Are you preparing for your Year 10 science fair and looking for some impressive yet feasible experiment ideas? Look no further! Here are 7 engaging experiments that will not only wow your teachers and peers but also deepen your understanding of different scientific concepts. For each experiment, we provide a quick summary, the aim, methodology, and an outline of the underlying scientific concepts.
1. Volcano Eruption: Chemistry in Action
Summary: Create a small-scale volcano that erupts using a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. This classic experiment is visually appealing and demonstrates chemical reactions in an engaging way.
Aim: To demonstrate an acid-base reaction and the release of carbon dioxide gas.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- Vinegar (acetic acid)
- Dish soap
- Red food colouring (optional)
- A small container or plastic bottle
- Modeling clay or papier-mâché
- A large tray to contain the eruption
- Constructing the Volcano:
- Form a volcano shape using modelling clay or papier-mâché around a small container or plastic bottle, leaving the top open. Ensure the volcano is built on a large tray to catch any overflow.
- Allow the model to dry completely if using papier-mâché.
- Preparing the Eruption:
- Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the container at the top of the volcano.
- Add a few drops of dish soap to the container. The dish soap will help create more foamy bubbles during the eruption.
- (Optional) Add red food colouring to the baking soda for a lava-like effect.
- Conducting the Experiment:
- Pour 1 cup of vinegar into a measuring cup.
- Quickly pour the vinegar into the container with baking soda and step back.
- Observe the eruption as the mixture bubbles up and overflows from the volcano.
- Data Collection:
- Record observations about the speed and height of the eruption.
- Experiment with different amounts of vinegar and baking soda to see how the eruption changes.
Scientific Concepts:
- Chemical Reactions: The acid (vinegar) reacts with the base (baking soda) to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate.
- Gas Formation: The rapid release of carbon dioxide gas creates the bubbling, foaming “eruption” effect, demonstrating a basic acid-base reaction.
2. Ice Cream in a Bag: Exploring the Chemistry of Cooling
Summary: Make your own ice cream in a bag while learning about the chemistry behind freezing point depression! This experiment explores how adding salt to ice can lower its temperature, making it possible to freeze your ice cream mixture quickly.
Aim: To understand how salt affects the freezing point of ice and to explore the changes in ingredients as they cool and solidify into ice cream.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Sugar
- Cream heavy whipping cream
- Vanilla extract
- Salt (table salt or rock salt)
- Ice cubes (8 cups)
- Small sealable bags (such as sandwich-sized Ziploc bags)
- Large sealable bags (such as 3.8-litre Ziploc bags)
- Oven mitts or a small towel
- Timer or clock
- Preparing the Ice Cream Mixture:
- Add 4 cups of ice cubes to one of the large sealable bags.
- Add ½ cup of salt to the bag of ice. The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, making it colder than 0°C when it starts to melt.
- In each small sealable bag, combine 1 tablespoon of sugar, ½ cup of cream, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Seal both small bags tightly to prevent leaking.
- Freezing the Ice Cream:
- Place one of the small bags inside the large bag with the salted ice cubes. Ensure both bags are sealed tightly.
- Put on oven mitts or wrap the bag in a towel to protect your hands from the cold, and shake the bag vigorously for 5 minutes. As you shake, check the small bag every couple of minutes to feel how the mixture is solidifying.
- Comparing with Unsalted Ice:
- Add another 4 cups of ice cubes to the second large bag, but do not add salt this time.
- Place the other small bag with the ice cream mixture inside this large bag with unsalted ice. Make sure both bags are sealed properly.
- Again, put on oven mitts or wrap the bag in a towel, and shake for 5 minutes. Feel the small bag every couple of minutes to observe any differences.
- Observations and Data Collection:
- After 5 minutes, observe the texture of the ice cream in both small bags. How does the consistency differ between the mixture chilled with salted ice versus unsalted ice?
- Compare the temperatures of both large bags. Does one feel colder than the other? Did the ice cubes melt at the same rate?
Scientific Concepts:
- Freezing Point Depression: Adding salt to ice lowers its freezing point, allowing it to become colder without fully melting. This super-cooled saltwater mixture absorbs heat more effectively, rapidly freezing the ice cream mixture.
- Phase Changes: The liquid ice cream mixture undergoes a phase change from liquid to solid as it cools below its freezing point, demonstrating how temperature changes affect different states of matter.
3. Density Tower: Exploring Liquid Densities
Summary: Create a colourful density tower using various liquids to visualise and understand the concept of density and how different liquids can layer based on their densities.
Aim: To demonstrate that liquids have different densities and to explore how density affects layering.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- Honey
- Corn syrup
- Dish soap
- Water
- Vegetable oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Food coloring (optional)
- A tall, clear glass or container
- A spoon or pipette
- Preparing the Density Tower:
- Start by pouring honey into the bottom of the glass or container. Honey has the highest density among the liquids, so it will stay at the bottom.
- Slowly add corn syrup on top of the honey. Pour gently down the side of the container or use a spoon to minimise mixing.
- Add a layer of dish soap using the same method. Pour it carefully to avoid disturbing the lower layers.
- Mix a few drops of food colouring with water (optional for visual effect) and slowly pour the coloured water on top of the dish soap.
- Next, add vegetable oil. Since oil is less dense than water, it will float on top.
- Finally, carefully pour rubbing alcohol on top of the oil layer. Rubbing alcohol is less dense than oil and will form the topmost layer.
- Conducting the Experiment:
- Observe how each liquid settles into a distinct layer based on its density.
- For added effect, drop small objects like a grape, plastic bead, or a small piece of cork into the container to see where they settle based on their densities.
- Data Collection:
- Record the order of the liquid layers from bottom to top.
- Measure the thickness of each layer to determine which liquids are denser.
Scientific Concepts:
- Density: The density of a liquid is its mass per unit volume. Denser liquids will sink below less dense liquids.
- Buoyancy: Objects will float or sink in a liquid depending on their density relative to the liquid, which is why the tower forms distinct layers.
4. Balloon-Powered Car: Newton’s Third Law in Motion
Summary: Build a simple car powered by the release of air from a balloon to demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. This experiment is a fun way to explore the relationship between forces and motion.
Aim: To illustrate Newton’s Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- Lightweight cardboard or plastic (for the car body)
- 4 plastic bottle caps (for wheels)
- 2 wooden skewers or straws (for axles)
- 1 balloon
- Tape and scissors
- 1 drinking straw
- Car Construction:
- Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangular shape to form the car's body.
- Attach the skewers or straws underneath the cardboard to act as axles. Make sure they are aligned parallel to each other.
- Push the bottle caps onto the ends of the skewers or straws to serve as wheels. Ensure the wheels can spin freely.
- Secure a drinking straw along the top of the car using tape, ensuring that it is straight and pointing toward the back of the car.
- Balloon Attachment:
- Inflate a balloon without tying it and then slip the neck of the balloon over one end of the drinking straw.
- Secure the balloon to the straw using tape, ensuring it is airtight so that no air can escape through the seal.
- Conducting the Experiment:
- Inflate the balloon through the straw and pinch the neck of the balloon to prevent air from escaping.
- Place the car on a flat surface and release the balloon.
- Observe the car as it moves forward due to the air rushing out of the balloon.
- Data Collection:
- Measure the distance travelled by the car and the time taken.
- Record multiple trials to obtain consistent data.
Scientific Concepts:
- Newton’s Third Law of Motion: The air rushing out of the balloon creates an action force, while the reaction force pushes the car in the opposite direction, demonstrating Newton's Third Law.
- Kinetic Energy: The energy of motion is transferred from the balloon to the car as the air is released.
5. Lemon Battery: Generating Electricity from Citrus
Summary: Create a simple battery using lemons, zinc nails, and copper coins to generate electricity and understand the basics of electrochemical reactions.
Aim: To demonstrate how a chemical reaction can produce electrical energy.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- 4 lemons
- 4 zinc nails
- 4 copper coins (or copper strips)
- Alligator clip wires
- A small LED light or a digital clock
- A multimeter (optional, for measuring voltage)
- Setting Up the Lemon Battery:
- Roll each lemon gently on a table to soften it and release the juices inside.
- Insert a zinc nail and a copper coin into each lemon. Ensure they are placed close together but not touching each other.
- Repeat for all lemons, making sure the zinc nail in one lemon is connected to the copper coin in the next lemon using alligator clip wires. This series connection increases the total voltage.
- Connecting the Circuit:
- Attach the free end of the alligator clip connected to the zinc nail in the first lemon to the positive terminal of the LED light or clock.
- Attach the free end of the alligator clip connected to the copper coin in the last lemon to the negative terminal of the LED light or clock.
- Observing the Reaction:
- Observe the LED light up or the clock run, indicating that the lemon battery is producing electrical energy.
- Optionally, use a multimeter to measure the voltage output of your lemon battery.
- Data Collection:
- Measure the voltage produced by each lemon and the total voltage output.
- Record how long the LED or clock operates on the generated power.
Scientific Concepts:
- Electrochemistry: The lemon juice (an acid) facilitates a chemical reaction between zinc and copper, generating an electric current.
- Redox Reaction: Zinc undergoes oxidation (loses electrons), and copper undergoes reduction (gains electrons), creating a flow of electrons that powers the LED or clock.
- Electric Circuit: The lemons, wires, and metals create a complete circuit, allowing electrons to flow and generate electricity.
6. Tallest Paper Tower Challenge: Engineering with Limited Materials
Summary: This engineering challenge involves using a limited amount of paper and tape to build the tallest possible tower that can also support a heavy weight at the top. It’s a fun way to explore principles of civil engineering and physics, using only basic materials.
Aim: To construct a tall paper tower that can support a heavy weight using only paper and tape.
Methodology:
- Materials:
- Paper (maximum 30 sheets): Printer paper, construction paper, graph paper, or notebook paper (A4 or 22 x 30 cm size allowed).
- Tape (maximum one roll, 2.5 cm wide): Clear office tape, masking tape, or painter's tape.
- Hard, smooth surface (e.g., a table or countertop)
- Tools: Scissors, ruler, pencil, metric tape measure or meterstick, stopwatch
- Weight: One unopened can of food (400–450 g); glass jars are not allowed for safety reasons.
- Preparation:
- Gather all materials and tools. Ensure that you have a smooth, flat surface for building your tower.
- Review the challenge rules: Use only paper and tape as building materials, and you cannot exceed 30 sheets of paper or one roll of tape.
- Design Phase:
- Begin by brainstorming different tower designs. Sketch out your ideas on paper (these sketches do not count towards your material limits).
- Consider the trade-offs in your design: taller towers might use more paper, while shorter towers might be more stable with less material. Aim for a balance between height, stability, and material usage.
- Building the Tower:
- Start constructing your tower based on your chosen design. Practice building individual elements (like beams or joints) before assembling the entire structure.
- As you build, test your tower's stability by gently pressing on different parts to ensure they are sturdy. Make adjustments as needed.
- Remember, only the materials used in your final design will count towards your score. If you need to start over, the unused paper does not count.
- Testing the Tower:
- Once your tower is built, carefully place the can of food on top. Be prepared to catch the can if the tower collapses.
- If the tower starts to buckle or sag, reinforce it before proceeding with the official test.
- Official Test:
- Place the can on the tower and start the stopwatch. The tower must support the can for at least 1 minute without collapsing.
- During the test, you cannot touch, modify, or repair the tower. It is okay if the tower bends or sags slightly, as long as the can does not touch the ground.
- After 1 minute, measure the distance from the surface to the bottom of the can using a metric tape measure or meterstick.
- Scoring:
- Calculate your score using the formula: Total Score = (Height of the tower in cm) - (2 x number of pieces of paper used).
- Only the paper used in your final design counts; paper used for sketches or earlier prototypes does not.
Scientific Concepts:
- Structural Engineering: This experiment explores how different shapes and configurations can affect a tower's ability to support weight and maintain stability.
- Physics of Balance and Stability: By experimenting with different paper folding and stacking techniques, you learn about the centre of gravity and how it influences the balance of structures.
- Material Efficiency: Understanding how to use minimal materials to achieve maximum strength and height is a key concept in sustainable engineering and design.
7. Elephant Toothpaste: A Giant Foaming Experiment
Summary: Create an impressive foaming reaction that resembles toothpaste squeezed out of a tube—but big enough for an elephant! This experiment is a fantastic way to explore chemical reactions using household materials.
Aim: To demonstrate the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide catalysed by yeast, resulting in a rapid release of oxygen gas.
Methodology:
- Materials Needed:
- 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide (3% or higher) - you can get this from a cosmetics store or pharmacy
- 1 tablespoon of dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons of warm water
- Liquid dish soap
- Food coloring (optional)
- A plastic bottle or a tall glass
- A funnel (optional, for easier pouring)
- A tray or large dish to contain the foam
- Setting Up the Experiment:
- Place the plastic bottle or tall glass on a tray or inside a large dish to catch any overflowing foam.
- Pour 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle using a funnel if necessary. The higher the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the more vigorous the reaction will be.
- Adding Ingredients:
- Add a generous squirt of liquid dish soap into the bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Gently swirl the bottle to mix the soap and hydrogen peroxide thoroughly. The dish soap will capture the oxygen bubbles and create a foamy texture.
- (Optional) Add a few drops of food colouring to the hydrogen peroxide mixture for a colourful foam effect.
- Preparing the Catalyst:
- In a separate small bowl or cup, mix 1 tablespoon of dry yeast with 3 tablespoons of warm water. Stir the mixture for about 30 seconds until the yeast is fully dissolved and activated. The yeast acts as a catalyst to speed up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide.
- Conducting the Experiment:
- Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the bottle containing the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap.
- Step back immediately to observe the foamy reaction as it erupts from the bottle, spilling over the sides like a giant toothpaste volcano!
- Data Collection:
- Observe and record the height and speed of the foam eruption.
- Experiment with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and varying amounts of yeast to see how the reaction changes.
Scientific Concepts:
- Decomposition Reaction: Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) breaks down into water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂) gas. Normally, this decomposition is slow, but in the presence of a catalyst like yeast, it speeds up dramatically.
- Catalyst Role: The yeast contains catalase, an enzyme that acts as a catalyst to decompose hydrogen peroxide rapidly. This releases oxygen gas, which gets trapped in the soap to create foam.
- Exothermic Reaction: The reaction releases heat, making it exothermic. This is noticeable because the foam and bottle will feel warm to the touch after the reaction.
Conducting these exciting experiments will not only help you shine at your Year 10 science fair but also give you a deeper appreciation of the scientific principles at work. Remember, understanding and curiosity are the keys to success in science. If you need further assistance with these concepts or have any questions, KIS Academics is here to help. Our exceptional private tutors excel at breaking down and simplifying even the most complex topics through personalised tutoring sessions. In addition to one-on-one tutoring, KIS Academics offers online courses for science subjects like Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. These courses provide access to hundreds of concise concept videos, interactive worksheets, quizzes, and model answers to help you master the material—all taught by some of Australia's highest-achieving students in each subject. Good luck with your science fair, and feel free to reach out to us for more support!
Want more personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!
Written by QCE KIS Academics Tutor Mandy Wang, specialising in English, English and Literature Extension, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths. Mandy is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney. She is passionate about helping students reach their full academic potential by making complex concepts easy to understand. You can view Mandy’s profile and request her as a private tutor here.
