"Science experiments" to conduct with a 10 year old...

[Sway]

Yes, I could look this up on YouTube, or Google - but quite frankly you lot will come up with far better suggestions...

Boy child is ten, and after a couple of years at school where he was the class clown, and falling behind in maths and English, he's really knuckled down and learned to concentrate and apply himself.

Parent's evening last night and his teacher was full of praise. Noted that he's hugely keen on anything practical and "science-y" - one example was filling up a bottle with water, holding it upside down and shaking it, then watching it empty really quickly thanks to the vortex generated.

As a bit of a reward, I'd like to spend a weekend doing some of these sorts of things - the cooler the better. Don't mind buying a few bits, and don't mind if there's a level of risk (as long as it's not daft)...

Any suggestions? If non-household items are needed, please let me know where you'd suggest buying them.

I'm thinking things that make bangs, or things that levitate. Daft chemical reactions. That sort of thing...

Cheers!

[Eric Mc]

Newton's laws would be quite good - and fun - to demonstrate.

Properly scaled planetary and stellar distances are also instructive and fun to demonstrate.

[Peanut Gallery]

Up in Aberdeen we have a satrosphere - http://aberdeensciencecentre.org/ - there might be something local to you?

[Puggit]

The obvious one is bicarbonate of soda plus vinegar - if you do it right you can make a volcano.

Mentos plus Coke

Liver plus hydrogen peroxide (higher on the danger list, buying peroxide might mark you as a bomb maker)

[Jamp]

Bicycle pump powered plastic bottle rocket? Related to the vortex thing. http://www.instructables.com/lesson/Pump-Rocket/

[HarryFlatters]

Flour mill explosion?

It might put you on a watch list if you go bigger than an old paint pot though

[Beati Dogu]

You can do the old “break a wooden ruler with a sheet of newspaper” experiment to demonstrate air pressure.

E.g: https://youtu.be/UvMmfacVA24

There’s a few more he shows too.

[catfood12]

Sign up to the monthly experiments from Mel Science. £40 starter kit, then two child friendly and very visual experiments come through the post each month. Captivates my children of similar age to yours, and me.

Also similar kits from Boldport, electronics kits to build each month. Just completed this month’s electronic dice kit !

[Vaud]

Loads of stuff on this site:

https://www.robotshop.com/uk/snap-circuits.html

Snap circuits, electronics kits, robots, etc.

Home chemistry is fun. Build a rocket, etc

[Stupeo]

My almost 8-yr old is obsessed with Rockets and we created some Match Rockets this weekend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf0qa0c3Vrw

Good fun and cheap to make. But actually very difficult to get right - our success rate was about 50%, but the ones that worked went a good 40-50ft.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Jamp said:

Bicycle pump powered plastic bottle rocket? Related to the vortex thing. http://www.instructables.com/lesson/Pump-Rocket/

Liking this, summer project for my two

[CubanPete]

Puggit said:

The obvious one is bicarbonate of soda plus vinegar - if you do it right you can make a volcano.

Mentos plus Coke

Liver plus hydrogen peroxide (higher on the danger list, buying peroxide might mark you as a bomb maker)

Or worse, as a hairdresser.



Sound like a brilliant weekend plan.

Have a look here

http://www.technologyforfun.co.uk/

and when he nails a few reward with a trip to the Science Museum.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Whilst on the subject anyone know what the legalities are of flying model rockets. I'm assuming you can't just find a quiet field somewhere and launch one unless you own the field I guess?

[Sway]

Cheers all - we've done 'match rockets', and I know he's done the 'pump rocket' at school...

Flour bombs are a great shout, as is the homemade thermite I remember the recipe for from my youth...

However, I've just signed him up to the Mel Science kits - seems reasonable value for money, and looking through they seem to hit the mark for quality and 'impact'.

Any other suggestions happily received!

[CubanPete]

Does your school (or planned secondary) do greenpower?

Would you be prepared to start a club...?

[CoolHands]

Electrical circuits of some kind? Kits can be bought.

[ruggedscotty]

ohms law

transformers

crystal radio

all sorts of interesting things to be demonstrated and the theory made easy to understand

[Puggit]

CubanPete said:

Or worse, as a hairdresser.

Sway did used to own a Eunos

[Sway]

Puggit said:

CubanPete said:

Or worse, as a hairdresser.

Sway did used to own a Eunos

I'm on my second! A mark 2 RS this time - which I've just spent more than it's value on some very trick dampers for...

And yes, I'll do you all a great deal on a haircut. You might not like the result, but your hair will have been cut...

[Northbloke]

Great thread idea.

Was very pleased when my daughter asked me last week to buy some cornflour to do this:

https://youtu.be/XbWBkwM1WAI?t=42

She'd seen it on-line so all those hours staring at her phone weren't wasted!

Doesn't pass the explosive test but did give her an hour of fun and allowed her to get very messy.

Felt I needed to encourage this curiosity so have been looking for similar easy ideas. Keep 'em coming.