Structures around the world rely on arches for support. Arches are extremely strong under compression, even in items as seemingly delicate as eggshells and lightbulbs.
Subjects: Physics
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Mixing Oil and Water
When liquids are weightless, they form a sphere. Make a sphere of oil inside a beaker of water and alcohol.
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Weightlessness
In order to feel your weight, you have to feel the earth pushing against you. If you are accelerating toward the earth at a rate equal to the force of gravity, then you are weightless. These demonstrations illustrate this point nicely.
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The Electric Pencil
Build a simple electric circuit using a penicl stroke on a piece of paper to conduct the current.
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Spitting Sparks
Salt water and acids both conduct electricity. So what about saliva, which is both salty and acidic?
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Barrel Roll Science
It’s race time, and the Which will roll down a hill faster – an enpty barrel, or a barrel filled with a hockey player? Explore the science of rotating objects – the concept known as ‘moment of inertia’.
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Liquid Pressure
Hydraulics are based upon the transmission of forces through liquids. Because liquids are virtually incompressible, they readily transmit and even magnify forces, which can lead to some fun demonstrations!
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How Does a Toilet Flush?
A simple model of a toilet tank illustrates how it flushes with no mechanical parts other than a flap.
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Playing With Inertia
Inertia is the resistance to a change in motion – whether already moving or standing still. Here are some simple and fun examples!
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Three Types of Magnetism
Here are three types of magnetism that are easily demonstrated. Two are very weak and easily overlooked, but they become apparent under the right conditions.