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Making an air pressure powered drinks dispenser is easier than it looks, and a fantastic hands-on air pressure demonstration. What is air pressure? Air and its particles are crashing into us all the time. What we call air pressure is the force of these particles hitting a surface. When you suck a straw you reduce … Continue reading “Air Pressure Demonstration – DIY Drinks Dispenser”
A family ski holiday is a great time to try some snowy science experiments, especially if you live somewhere where there’s not usually much snow. An alpine ski resort is the perfect location for lots of exciting science. From appreciating the effects of altitude on the human body and the impact of a frozen landscape … Continue reading “Cool Science Experiments For Your Ski Holiday”
Have you ever wondered why a bag of crisps ( or potato chips ) expands on an aeroplane? It’s all about air pressure. The crisp packet was sealed at a lower altitude where atmospheric pressure is higher than at higher altitudes. As a plane takes off and altitude increases, the atmospheric pressure outside the bag … Continue reading “Why Do Crisp Packets Puff Up at High Altitude? The Science Explained”
An oil spill occurs when seawater is contaminated with oil, either by accident or human error. Oil spills can be massively damaging to marine wildlife and humans if the oil gets into the food chain. This hands-on oil spill science experiment is not only great for helping children visualise the effects of an oil spill, but also demonstrates how water … Continue reading “Clean It Up – Oil Spill Experiment”
Creating a cloud in a jar is a great way to learn how clouds form and how cloud seeding works. Clouds form when water vapour condenses or freezes. Water vapour rises, cools and condenses on particles in the air to form a cloud. When clouds become too heavy to be supported by upward air currents, … Continue reading “Cloud in a Jar Experiment”
We created these shadow drawings over the summer holidays, but they work brilliantly at any time of year as long as the sun in shining. You can either look for shadows that have formed naturally to turn into a picture or make your own shadows and add to them. Chalk or chalk pens work well … Continue reading “Shadow Drawing – Science and Art”
Cloud seeding is when tiny particles are added to clouds to help them produce more precipitation. Clouds form from tiny, light water droplets or ice crystals. As they bump into each other, they merge to form larger drops. The water droplets fall as rain when they are too heavy to be supported by upward moving … Continue reading “What is cloud seeding?”
Life on Earth depends on the light and heat from the Sun. While the warmth from the Sun gently warms you on a sunny day, the core of the Sun is a mind-blowing 15 million degrees Celsius ( 27 million degrees Fahrenheit), and the surface is 5500 degrees Celsius ( 10000 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s hot … Continue reading “How hot is the Sun?”
Today’s new STEM challenges celebrate all things spring! Here at Science Sparks, we are looking forward to better weather and all the new growth, colour and life that spring brings. Try these easy spring STEM Challenges to get the new season off to a great start. What is Spring? Spring is the season between winter … Continue reading “Easy Spring STEM Challenges”
Keep the kids busy over the Easter holidays with my FREE Easter Science Quiz. Do you know why chocolate eggs melt, why eggs are oval, and what the name of the famous egg rolling game is? Find out with our egg-citing quiz! Easter Science Quiz More free Easter activities for kids Try one of my … Continue reading “Science Quiz for Easter”