Scientific Method Demonstrations

The following demonstrations will be used in the Scientific Method Experiment to demonstrate a few scientific concepts:

Demo One: Non-Newtonian fluid, Surface Tension

Materials

• Corn Starch
• Water
• A clear plastic container
• wooden board
• hammer
• nails

Mix the corn starch and the water together until you get a fairly viscous solution. You will know when it it ready when you can stick your fingers into it but if you slap it it will be like hitting a hard surface. Place the board on the solution, place it flat or you will have it sink messing up the experiment. Now hammer the nails into the board, should go fairly easily. Now pull the board up and place it in the liquid by putting the narrow side first and show that it will sink.

Demo Two: Excitation of Particles, Wavelengths

Materials

• 2-3 highlighters (different colors make it a lot more fun)
• Water
• Large clear container
• Clear plastic cups
• Tweezers
• A UV Light

Pour water into the same number of glasses as you have highlighters, filling each glass with roughly a cup of water (8 oz.). Remove the ink cartridge from the first highlighter and place it in the first glass, repeat this for the other highlighters. Let the cartridges sit in the water for 30 minutes. Turn off the lights and turn on the uv light then slowly pour each glass into a larger clear container and watch the water glow.

Demo Three: Electromagnetism

You will need:

• thick copper wire
• AA battery
• 2 round neodymium magnets of the same diameter as the battery
• A rod thinker in diameter than the magnets

Coil the wire around the rod forming a long spring. Use some copper wire to attach the magnets to both ends of the battery. Stick the battery/magnets into the copper spring and form a closed loop then watch the battery move around the loop.

Demo Four: Chemical Reaction

You will need:

• 3/4 of a glass of water
• 1 teaspoon of potassium permanganate
• 1 tablespoon of liquid soap
• 6% Hydrogen peroxide (3% works alright but for a really spectacular foam use the 6%)
• clear container

Put the water in the clear container, dissolve the potassium permanganate, add the soap. Quickly and carefully pour the hydrogen peroxide into the container and watch it foam.

Demo Five: Potential Energy converting to Rotational Energy

You will need:

• 3 foot piece of string
• Washers (14:1 ratio)

Tie 14 washers to one end of the string, tie one washer to the other end. Have someone stand with their hand 2.5 feet off of a surface, place the heavy side hanging a few inches off of the persons finger, hold the other end tight a set distance from the person, release your end.

Demo Six: Heat Transfer

You will need:

• Balloons
• Water
• Matches

Fill one balloon with just air, to a second balloon add 1/4 cup of water and fill the rest of the way with air. Hold a match to the first one and watch it pop. Then hold a match to the second one right underneath the water and show how it does not pop, move the match to where there is just air in the balloon and watch it pop and splash all over.