Air Cannon 

Did you know you can build your very own air cannon by using a few items from around the house? 

Ingredients

Instructions
STEP 1: Using a knife have an adult cut a 5 inch hole in the bottom of the trash can.     
STEP 2: Cut a large square from the shower curtain.  Make sure this square is large enough to stretch over the top of the trash can.
STEP 3:  Stretch the piece of shower curtain over the top of the trash can.
STEP 4:  Secure the piece of shower curtain with the bungee cords.   

Explanation
The air cannon proves that air takes up space.  When you hit the shower curtain the pressure on the inside of the can increases and pushes the air out of the trash can.  The smaller the hole in the bottom of the trash the faster the air will push out of the trash can. 

BALLOON BLOW-UP

What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda?  It creates a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas that will blow up a balloon. 

Ingredients

Instructions
STEP 1:  Using the funnel, add 3 teaspoons of baking soda to the balloon.
STEP 2:  Fill the bottle 1/3 full with vinegar
STEP 3:  Without dropping in the baking soda, fit the balloon over  the bottle opening
STEP 4:  Hold up the balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar and watch.

Explanation
When you mixed the baking soda with the vinegar you caused a chemical reaction that created carbon dioxide gas.  The carbon dioxide gas caused the balloon to expand.

Balloon Blow Up Worksheet

SODA CAN SCIENCE

It's happened to us all once or twice, we go to open our favorite can of soda and it spews all over the place.  You can stop this from happening by using a little science trick and it has nothing to do with tapping the top.  

Ingredients

Instructions
STEP 1:   Rapidly shake a can of soda.  
STEP 2:   Instead of tapping the top of the can tap the side of the can several times   
STEP 3:   Open the soda!

Explanation
By tapping the side you dislodge the carbon dioxide bubbles from the walls of the can to the top of the can.  Upon opening the can the carbon dioxide bubbles rush out and the soda stays in the can.   

Soda Can Science Worksheet

DIAPER GENIE WINDBAG

How many breaths of air will it take you to blow up a six foot long Diaper Genie windbag?  Using Bernoulli's Principle it will only take one breath.  Here's another experiment that might get you "Hooked on Science." 

Ingredients

• Diaper Genie Refill 

Instructions
STEP 1:  Remove about six feet of Diaper Genie refill and cut.
STEP 2:  Tie a knot in one end of Diaper Genie windbag.  
STEP 3:  Using two fingers and two thumbs hold open the end of the bag that is not tied.
STEP 4:  Holding the bag six to twelve inches from your mouth and blow a stream of air into the bag. 

Explanation
As the stream of air from your mouth blows into the bag it pulls more air from the atmosphere into the Diaper Genie bag creating a super breath. 

Diaper Genie Windbag Worksheet

SQUEAKY CLEAN SCIENCE

Some of you might use in the shower, but have you ever considered putting it in the microwave? We're talking about Ivory Soap! It's a squeaky clean science experiment that might get you "Hooked on Science."

Ingredients

• Ivory Soap

• Microwave

Instructions
STEP 1:  Put one bar of Ivory Soap on a paper towel and place it into the microwave.
STEP 2:  Heat the soap for 5 minutes and watch what happens. 

Explanation
The heat causes the air molecules inside the Ivory Soap to bounce around.  When this occurs the Ivory Soap expands into an incredible size.

Squeaky Clean Science Worksheet

FILM CANISTER ROCKET

Have you ever wanted to create your own rocket? You can and it's easy!

Ingredients

• Film Canister with Snap-On Lid

• Water

• Alka-Seltzer® Tablet

• Safety Goggles
  

Instructions
STEP 1: Fill the film canister 1/2 of the way full with water.
STEP 2: Place one of the Alka-Seltzer tablets in the film canister and quickly turn the canister so the top is on the surface and wait for your rocket to take off.

Explanation
Carbon dioxide gas builds up so much pressure it can forcibly launched the film canister lid into the air. With an Alka-Seltzer tablet, the CO2 is produced as a result of a chemical reaction.

GLUE SLIME

It's gooey, slippery, sticky, and kids love it. We're talking about slime and all you need are a few items from around the house to make your own batch. Click HERE for the real slime recipe featured during the "Hooked on Science" segment.

Ingredients

• 1/4 Cup of Glue

• 1/4 Cup of Borax

• Hot Water

• 2 Beakers

• Stirring Rod

Instructions
STEP 1: Dissolve eight tablespoons of Borax into one quart of hot water.
STEP 2: Place 1/4 cup of glue into the bowl and slowly add the 1/4 cup of Borax solution.
STEP 3: Stir the mixture until a soft ball forms and then using your hands, work the ball until it is smooth and elastic.

Explanation
Glue Slime is a polymer which is a long chain of molecules. The Borax linked the glue's molecules together creating the slime.

Source: http://sciencekit.com

SOARING TOILET PAPER

Did you know a leaf blower can be used to rapidly unroll an entire roll of toilet Paper? Outreach Science Educator Jason Lindsey tells you the cool science behind this awesome experiment.

Ingredients

• Leaf Blower

• Toilet Paper

• Dowel Rod

Instructions
STEP 1 : Place the toilet paper on the dowel and unroll the tissue.
STEP 2 : Hold the dowel horizontally with the roll unrolling away from you. Turn on the leaf blower and aim the stream of air just over the top surface of the roll.

Explanation
In 1738, a Swiss mathematician, Daniel Bernoulli, studied the relationship between the pressure and velocity of a fluid. Bernoulli's Principle states that the pressure of a liquid (in this case, air) falls as its velocity increases. Increasing the velocity over the surface of the paper, lowers the pressure of the air pushing on the toilet paper. The paper is lifted because there is a sufficient number of air molecules striking the lower side of the ball to overcome the downward pull of gravity and the lower air pressure on the upper side. Air is blown out of most leaf blowers at ~150 miles per hour. At that velocity, the pressure on the upper side of the tissue is reduced dramatically.

Source: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning

LEAK PROOF BAG

Here's an experiment that will have your friends going wow. Outreach science educator Jason Lindsey talks polymers.

Ingredients

Instructions
STEP 1: Fill a plastic Ziploc bag about three quarters of the way with water.
STEP 2: Stick a sharp round pencil through the bag.

Explanation
The Ziploc bag is made out of polymers. Polymers are long chains of molecules and when the sharp pencil is pushed through the bag these molecules seal up around the pencil, which prevents the water from gushing out of the bag.

HOOKED ON SCIENCE AWARDS

Jason Lindsey is an award winning outreach science educator. Here's a peek at a few awards Jason's earned.

• 2008 - Missouri State Teachers Association  Best Newspaper Feature and Best Television Feature - "Hooked on Science"
• 2007 - Missouri State Teachers Association
  Best General Coverage - "Science Day 2006"
  Best Television Feature - "Heartland Science Lab"
• 2007 - Illinois Broadcasters Association
  Best Community Service Activity - "Science Day 2006"

Have a sCIENCE Question?

Do you have a science question?  If so, click HERE to send your question to Ourtreach Science Educator Jason Lindsey.