Science Safety
ALWAYS have an adult present.
ALWAYS wear the correct safety
gear while doing any experiment.
NEVER eat or drink anything when
performing Hooked on Science
experiments.
Experiment Archive
Tablecloth Science Trick
Here's an experiment you can try at the dinner table and might get the entire family
"Hooked on Science."

Ingredients
Several Heavy Glass Dishes
Tablecloth without a Hem
Square Table with an Edge

Instructions
STEP 1: Place the tablecloth on the table and then arrange the glass dishes on the tablecloth.
STEP 2: Grab the edges of the tablecloth and pull down toward the floor quickly.

Explanation
The dishes stayed as you quickly removed the tablecloth because of inertia. Inertia
describes how all objects tend to resist change in motion.
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Christmas Science Ornaments
Have you ever considered adding a little science to the Christmas tree? Using pipe
cleaners and borax you can make ornaments that might get the entire family "Hooked on
Science."

Materials
Red and white pipe cleaners
Thread
Water
Borax
Ruler
Container

Instructions
STEP 1: Twist red and white pipe cleaners together and form the shape of a candy cane.
STEP 2: Using the thread, tie each candy cane ornament to the ruler. Place the ruler on the top of the container allowing the candy cane ornaments to float freely inside the
container.
STEP 3: Remove the ruler with the ornaments attached and add several cups of boiling
water into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax for every 2 cups of boiling water.
Stir the mixture until most of the borax is dissolved.
STEP 4: Place the ruler back on the top of the container allowing the ornaments to float
in the borax solution. Leave the ornaments in the borax solution overnight.

Explanation
Borax is a crystal. When water is heated, the molecules move farther apart. This makes
a lot of room for borax crystals to form. As the water evaporates, the crystals deposit on
the pipe cleaners, creating a scientific Christmas ornament.
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Rocket Balloon
They whine and buzz while flying through the air and at the same time Rocket Balloons
teach kids a science lesson they won’t forget.   

Ingredients
Rocket Balloon
Hand Pump

Instructions
STEP 1: Using the hand pump inflate the Rocket Balloon.
STEP 2: Hold the end of the Rocket Balloon so the air doesn’t escape from the Rocket Balloon.   
STEP 3: Pointing the Rocket Balloon away from your face and others release the Rocket
Balloon.
 

Explanation
The air rushing out of the balloon forces the Rocket Balloon through the air.  This
experiment is perfect for teaching Newton’s Laws of Motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion – Newton’s First Law of Motion states that the
velocity of an object can be changed only if an unbalanced force is applied to it.
Newton’s First Second Law of Motion – Newton’s Second Law of Motion states
that acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass, and the greater the
mass of an object, the greater the force needed to accelerate it.  
Newton’s Third Law of Motion – Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for
every  action there is a reaction equal in strength and opposite in direction.
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Spooky Fog
With a little dry ice you can create the spookiest Halloween ever!

Ingredients
Dry Ice
Warm Water
Bowl
Gloves

Instructions
STEP 1:  Fill the bowl half of the way with warm water.  
STEP 2:  Put the gloves onto your hands and place a piece of the Dry Ice into the warm water and observe.

Explanation
When you placed the Dry Ice into the warm water a cloud formed above the bowl.  Dry
Ice is frozen carbon dioxide and is -109.3°F.  As Dry Ice breaks down it turns directly into
carbon dioxide gas.  In science this process is called sublimation.
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Lava Lamp
It's a groovy way to get "Hooked on Science" and all you need are a few items from the
kitchen.  

Ingredients
Plastic Bottle with Cap
Vegetable Oil
Water
Food Coloring
Alka-Seltzer Tablet

Instructions
STEP 1:  Fill the plastic bottle three quarters of the way with vegetable oil.
STEP 2:  Fill the plastic bottle the rest of the way with water.
STEP 3:  Place several drops of food coloring into the plastic bottle.
STEP 4:  Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into two pieces.  
STEP 5:  Place each of the pieces of Alka-Seltzer tablets into the bottle.

Explanation
This experiment proves water and oil doesn't mix.  The carbon dioxide gas created when you dropped the pieces of Alka-Seltzer tablets into the mixture causes the colored water
blobs to push to the top through the oil.    
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Naked Egg
Here's a Hooked on Science experiment that will show you what happens when you
remove the shell from around an egg?

Ingredients
2 Uncooked Eggs
2 Cups of Vinegar
1 Tall Drinking Glass

Instructions
STEP 1: Place the eggs in the tall drinking glass.
STEP 2: Pour the vinegar over the eggs and let sit for 24 hours.
STEP 3: 24 hours later rinse each egg under the facet. Using your fingers rub each egg until the shell is completely removed from the egg.
STEP 4: Hold your naked egg up to a light and take a peek inside.

Explanation
The vinegar is an acid that breaks down the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. This
chemical reaction reveals the invisible membrane hiding under the shell that keeps the
contents from oozing outside the egg.
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Carbon Dioxide Explosion
What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda?  It creates a chemical reaction
that produces carbon dioxide gas that can create a fun explosion.

Ingredients
1 Cup of Warm Water
Zip-Lock Sandwich Bag
2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
1/2 Cup of Vinegar
Toilet Paper

Instructions
STEP 1:  Place two tablespoons of baking soda onto a piece of toilet paper.   Fold the piece of toilet paper so the baking soda is on the inside.
STEP 2:  Pour the warm water and vinegar inside the zip-lock bag.
STEP 3:  Place the baking soda toilet paper square into the mixture and zip up the top.

Explanation
When you mixed the baking soda with the vinegar you caused a chemical reaction that
created carbon dioxide gas.  The carbon dioxide gas filled up the zip-lock bag so much
so that it popped.
    
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The Collapsing Can
Did you know you can crush a can by using air? It's another experiment that might get
you and your family "Hooked on Science."

Ingredients
1 Empty Soda Can
Hot Plate
Bowl
Water
Ice
Tongs

Instructions
STEP 1 : Fill the bowl with ice and water.
STEP 2 : Place 1 tablespoon of water into the empty soda can. Turn the hot plate on high and place the soda can on hot plate.
STEP 3 : Once the water vapor appears above the can use the tongs and grasp the
can. QUICKLY flip the can and dip the can into the cold water.

Explanation
You removed the air from inside the can by heating the water and then dipping the can
into the icy water. Once the air is removed the air on the outside is so strong it crushes
the can.
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Fireproof Balloon
Did you know you can hold a flame next to a balloon and the balloon will not burst?  
Here's another experiment that might get you and your family "Hooked on Science."

Ingredients
2 Balloons
Water
Matches

Instructions
STEP 1:  Blow up a balloon and tie the end so the air stays inside the balloon.
STEP 2:  Have an adult light a match and place the flame under the balloon.  What happened?
STEP 3:  Place 1/4 of a cup of water into a balloon.     
STEP 4:  Carefully blow up the balloon and  tie the end so the air and water stay inside
the balloon.
STEP 5:  Have an adult light a match and place the flamed under the balloon.  What
happened?

Explanation
The water absorbs the heat from the flame keeping the balloon from bursting.
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Air Cannon
Did you know you can build your very own air cannon by using a few items from around
the house?

Ingredients
32 Gallon Trash Can
Shower Curtain
2 Bungee Cords

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.
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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
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Balloon
Bottle with a Narrow Neck

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.
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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
Can of Soda

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.   
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Warm Water
2 Beakers
Stirring Rod

Instructions
STEP 1: Dissolve eight tablespoons of Borax into one quart of warm 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
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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
Bernoulli's Principle states that the pressure of a liquid decreases 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.

Source: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning
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Leak Proof Bag
Here's an experiment that will have your friends going wow. Outreach science educator
Jason Lindsey talks polymers.

Ingredients
Several Round Pencils
1 Plastic Ziploc Bag
Water

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.
Tornado Tube
Geyser Tube
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Rocket Balloon
Each Hooked on
Science experiment
is safe to perform
with an adult
present.  If not
performed correctly
the experiment could
be dangerous.  
Jason Lindsey and
expressly disclaims
all liability for any
occurrence,
including, but not
limited to, damage,
injury or death, which
might arise as
consequences of the
use of any
experiment(s) online
or on air. The
guardian of the child
and the performer of
the experiment
assume all the
liability and will use
these science
experiments at their
own risk!  
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