simple science experiment at home – JM Cremp's Adventure Blog

Easy Science Project: How To Make a Bouncy Egg

August 8, 2016September 1, 2016 jmcrempsLeave a comment

Are you in need of a simple science project that only requires a few household ingredients? Look no further! Parents are always telling children not to play with their food, but they’ll make an exception on this one. Try this fun experiment that turns an egg into a bouncy ball! The only ingredients required are an egg or two, some vinegar, and a container.

Step 1: Get a container of vinegar ready. Find a jar or Tupperware container large enough to fit the egg. Grab a bottle of regular white vinegar and fill the jar or Tupperware container with vinegar. Don’t fill it all the way to the brim though, because then putting the egg in will make it overflow.

Step 2: Add dye if you want to color your bouncy egg. You can easily make your finished bouncy egg any color you want to by adding food coloring dye to the vinegar. Just add around 10 drops of the dye to the vinegar, or enough to color the whole container of vinegar.

It doesn’t have to be filled to the top but it should be filled high enough so that the egg can be completely submerged in vinegar.

Step 3: Submerge an egg. Get a raw, unboiled egg. Place the raw egg in the vinegar-filled container. Just drop it in from right above the vinegar so the vinegar doesn’t splash everywhere. Make sure it is completely submerged.

Step 4: Cover the container. Place a lid on your container and leave it somewhere safe but out of the sun. The less sunlight it gets the better, so either put it somewhere dark like a closet, or cover it with something like a kitchen cloth.

Step 5: Wait for the shell of the egg to completely dissolve. This process can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. To be on the safe side, wait three days before continuing.

Step 6: Check the egg. Look at the egg through the container every once and a while to check its progress. The egg will turn a transparent color because the eggshell is decreasing in thickness. The eggshell will soon dissolve, leaving a thick strong egg white.

The reason the shell dissolves is because vinegar is a weak acid. The egg shell is made of calcium carbonate. When the shell meets vinegar, it makes a chemical reaction that turns the calcium carbonate into carbon dioxide, which is what those bubbles in the container are.

Step 7: Remove the egg. Take the egg out of the vinegar carefully. Just reach in and pull it out with your hand. Don’t forget to wash your hand afterwards. Place the egg on a couple of paper towels to let it drain.

Be extra careful when handling a raw bouncy egg. It will be more fragile than a boiled bouncy egg.

Step 8: Bounce it. Make sure it’s dry first. You can speed this up by drying it by hand with a paper towel. Be careful not to drop it from too high of a height, as it can still break and leave a mess. Start with just a few inches, and have cleaning supplies ready!

If you enjoyed this project and are looking for more science-related entertainment, be sure to check out jmcremps.com for a great selection of science kits, science books, and loads of other fun, exciting, and educational items!

The instructional portion of this article was provided by wikihow, a wiki building the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How To Make A Bouncy Egg. Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

At Home Science Experiment for Kids – How to Make a Cloud in Bottle!

April 7, 2016May 3, 2016 jmcrempsLeave a comment

Who needs to look up in the sky to gaze at the cloud formations when you can make your own cloud that you can hold in your hand. All you need is a plastic soda or water bottle and a few common household items. Try this easy at-home science experiment and create your own cloud in a bottle. It’s easy, fun, and educational.

1. Assemble your supplies. Have your supplies on hand before you start on this experiment. You will need:

Plastic bottle with a cap: A 2-liter soda bottle is ideal for this experiment. Make sure to remove the label from the plastic bottle. Then you will be able to see the clouds when they form inside the bottle. It is also best to choose a clear bottle.
Matches
Water

2. Pour hot water into the bottle. Use hot water from the tap. Pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the bottle (about 2 centimeters).

Don’t use boiling water in a plastic bottle. The plastic might warp and the experiment won’t work. The water should be hot, though. Try for about 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Swirl around the water a bit to warm up the sides of the bottle.

3. Strike a match. Blow it out after a few full seconds. Make sure an adult is assisting you with this step.

4. Toss the burned match into the bottle. Tilt the bottle with one hand and insert head of the match into the top of the bottle. Let the smoke from the match fill the bottle. , where it will seem to disappear. Discard the match.

5. Screw the cap onto the bottle. Grip the neck of the bottle so that you do not squeeze the sides before the cap is screwed in completely. This prevents any smoke or air from escaping.

6. Squeeze the sides of the bottle hard. Do this three or four times. Wait a few seconds then squeeze the bottle again, this time holding the squeeze longer before releasing.

7. Look at the formation of fog in the bottle. You should see your very own cloud there! Putting pressure on the bottle’s sides forces the water particles to compress. When you let go of the sides of the bottle, the air expands, decreasing the temperature. When the air cools, the particles can stick together a little more easily, which causes them to clump into little tiny droplets around the smoke molecules.

This mimics the process of clouds forming in the sky. Clouds in the sky are made up of water droplets that have clung to tiny particles of dust, smoke, ash, or salt.

Science Experiment Tips

Experiment with how many times and how hard you squeeze the bottle.
If you do not have matches, you can use a lighter and a piece of paper or an incense stick to make the smoke that you need.
Experiment with adding a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the water (distilled liquor also works) to make a more visible cloud.
Use adult supervision when lighting and handling the match if you’re a child.

For more fun experiments, visit jmcremps.com science department where you’ll find all kinds of science experiments, science kits, and science books.

The instructional portion of this article was provided by wikiHow, a wiki building the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Cloud in a Bottle. Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

A Sweet Science Treat Every Kid Will Love – At Home Science Experiment for Kids

February 10, 2016 jmcrempsLeave a comment

This edible science experiment kit for kids is fun, educational and yummy too.

Science can be fun, science can be messy, and science can be sweet. Yes, I said sweet. Not every kid is a natural chemistry lover, but aren’t all kids natural treat lovers? The minute you mix science and sweets together you will be amazed at how your “do we have to do science” child can change into a “can we do that science experiment now” child. Best of all, it’s the perfect way to extend the Valentine’s Day love. Make some candy (in the name of science, of course), and then share it with the ones you love! Win-Win!

The Candy Chemistry Set from the at-home science experiment experts, Thames & Kosmos, is our top pic for sweet science experiments. The kit includes over 25 tasty experiments and has everything you and you’re young Einsteins need to make mouth-watering treats. Together you’ll explore the worlds of math, chemistry and physical science. Best of all, this kit receives rave reviews from kids and parents alike because it is fun, educational and easy to use.

The one science experiment you can eat when you're done! — The one science experiment you can eat when you’re done!

•Use this educational science kit to discover why sugar crystallizes to make rock candy.
• Study the phases of matter and discover specific heat as you melt chocolates and pour them into molds.
• Learn to use a thermometer as you cook hard candy from sugar.
• Practice measuring and conversions.
• Investigate the chemistry of gummy bears. Yum!
•And, the bonus…. discover the mysterious phenomenon of triboluminescence with wintergreen candies. (You may not even know what that is yet, but trust us – it’s cool!)

As cool as this at home science experiment for kids is, it has one advantage few other science kits can claim. With this kit, you can eat your experiment when you are done! This kit is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Check out all the other awesome science experiments for kids at jmcremps.com.

A Sweet Home Science Experiment for Kids – Rock Candy

January 8, 2014January 8, 2014 jmcrempsLeave a comment

Old fashioned rock candy is as fun to make as it to eat. In doing this experiment, you’ll experience first hand the properties of saturated and unsaturated solutions and the effect that heat has on both. While there may be more exciting at home science experiments for kids, this one is definitely the sweetest.

Rock Candy Science Experiment for kids — Create your own Rock Candy in this simple science experiment for kids.

For this kids science experiment you will need:

a clean wooden skewer
a clothespin
1 cup of water
approximately 3 cups of sugar
a tall narrow glass jar
An adult to help you because this experiment uses extremely hot liquids.
Food coloring (optional)

What to do:

Pour the water into the pan and bring it to a boil.
Add ½ c. of sugar and stir it until it dissolves.
Keep adding more sugar, ¼ c. at a time until no more sugar will dissolve. Stir continuously. This requires time and patience because as you add more and more sugar, it will take longer for it to dissolve. This is also where most mistakes are made. People lose patience and quit stirring too early. If you don’t create a completely saturated sugar/water solution, your rock candy will not form.
Once you are sure that no more sugar will dissolve into the water, remove the pot from the heat. If you would like to stir food color in to your solution, do so now.
Allow the solution to cool for at least 25 minutes.
While the mixture is cooling, dip the skewer into the solution and roll it in sugar. This will give the crystals a head start so they will grow faster.
Have an adult pour the sugar solution into a clean glass.
Clip the skewer into the clothespin and lay the clothespin across the top of the jar so that the skewer hangs down into the liquid but does not touch the bottom.
Carefully move your jar to a place where your jar will not be disturbed. Your crystals will grow in 3 to 7 days.

How does the science behind this work? Well, when you heated the water and added the sugar, you created a completely saturated solution. The water could only dissolve that much sugar because it was so hot. Therefore, when the solution cooled, the sugar was released from the water and solid sugar crystals formed creating Rock Candy.

Want to try some other SWEET science experiments? The Soda Geyser Car uses Mentos candy and a 2 liter bottle of soda to create a rocket car. The Great Geysers Science Kit uses similar candy and the principles of chemical reactions to create some amazing geysers. Check out JM Cremp’s Science Department for these and other great at home science experiments for kids.

The above photo”Rock Candy Sticks” by Evan-Amos is licensed under CC 3.0.

Make Your Own Potato Powered Clock – Science Projects for Kids

October 31, 2013 jmcremps2 Comments

Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, French fries and homemade clocks, what do they have in common? They all start with potatoes! That’s right, potatoes don’t just provide you with energy when you eat them, thy will also power a clock. This is an easy, at-home science project that will demonstrate how we can supply our energy needs in ways other than just flipping the switch on the wall. Potato clocks are fun and easy to assemble, but first you’ll need to gather some basic supplies.

2 large clean potatoes, or 2 halves of a large potato.
2 galvanized nails (zinc)
2 copper nails or wires
3 jumper wires (with alligator clips on each end)
A Battery operated LCD clock (gray display with black numbers, like a cheap watch, normally taking just one 1.5V battery)

The nails, copper nails, or copper wire, can be found at most hardware stores. Most hardware stores also carry jumper wires with alligator clips, but if yours doesn’t they can also be found at electronics stores. If you are having trouble finding supplies, JM Cremps carries the complete Potato Clock Kit along with other science projects for kids.

First, assemble the items you need, and then let’s get started!

Step 1: Separate the two potatoes. Each potato works as a “galvanic cell,” releasing electrical energy through chemical reactions.^[1] Call one potato A (or 1), and the other potato B (or 2).

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 1 — Here’s the Science: The bulk of the potato just serves as a case for the cell, holding everything in position. The potato juice serves as the “electrolyte,” in which charged atoms and molecules called “ions” dissolve and can flow over time. The dilute phosphoric acid in it also provides hydrogen ions for the reaction.
Some atoms (or molecules) strongly attract extra electrons and become negatively charged ions, called onions (“an-ions”); others are easily stripped of some electrons and become positively charged “cations” (“cat-ions”). Each element attracts electrons with different force, due to the differing charge of protons with which their nucleus attracts electrons and the manner in which the marginal “valence” electrons arrange themselves around the nucleus and other electrons. The potato juice has dilute phosphoric acid, some of which dissolves dissociated into as hydrogen cations (basically) and phosphate anions.

Step 2: Place one galvanized nail in each potato.

Step 3: Place one copper nail or wire piece into each potato ensuring that the nails don’t touch.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 3 — At this stage it is really important to understand that this experiment will work only if the galvanized nails and the copper nails/wire are as far apart as possible on the potato because the distance between them is what generates the power.

Step 4: Remove the battery compartment lid from the clock.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 4 — If there is already a battery in it, remove it. Take notice of the battery’s polarity in relation to how it connects to the clock.

Step 5: Connect the first jumper wire from the copper nail or wire of potato A to the positive terminal of the clock.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 5 — To do this, take one jumper lead and attach the alligator clip to the copper nail or wire and then the other end’s alligator clip to the positive terminal (denoted by the symbol + ).

Step 6: Connect the second jumper wire from the galvanized nail of potato B to the negative terminal of the clock, denoted by the symbol “-“.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step — When you stick the zinc electrode (the plating on the galvanized nail) and the copper electrode (the copper nail or wire) in the potato, each metal, having less electron affinity than the hydrogen ions, would tend to have its atoms stripped of their electrons by the hydrogen ions. The neutral hydrogen atoms would join together into hydrogen gas molecules and escape; the metal cations would tend to disperse away and more hydrogen diffuse in to continue the reaction slowly bubbling away the acid’s hydrogen and consuming the metals. Zinc has even less electron affinity than copper. So, if you connect the electrodes with a conductor, the wire, some electrons will tend to flow in it from the zinc to the copper. The removal of some electrons from the zinc electrode will make a few of its atoms fall off as cations and be dissolved away. The excess of electrons at the copper will make hydrogen preferentially take them up there, but also tend to make the copper keep its electrons and not be corroded (or, more precisely, shift the reaction equilibrium so that the copper ions that do fall off tend to regain electrons and reattach for little or no net corrosion). The removal of electrons from the copper and the addition of electrons to the zinc would tend to build up areas of electric charge that would retard the reaction. But more electrons keep conducting through the wire, and more hydrogen and zinc ions keep dispersing through the potato to maintain fresh solution at each electrode, to keep the reaction going. The force with which the copper thus draws the electrons can be used to do work, like run a clock.

Step 7: Connect the third jumper wire to the galvanized nail of potato A.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 7 — Then connect its other end to the copper nail of potato B. By this stage all three jumper leads are interconnected and the clock should be functioning.

Step 8: Check the clock.

Make Your Own Potato Clock - At Home Science Project for Kids step 8 — The reaction slows as the zinc metal and the hydrogen ions are depleted. The force with which the hydrogen pulled the electrons off the zinc, in a very roundabout way, is what the cell makes available to you for work–with a little being “wasted”, of course.
Wiring the potato cells end-to-end makes a “series circuit”, pulling the stream of electrons through the clock with twice as much force as one potato would apply. It also makes them properly called a “battery”, because you’re using more than one electrochemical “cell”.
Once it’s working, why not set the time on the clock to the current time!
If the clock doesn’t work, check that all connections are secure and in the right order, and double-check the polarity of the clock. If it still doesn’t work, your clock might require more power than the very little a vegetable battery can provide. You can satisfy yourself that the battery is producing some electricity with a multimeter and measuring its voltage (electrical pressure) and current (electrical flow, amps). If you have to choose scales, choose very low ones: these batteries produce a volt or two and a few milliamps.

Click here to see the animated version of these instructions.

The instructional portion of this article was provided by wikiHow, a wiki building the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Potato Clock in 9 Steps. Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

Erupt Your Own Giant Soda Geyser – At Home Science Experiment for Kids

August 21, 2013 jmcrempsLeave a comment

This fun science experiment for kids is easy, exciting, and brings “oohs” and “aahs” from everyone around. It’s easy to do – just drop the mentos into the bottle of soda and watch the eruption! This experiment is as exciting as Fourth of July fireworks with the added benefit of a mini science lesson.

Soda Geyser Tube At Home Science Experiments for Kids — Think how much fun they’ll have erupting a bottle of soda!

What exactly will your kids learn from this dramatic experiment? They’ll learn that a chemical reaction occurs when two substances combine to form a new substance. If you explain this concept to them before the experiment, they will see with their own eyes this simple and amazing transformation. In this case, the demonstration will be the most valuable part of the lesson.

You will need:

One 2-liter bottle of diet soda
One package of Mentos mint candy
One empty toilet paper roll

Step 1: Slice the toilet paper roll lengthwise so that it fits into mouth of the soda bottle. This creates a tube that will allow you to drop the entire package of Mentos into the bottle at one time.

Step 2: Slide all of the Mentos through the soda tube – and RUN! In an instant, the chemical reaction will begin to take place between the candy and the soda, and your soda bottle will shoot a geyser into the air up to 25 feet high!

TIPS: Do this kids science experiment outside – otherwise, your house will never be the same again! Also, you can use regular soda, but diet soda works a little better and doesn’t leave a sticky mess behind.

To make this experiment go off without a hitch, pick up the Geyser Tube kit. It contains a package of mentos and a special tube that makes quick work of adding the mentos to the soda. (No cutting toilet paper rolls here!) At under six dollars, it’s a good deal because the tube can be used over and over again.

At home science experiments like this one are not only exciting for your kids, they can help to foster a life long love of science. JM Cremps carries many home science experiments kits for kids of all ages. Our Gravity Goo Science Experiments for Kids kit allows them to create a special goo that will defy gravity right before their very eyes. If launching rockets is more in line with your child’s way of thinking, then the Pop Top Rockets Kit will really intrigue them. If engines and electronics are more popular at your house, then the “Build Your Own Internal Combustion Engine” Kit is a great tool for your youngsters to learn the basics of a modern engine. The kit contains everything they’ll need to build a complete working engine and includes detailed instructions for every step of the process.

Encourage a Curious Mind with this Simple Kids Science Experiment at Home

September 10, 2012September 20, 2013 jmcrempsLeave a comment

Why is the sky blue? What makes a wheel turn? How do airplanes fly? These questions show a kid’s natural curiosity of the world around them. Science is an excellent tool to help kids strategically find the answers to their many questions. Here at JM Cremp’s, we specialize in developing the adventurous and inquisitive minds of children. We highly recommend these great science kits for kids and simple science projects to encourage the learning process.

Science experiments don’t have to be complicated or expensive. This simple science project for kids uses materials that are found in most kitchens and can be completed in a few minutes. It is easy and safe, so it is perfect for kids of all ages. So call in the little mad scientists and let’s get started.

The 3 Layer Float

Have you ever wondered why wood floats and rocks sink? The answer is density. Density is simply the measurement of how solid something is. This experiment will show the different density of 3 substances and 3 objects.

Gather Your Materials:

Oil
Water
Honey
Grape
Coin
Cork
Tall Clear Cup

Note: Corn syrup will work as a substitute for honey. Don’t have a cork handy? Try a small piece of wood or a leaf instead.

Procedure for kids science experiment at home — Procedure for kids science experiment.

Begin the Science Experiment Procedure:

1.   Fill 1/3 of the tall clear cup with honey.
2.   Fill the next third with oil.
3.   Fill the last third with water.
4.   Wait a minute and let all three substances settle.
5.   Carefully drop in the coin, then the grape and then the cork.

Results for science project for kids — Results for kids science project.

Results and Observations:

Answer these questions as you make your observations:

1.   What layer is the water?
2.   What substance settled on top?
3.   What happened to the coin?
4.   What happened to the grape?
5.   What happened to the cork?

Now that you have made your observations it’s time to determine the results. Discuss these questions to reach a conclusion:
1.   What substance has the highest density? (bottom liquid)
2.   What substance has the lowest density? (top liquid)
3.   What object has a higher density than honey?
4.   What objects have a higher density than water?
5.   What object has the lowest density?

For a little extra fun, stir the contents of the glass and watch what happens!
Download printable kids science project here.

We think the words learning and fun should always be in the same sentence. From mechanical science to chemistry, kids science activities are a great way to keep the fun in learning. If you are a homeschooling family, this is a great family science experiment since you can involve both younger and older students.