extra weight in front of the body. This clever engineering shifts the centre of gravity forward—right to the nose—making your dragon balance like a seasoned acrobat!

And here’s where the real learning kicks in:

• Try changing the shape or size of the dragon—what happens to its balance?

• What if you move the weights closer or farther from the nose?

• How does the type of card you use change the effect?

This hands-on activity gives children the opportunity to investigate forces, balance, and stability—key topics in the primary science curriculum. It’s perfect for introducing terms like gravity, mass, and equilibrium in a fun, practical way.

Curriculum Connections

This project supports learning outcomes in:

KS1 & KS2 Science – Forces & motion, gravity, stability, design and testing

Forces & Motion

• Pushes and pulls

• How objects move on different surfaces

• Magnets (attraction and repulsion)

• Gravity (introduction)

• Friction, air resistance, and water resistance (upper primary)

Materials

• Properties of everyday materials

• Suitability of materials for a purpose

• Reversible and irreversible changes (linked to glueing, cutting, etc.)

Working Scientifically

• Asking questions

• Making predictions

• Planning investigations

• Observing and measuring

• Recording results

• Drawing conclusions and identifying patterns

Everyday Physics Concepts

• Balance and stability

• Simple machines (levers, pulleys, etc.)

• Light and shadows (not directly relevant here, but often tied into broader physical science themes)

Secondary Science Topics (KS3 / Ages 11–14)

Physics: Forces

• Types of forces (gravity, friction, contact/non-contact)

• Force diagrams

• Resultant force and equilibrium

• Centre of mass and stability

• Turning forces (moments, levers, torque)

Physics: Motion and Energy

• Balanced vs unbalanced forces

• Speed and acceleration

• Energy transfers in physical systems (e.g. potential energy when lifting mass)

Scientific Enquiry Skills

• Experimental design

• Variables: independent, dependent, controlled

• Data collection and analysis

• Evaluating results and making improvements

Cross-Curricular Links

• Design & Technology (DT): Making structures stable, product design, prototyping

• Maths: Measuring, averaging, estimating, using scales

How Your Acrobatic Dragon Links to Curriculum

Whether used in the classroom, after-school clubs, home education, or weekend crafting, Scientific Sue’s Acrobatic Dragon combines artistic fun with scientific learning—perfectly balanced, just like the dragon!

Ready to Try It?

Head over to my online store to download your Acrobatic Dragon Template, grab your scissors and cereal boxes, and get ready to wow your audience with a magical mix of physics and fun!

Let the balancing act begin!

The post Build your own Acrobatic Dragon appeared first on Science2Life.

Born in Woolsthrope, England Issac Newton became the leading figure of the Scientific Revolution of the 17^th century. He laid the foundation for modern physical optics with his discovery that white light could be split into the colours of the rainbow. In mechanics, his three laws of motion, now the basic principles of modern physics, resulted in the formulation of the law of universal gravitation and in mathematics, he was the original discoverer of the infinitesimal calculus.

Scientific Discovery: The Viscosity of a fluid is only effected

Along with Isaac Newton’s many discoveries he did some ground-breaking work with fluids. He discovered that the viscosity, the fluid’s resistance to flow, is only affected by temperature. A fluid with high viscosity, such as peanut butter, resists motion, while a fluid with low viscosity such as air and water flow easily. Air flowing much easier that water which in turn flows much more freely than golden syrup.

What has this go to do with Slime?

Well, in Newton’s day examples of fluids he would have been dealing with were:

• Water
• Mineral oil
• Alcohol

To these liquids lots of different force actions, such as stirring, shaking, whisking, squeezing or even punching would have been applied to. None of these actions had any affect on the viscosity of the fluid. These types of forces are call shear forces or shear stresses. These liquids are called Newtonian fluids.

As I am sure you have already guessed  we are now aware of fluids which do not behaviour in this manner. We call them non-Newtonian fluids. When shear stresses are applied to these fluids their viscosity changes.

Some fluids have an immediate increase in viscosity such as quicksand, cornflour and water (ooblek) and silly putty; some have their viscosity increase over time, such as gypsum paste and cream – the longer we whip the cream the thicker it gets.

Other fluids have a decrease in viscosity; again for some the decrease is instant the more they are stirred or whisked etc. the less viscous the fluid becomes, such as ketchup, toothpaste and shaving foam and others have a time-dependent decrease in viscosity, such as paint, make-up and glue.

Activity: Making Slime

Clear PVA + Blue Crazy Foam

Nuts & Bolts

• Slime Activator solution
• PVA glue
• Water
• Paints or food colouring
• Coloured foams
• Glitter
• Selection of measuring cups
• Bowl
• Stirrer
• Pipette

Secrets for Success

The joy of making slime is that there is no set recipe – the current craze for making slime is seeing weird materials like polystyrene beads or glitter or foam added into the slime mix.

Here are a couple of recipes that I use but you must be aware that not all PVA glues are the same and the quantities of water and activator solution required will vary from one glue to another.

This activity should be carried out in the kitchen or outside. If slime does end up on a surface such as a carpet – it must be cleaned up immediately; Slime like chewing gum will flow in-between all of the fibres and if allowed to dry it will be difficult to remove.

However if Before I get to the process of getting slime out of each thing, just know that vinegar is the key to all of this.  Plain old white vinegar will get slime out of most everything.  It might take some elbow grease and patience, but you can get it out of everything!

Recipe 1

• 80 ml Clear PVA glue by Go Create Essential (Tesco)
• 20-40 ml Slime Activator
• Handful of coloured Crazy Soap Foam
• Measuring cups
• Pipette or syringe (optional)

1. Add the glue and the foam to the bowl and mix the two materials together thoroughly.
2. Add your slime activator to the mix in 5 ml amounts.
3. Start stirring slowly then speed up – what do you notice?
4. You want to get to a stage where the slime starts to come away from the sides of the bowl.
5. With your fingers remove the slime from the bowl and start to work it with your hands until it is a good consistency.
6. If it is still sticky add a little more activator to the slime.

Recipe 2

• 80 ml Clear PVA glue by Go Create Essential (Tesco)
• 20-40 ml Slime Activator
• 10 ml water
• Food colouring or paint
• Measuring cups
• Pipette or syringe (optional)

1. Add the glue and water to the bowl and with the pipette add a few drops of your chosen food colouring or squirt in a small amount of paint. Mix together thoroughly.
2. Repeat takes 2-6 from recipe 1

Compare your 2 slimes. Which one is more stretchy?

Repeat Recipe 2 again but this time add 20 ml of water?

What effect does the amount of water have on the consistency of your slime?

Can you mix in foam after the slime has been made?

Science in a Nutshell

Most types of slime, including silly putty and the cornstarch-water slime, are examples of polymers. A polymer is composed of very long chains of molecules that are composed of repeating units known as monomers. A single polymer may comprise of hundreds or thousands of monomers.

Common synthetic polymers are rubber, some chewing gums, plastic and nylon. Common natural polymers are starch, DNA, and some proteins.

Cross Chain Linking – The Key to Slime Formation

Cross-linking is where the polymer chains are chemically joined together in places, by covalent bonds. The polymer molecules cannot slide over each other so easily. This makes materials tougher and less flexible.

PVA glue contains, amongst other things, the polymer polyvinyl alcohol (also called polyethenol).

The cross-linking between the polymer chains occurs by adding the slime activator (Sodium tetraborate).

The resulting slime is a non-Newtonian fluid whose viscosity increases which when put under stress. Other well-know stress thickening materials would be wet sand on the beach, some printer’s inks and silly putty.

We call these materials dilating materials and they tend to have some unusual properties.

Under los stress, such and slowly pulling on the material, it will flow and stretch and if you are really careful you could form a really thin film of slime.

However if you pull sharply (high stress) you slime material will break.

Adding acid to the slime breaks the cross linking producing a liquid with lower viscosity – this is why clear vinegar is good for removing slime from other materials.

The easiest way to get slime out of carpet is with warm water and vinegar.  Add warm water to a bucket with vinegar.  It should be about 2/3 vinegar to 1/3 warm water (just enough to dilute the vinegar).   Use a soft brush to loosen the slime up from the carpet.  Then use a clean, dry towel to blot it dry.  If it doesn’t all come up the first time, repeat the process.  Then once dry, vacuum.

If slime has landed on clothing, pull as much of the slime off of the clothes as possible, set it aside while you fill a sink or bucket with warm water.  Pour vinegar onto the remaining slime on clothes and then put it into the warm water.  You can then work more on getting any slime residue in the warm water.  If it doesn’t fully come off with just vinegar and warm water, you can add washing up liquid to the residue and rub it together.  Rinse in the warm water.

Slime in Nature

Hagfish

Slime, or mucus is used by many animals both on land and in the sea, but Hagfish have the outstanding ability to defend themselves by producing an incredible slime when touched. It comes from the glands along the side of their body, and within minutes literally liters of it can be produced. Despite being one of the most primitive vertebrates alive, this rare species is certainly strange and wonderful! Our oceans harbor amazing species that despite being a bit weird, are still worth protecting.

Hagfish have large slime glands lining their sides along the length of their bodies. When threatened hagfish secrete a high amount of slime as a defence mechanism.

What kind of tricks can they do?

One very useful trick hagfish have developed is the ability to tie themselves in knots, and be able to slide in and out of this knot. This can be used to escape predators, to clean themselves of slime, and to work their way into a carcass. They love eating dead animals – now that is really gross!

They can also sneeze to unclog their nostrils of their own slime!

Google: Slime and Hagfish and find out how scientists use this slime to replace eggs in baking. The Hagfish is very sensitive to pollution so it is also used as a measure of how healthy the water it lives in is.

The post Science of Slime appeared first on Science2Life.

Science: Chemical Indicator

Bromocresol green is a dye of the triphenylmethane family and is used as a pH indicator in applications such as growth mediums for microorganisms and titrations. The most common use of BCG is to measure serum albumin concentration within mammalian blood samples in possible cases of kidney failure and liver disease.

However, for our use we are just going to explore it’s amazing colour changing properties!

Its chemical formula is C₁₂H₁₄Br₄O₅S

This means it is made up of 36 atoms. 12 Carbon (C), 14 Hydrogen (H), 4 Bromine (Br), 5 Oxygen (O) and 1 Sulphur (S).

In solution this dye gives us three colours: orange, green and blue.

Bromocresol green colour chart

Activity: Making a colour changing bath bomb!

Nuts & Bolts

• 1 ½ teaspoons (7.5ml) Crazy Soap: Colour changing bubble bath
• ½ teaspoon Citric acid
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 3 clear beakers
• 250 ml Water
• Stirrer
• Tray

Note clear vinegar could be used to replace the citric acid.

Secrets for Success

Add 7.5 ml Bubble bath to 250 ml of water

1. Add 7.5 ml of the colour changing bubble bath to 250 ml of water. Stir the solution. You should see the bubble bath change colour from orange to green.
2. Place 3 clear beakers on a tray
3. Place ½ teaspoon of citric acid into one and 1 teaspoon of baking soda into another.
4. Pour 50 ml of your green solution into the cup with the citric acid. What colour is it now?
5. Pour 50 ml of your green solution into the cup with the baking soda. What colour is it now?
6. Stir both beakers making sure all of the chemicals are mixed thoroughly.
7. Lift the two beakers and slowly pour them into the third, empty beaker. Colour changes will occur plus lots of carbon dioxide will be formed which will bubble through the soapy liquid forming lots of foam!

Science in a Nutshell

When atoms (or groups of atoms) lose or gain electrons, charged particles called ions are formed. Ions can be either positively (lost electrons) or negatively (gained electrons) charged.

Acids      When acids dissolve in water they produce hydrogen ions, H⁺.

Alkalis    When alkalis dissolve in water they produce hydroxide ions, OH^–.

Base       A base is chemically opposite to an acid. Some bases dissolve in water and are called alkalis. But other bases, including many metal oxides, do not dissolve in water.

Neutralisation Reaction

When the H⁺ ions from an acid react with the OH^– ions from an alkali, a neutralisation reaction occurs to form water. This is the equation for the reaction:

H⁺(aq) + OH^–(aq) → H₂O(l)

For example, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions react together to form water and sodium chloride solution. The acid contains H⁺ ions and Cl^– ions, and the alkali contains Na⁺ ions and OH^– ions. The H⁺ ions and OH^– ions produce the water, and the Na⁺ ions and Cl^– ions produce the sodium chloride, NaCl(aq).

A pH Indicator is a chemical compound added in small amounts to a solution so the pH (acidity or basicity) of the solution can be seen. The pH indicator is a chemical detector for hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) or hydrogen ions (H⁺). Normally, the indicator causes the colour of the solution to change depending on the pH.

Typical indicators are phenolphthalein, methyl orange, methyl red, bromothymol blue, and thymol blue. They each change colour at different points on the pH scale, and can be used together as a universal indicator.

Bromocresol Green as an indicator is yellow in colour for pH values below 3.8; green between pH values of 3.8 and 5.4 and blue for pH values above 5.4.

What does pH mean for water?

Basically, the pH value is a good indicator of whether water is hard or soft. The pH of pure water is 7. In general, water with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, and with a pH greater than 7 is considered basic. The normal range for pH in surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5, and the pH range for groundwater systems is between 6 to 8.5.

What does pH mean for our bubble bath?

Citric acid is added to the bubble bath in a quantity which reduces the bubble bath solution to that below a pH of 3.8. With the bromocresol added this makes the bubble bath an orange/yellow colour.

As water is added to the bubble bath the pH of the solution will gradually increase. When it is between 3.8 and 5.4 the solution is green in colour.

However, the amount of water in a bath far exceeds the small quantity required for this pH range. The pH of the bath water will be greater than 5.4 which means we will see the blue colour of the bromocresol green indicator dye.

What happens when we mix our bubble bath solutions with citric acid and baking soda?

When the yellow citric acid solution is mixed with the blue baking soda solution (sodium hydrogen carbonate) a chemical reaction takes place. Lots of carbon dioxide bubbles are formed in a very short period of time – and by carefully mixing them we can achieve the green colour again!

This experiment is an example of a reaction between an acid (citric acid) and a base (baking soda). Such reactions typically form a “salt” and water.

ACID  +  BASE   –>  SALT  +  WATER

Because the acid component in this experiment is citric acid, it allows the production of one of the products to be sodium citrate. That is the stuff referred to as the “salt.” In this experiment, the base (sodium hydrogen carbonate) has a carbonate component; hence carbon dioxide is also formed.

The fancy shorthand symbols used by scientists to represent our reaction are:

C₆H₈O₇       +   3NaHCO₃             –>               Na₃C₆H₅O₇   +   3H₂O +   3CO₃

Citric acid + sodium hydrogen carbonate   makes   sodium citrate +  water + carbon dioxide

(baking soda)

This reaction is rapid and the bubble mixture foams up really quickly.

Citric acid is a common ingredient in citrus-flavoured foods. Have your children look for it in the ingredient lists on sweets and soft drinks.

Carbon dioxide in liquid form is found in many fire extinguishers.  For it to be liquid it is kept at certain pressures and temperatures; an extinguisher can only be used once for this reason.

When released the liquid CO₂ quickly changes into a gas.  This gas is heavier than air and sinks downwards. If aimed correctly the gas forms a blanket covering over the fire thus blocking out the oxygen required for combustion. The fire is extinguished.

Everything is made of chemicals, and all chemicals are made of tiny particles called atoms.  During a chemical reaction, one group of atoms are shuffled and taken apart, they get mixed with the other atoms to form a different group and make a new chemical.  Similarly, when citric acid  is mixed with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) one of the new chemicals formed is the gas CO₂.

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Born in Bordeaux in 1728 to an Irish father and a Scottish mother, Joseph Black spent his working life in Scotland. He is considered one of the world’s most eminent chemists and one of the founding fathers of the science of chemistry.

Black was a modest man and an excellent teacher. His meticulous research techniques were an inspiration to others in his day and have remained so today. In 1750, gases were still thought of as mysterious substance. Black changed all that. Through a series of careful experiments, he discovered the first gas, carbon dioxide; and he proved that it was present in the atmosphere, that it behaved like an acid, and could take part in chemical reactions, just like solids and liquids.

Scientific Discovery: Carbon Dioxide

Blacks discovery of carbon dioxide paved the way for the discovery of other gases, such as nitrogen, chlorine and ozone and especially Lavoisier’s discovery of oxygen.

In 1750, Black began experimenting with magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. By rigorously weighing everything, he found that when he heated 1 oz (28g) of magnesium carbonate for an hour it lost 7/12 of its weight. Something must have been emitted, and Black spent 2 years chasing this volatile substance.

After a series of experiments, he showed that it was a gas which he called ‘fixed air’, and which we now know as carbon dioxide.

Activity: Making Honeycomb

Nuts & Bolts

• 100 g of caster sugar
• 10 ml of vinegar
• 60 ml of golden syrup
• 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda
• A large saucepan
• A baking tray lined with greaseproof paper
• A few hungry assistants to test the honeycomb

Secrets for Success

1. Mix the sugar, golden syrup and vinegar in a large saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to the boil; then continue boiling until it turns the deep golden colour similar to that of maple syrup this should take about 3 minutes. Do not stir once it has come to the boil.
3. Beware – this syrup mixture will be very, very hot!!
4. Remove the mixture from the stove then whisk in the baking soda. The carbon dioxide produced causes the mixture to froth up, so be careful it doesn’t spill. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tray. When it is cool, cut or break the honeycomb into pieces to eat.

Science in a Nutshell

When the vinegar (ethanoic acid) is mixed with the baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) a chemical reaction takes place. Lots of carbon dioxide bubbles are formed in a very short period of time.

This experiment is an example of a reaction between an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda). Such reactions typically form a “salt” and water.

ACID  +  BASE   –>  SALT  +  WATER

Because the acid component in this experiment is ethanoic acid, it allows the production of one of the products to be sodium ethanoate. That is the stuff referred to as the “salt.” In this experiment, the base (sodium hydrogen carbonate) has a carbonate component; hence carbon dioxide is also formed.

The fancy shorthand symbols used by scientists to represent our reaction are:

CH₃COOH       +   NaHCO₃                   –>                   NaC₂H₃O₂     +      H₂CO₃

Ethanoic acid +  sodium hydrogen carbonate  makes  sodium ethanoate +  carbonic acid.

(vinegar)               (baking soda)

The NaC₂H₃O₂ is the salt called sodium ethanoate. The H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid) then breaks down into water and carbon dioxide:

H₂CO₃   –>   H₂O   +   CO₂

This break down is rapid and the honeycomb mix expands quickly.

Carbon dioxide in liquid form is found in many fire extinguishers.  For it to be liquid it is kept at certain pressures and temperatures; an extinguisher can only be used once for this reason.

When released the liquid CO₂ quickly changes into a gas.  This gas is heavier than air and sinks downwards. If aimed correctly the gas forms a blanket covering over the fire thus blocking out the oxygen required for combustion. The fire is extinguished.

Everything is made of chemicals, and all chemicals are made of tiny particles called atoms.  During a chemical reaction, one group of atoms are shuffled and taken apart, they get mixed with the other atoms to form a different group and make a new chemical.  Similarly, when vinegar is mixed with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) one of the new chemicals formed is the gas CO₂.  The bubbles of this gas can be used to turn a pop-lid drinks bottle into a most amazing volcano!

The post Kitchen Science: Honeycomb appeared first on Science2Life.

William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, was born on 26 June, 1824 at 21-25 College Square East, Belfast. This location was later home to the first cinema in Belfast – The Kelvin. He was taught by his father, a professor of mathematics. In 1832, the family moved to Glasgow where Thomson attended university from the age of 10.

In Glasgow, Thomson created the first physics laboratory in Britain. He was a pioneer in many different fields, particularly electromagnetism and thermodynamics.

Whist studying the nature of heat, Kelvin realised that it would be useful to be able to define extremely low temperatures precisely. In 1848, he proposed an absolute temperature scale.

After further research, Kelvin formulated the second law of thermodynamics. This states that heat will not flow from a colder to a hotter body.

Invention: Kelvin Scale

William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) was an ingenious inventor, theoretician and scientist. His greatest invention was designing the equipment which made it possible to send and receive telegraphic signals over very long submarine cables; this gave birth to the telecommunications revolution, and brought him fame and fortune. However, he is most remembered for his work on the nature of heat and energy.

In 1848, he noted that a gas loses 1/273 of its 0^oC – volume with every 1^oC drop in temperature. He then suggested that -273 ^oC would be thermodynamic zero and called this point absolute zero. So, Thomson devised the absolute temperature scale, now called the ‘Kelvin scale’. 1K isequivalent to 1^oC and freezing point on the Celsius scale 0^oC corresponds to 273K.

Activity: Making Ice-Cream in a Bag

Nuts & Bolts

• Thermal gloves
• Large tub with secure lid
• Small re-sealable bag
• 90 ml full fat milk
• 30 ml cream
• Large spoon of Nesquik (chocolate, strawberry or banana)
• Cup of salt
• Ice cubes to half fill the tub
• Water to rinse the bag
• Spoon
• Digital thermometer

Secrets for Success

1. Put the milk, cream and Nesquik into the bag. Seal it, whilst carefully removing as much air a possible from the bag.
2. Half fill the container with ice cubes
3. Pour the cup of salt on top of the ice.
4. Place the bag with milk on top of the ice. Seal the tub securely.
5. Put on gloves – oven, woollen gloves or a folded tea-towel.
6. Lift up the container and shake gently for 2 minutes.
7. Remove your gloves and then the lid.
8. Take out the bag which is now filled with the frozen ice cream. Rinse the opening with water if it                looks  as though salt has managed to sneak in – we don’t want our ice cream to be tainted with                salt!
9. At this stage sprinkles of your choice can be added.
10. Grab your spoon and enjoy!

Science in a Nutshell

Pure water freezes, or melts, at 0 ^oC and boils at 100 ^oC. So, between 0 ^oC and 100 ^oC, water exists in the liquid state. The water molecules are provided with enough heat energy and hence kinetic (movement) energy to move around, but not enough energy to break the relatively loose, ‘sticky’, bonds between them; when this happens, the liquid becomes a gas.

When you pour liquids into containers you will notice that they all flow and change shape to fit the dimensions of the base of any container you may put them in. All liquids take the shape of its container but its volume, at specific temperatures and pressure, always remains the same; you can test this by pouring a liquid into lots of different shaped measuring jugs: tall, thin, wide and short – the shape changes but the volume stays the same.

However, when the temperature is lowered to below 0 ^oC, the molecules cease to move around, they vibrate only, and then form the crystalline structure of ice, in which the molecules are held together by stronger, ‘stickier’, bonds.

When any substance freezes, the particles within it arrange themselves into an orderly pattern.  This arrangement is called a crystal.  When table or rock salt (sodium chloride NaCl) is added to water, a saline solution is formed and the forming of this solution interferes with the orderly arrangement of the particles in the crystal.  The result of this is an increase in heat energy required to be removed from the solution before freezing can occur i.e. the solution freezes at a much lower temperature than 0 ^oC.  Salt acts as a freezing point depressant. This is why we spread salt on the roads and pathways when the weather person lets us know the temperatures are going to be below zero.

Without the salt the surface water will freeze at 0^oC, however, with salt added the surfaces won’t freeze over until the temperatures are below – 18^oC. What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in your home town?

The movement energy of the molecules in a substance is related to the temperature.  If the molecules initially have a lot of kinetic (movement) energy and we then remove heat from the substance, the molecules will then also lose kinetic energy; the less kinetic energy they have the lower is the temperature; so, by adding salt to the water more heat energy must be removed before the solution can freeze, and furthermore, the more particles of salt added, the more kinetic energy must be removed from the solution before it freezes; the greater the concentration of the salt (solute) the lower the freezing point of the water (solvent).

The more salt you add the greater the decrease in freezing temperature. In laboratory conditions scientists have lowered the freezing point of very salty water to – 21 ^oC.

Ice has to absorb heat energy in order to melt, in this demonstration; the heat energy is absorbed from the milk, the surrounding air and the hands holding the tub. When you add the salt to the melted ice, it lowers the freezing point of the water-salt solution.

To melt the newly formed ice which is at a temperature now less than 0^oC, even more energy has to be absorbed from the environment in order to make it melt. The newly formed ice is now colder than before, which is how your milk mixture freezes into ice-cream so quickly and it is for this reason that hands need to be protected from the possibility of frost bite.

Dissolving the salt

 When the salt is added to the water, the water molecules attract and bond to the sodium and chlorine atoms, which make up the salt molecule, causing the particles to separate from each other.

There are 2 processes taking place here

1.     It takes energy to break the bond between the sodium and chlorine atoms.

2.     Energy is released when water molecules bond to the salt ions.

For this salt it takes more energy to separate the particles of the salt (solute) than is released when the water molecules bond to the particles so we experience a decrease in temperature; this is called an endothermic reaction

If it takes less energy to separate the particles of a solute than is released when the water molecules bond to the particles, an increase in temperature occurs; this is an exothermic reaction. Caustic soda dissolved in water releases a lot of heat which is why we find it in drain cleaners.

Some parts of the world experience very cold winters and temperatures. On a daily basis, they have temperatures very much below 0^oC. In these conditions, you can’t add salt to the roads and pathways because there is no liquid water present to initially dissolve the salt and cause it to dissociate i.e., go from one NaCl molecule into two ions: Na+ and Cl-.

Sodium Chloride, NaCl, isn’t the only salt used in de-icing, nor is it necessarily the best choice. NaCl dissolves into two types of particles; one Na+ ion and one Cl – – ion per sodium chloride molecule. A compound that yields more ions into a water solution would lower the freezing point even more. For example, calcium chloride, CaCl₂, dissolves into three ions one Ca2+ ion and two Cl – ions. The lowest street measured temperature using calcium chloride is -29 ^oC as compared with the -18 ^oC for sodium chloride.

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This activity, as well as being great fun, will also lend to opportunities to help develop your children to ‘Think like a Scientist!’

For all experiments, children should be wearing ‘safety’ glasses to protect their eyes from splashes. Swimming goggles, sun glasses, basically any type of eye wear is suitable.

What you need:

• An empty Vitamin C canister
• Fizzy tablets, such as Alka-Seltzer or Vitamin C
• Water
• Tray
• Measuring jug, baby’s bottle, medicine syringe (if you don’t have one the pharmacist may give you one)
• Empty water bottle – less than 500 ml
• Balloon
• Small funnel

What to do:

Pour a small amount of water – to roughly give you a depth of 1 cm – into a clear beaker.

Watch the bubbles of carbon dioxide leave the surface of the dissolving tablet

What do you have in the kitchen that would allow you to measure the volume of the water added more accurately?

Drop in one fizzy tablet.

Watch what happens.

How long does it take for the tablet to completely dissolve?

How much gas was produced?

Did all of the tablet dissolve? If not, more water is needed.

First experiment could be finding out the smallest volume of water required to completely dissolve one tablet.

If the tablet is broken up into smaller pieces i.e. 2 halves, 4 quarters, powdered, what happens to time it takes for the tablet to completely dissolve?

Crush one tablet up and, using a funnel, pour it into the balloon. Now use the funnel to pour some water into a small empty plastic drinks bottle. Carefully stretch the neck of the balloon over the top of the bottle, making sure none of the powder drops into the bottle. Now lift the balloon up and gently shake it so that the powder falls down on top of the water. What happens?

Now Let’s make the Rocket!

Unless you have really high ceilings I recommend these rockets to be launched outside!

1/4 fill your canister with water – or use the volume you have calculated earlier.

Just add 10 ml of water to the tube – then you are ready to experiment!

Drop half a tablet onto the surface of the water and quickly push the lid on tightly.  Shake twice hold the tube upright (lid facing skywards) and wait.

The bubbles emitted are trapped inside the tube, which unlike the balloon cannot expand; this means that the pressure will build up due to the many molecules of carbon dioxide gas hitting the sides.

After a short while the pressure becomes so great the frictional forces keeping the lid on are overcome and the gas pressure forces the lid and the canister to separate.

Repeat – this time count (or use a timer) how long does it takes for the lid and canister to separate? This lets you know how much time you have before your rocket will fly skywards.

How high does the lid fly?

Can you work out the best angle to hold your launcher so that the lid flies the furthest distance?

Do you have a target? A bin or bucket? Can you make a target? Stacked cans?

I hope you are having lots of fun – and imagine we haven’t even started making the rocket yet!

Repeat the above experiment again, however this time place the canister upside down – lid downwards – on the tray.

The canister will be projected upwards at great speed and with a loud “POP”. Try out different sized pieces of tablet and predict which one will have the longest or shortest launching time.

Health and Safety:

• Make sure the rocket canister is not pointing at anyone and that no-one is too close to it during the launching process.
• Make sure that any spilt liquid is mopped up off of the floor – if you carrying out this experiment indoors.

3…2…1…POP!

Guaranteed to make a mess!!

You may want to decorate your fins before you attach them to your rocket

What you will need:

• Dissolving tablets canister – Vitamins or denture
• sheet of paper
• scissors
• scotch tape
• vitamin C tablet – or denture cleaning tablet
• small amount of water

Wrap rectangular piece of paper around the canister to make the body of the rocket. Note: Leave enough of the

canister showing so that the lid can be pushed on.

Use tape to secure paper tube to canister and to hold the paper tube itself together.

Cut out three fins, fold on the dashed line. Attach the short, folded parts to the base of the rocket body. Make sure they are evenly spread around the base.

Fold the circular paper piece and cut in half. To make the nose cone, fold it so that it looks like the one below. Tape the flap down – make sure the open end is wide enough to be taped onto the rocket body.

Put water and 1/2 a ptablet of vitamin C into the canister, push cap on tightly, place on the ground with pointy end up and step back quickly.

The water will dissolve the vitamin C tablet releasing carbon dioxide gas.

When the increasing gas pressure inside the canister overcomes the resistance of the

Using sticky tape or glue dots attach the cone to your rocket

cap, the gas and cap jet downwards and the rocket body and fins will move upwards.

This is how a real rocket works, whether it is in outer space or in the earth’s atmosphere. A typical canister rocket will lift off in 10 to 30 seconds and will reach heights between 2 – 5 metres.

When decorating the tube make sure you leave ½ cm of the tube sticking out so that the sticky tape has a surface to stick to.

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