Using Fire in a Science Project

Fire is always something that should be handled with care because it can cause serious burns and damage to property. But amazingly, fire can be a good medium for your science project. With the use of common materials and substances, you can make fire do your bidding and be less of a danger to you. But be warned that fire is fire and should not be played with. It can consume anything that's flammable and volatile fumes and liquids should be kept away from it to prevent explosions. DO NOT DO what's described here without the supervision of adults. You DO NOT WANT to get yourself, your house, or your school burned!

This project is really simple. The problem is to treat a wick that can sustain a flame for long periods of time. We all know that if you light a wick, it will burn, and once it burns out, the flame goes with it. So what can we do so that it will not burn quickly? The answer that is provided here is to treat the wick with chemicals. Note that these chemicals are easily obtainable and relatively safe if handled properly. Again, if you're a kid, ask the help of an adult who cares about your welfare.

First, you must get wick material that does not burn easily. Cotton or wool fabric is ideal. Do not use polyester, which burns easily at low temperatures. Next, get 70 to 95 percent alcohol solution. Mix the 95% alcohol with the same amount of water (50-50; one is to one; add 25% more alcohol if you use a 70% product). Soak your cotton wick in the solution. Pour your alcohol-water solution into the fuel repository of a wicker lamp. Insert the wicker in the wicker tube. Make sure that the wicker is wet with the liquid solution before assembling your wicker lamp. If everything is set, light the wick and see how the cotton wick remains unburned for as long as it's fed with the alcohol-water solution. It will be much like the burning bush (left) in the Bible! Indeed, for novelty, you can shape your wick into a tiny burning bush, and even add the related passage in the Bible. But there's nothing spiritual about the trick. It's really the alcohol that burns and as the water evaporates from the cloth, it takes away heat which keeps the cloth from reaching the temperature that will make it burn for real!

The alcohol-water solution actually also works with paper money, which is really cloth. If you thoroughly soak a bill in the solution and light it, it will burn but will not be consumed. This is a really good stage magic trick. You can show to your audience that the bill is real before secretly soaking it in your special solution and lighting it in front of their eyes.

Did you know? If you soak a ball of cotton or wool cloth in naphtha or kerosene, then light the ball in your hand, you can bounce the ball on your palm without getting burned? Yes, it's true, just avoid the top part of the flame, which is the hottest part. The underside of the ball is generally safe as long as you bounce the cloth ball. Remember that it takes three seconds for skin to get burned. So, do not keep the lit ball in one place on your palm for more then a second to be safe. Do not do this without proper supervision!

Register with Cheap Visitors for targeted web traffic for your Internet business.

Design a Stove to Burn Methane Fuel from Bovine Dung

Who would think that cow's waste can be a source of fuel? The fact is that many people all over the world already know that cow (more appropriately, bovine) dung is a good source of fuel for heating abodes and cooking food. It's been done through ages by drying cow dung patties and then lighting them up in a fireplace or stove to produce environmental heat or for cooking. Modern society has long forgotten about the value of cow dung for energy. Fortunately, consciousness about the energy crisis and climate change have spurred research into an old custom where new gas-harvesting technology can be used.

When burned, the gas produced from cow dung is over 50% methane - a vital fuel and also a greenhouse gas. This is why burning cow dung is considered by some to be harmful to the environment because methane which works as a greenhouse gas. It traps heat in the atmosphere and warms the earth. To be really environmentally friendly, the gas needs to be trapped and burned efficiently with hardly any getting released into the air. What is needed are good stove systems for harvesting the gas from cow dung and then storing it for later use on a burning apparatus for heating, cooking, or some other energy-hungry function.

Experimenting with cow dung used in specialized stoves is one way of contributing to a better environment. Who knows how many tons of cow dung are burned every day in many parts of the world? If there are no firewood to burn, people would just use cow dung and this, while helpful, still adds to the methane in the atmosphere if the burning process is highly inefficient. What is needed is a cheap yet effective stove, like the SolHuma Vital Stove pictured on top, that burns and utilizes cow dung well during combustion.

Designing and making a good cow-dung stove is one project that is simple yet can be potentially helpful to the environment and millions of poor people worldwide. In approaching the project, do consider the following which your new stove should exhibit:

1. emits little smoke
2. leaves little ash
3. requires minimal dung
4. heat distribution to cooking utensil
5. little maintenance
6. easily transportable
   

It also pays to know these additional facts about cow dung:

A pound of cow dung can produce one cubic foot of gas when burned at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be enough to cook 3 meals a day for a single person for about a week. One cow can produce enough dung in one year to produce methane equal to 50 gallons of gasoline. Cow dung can be dangerous when burned if it contains toxins that the cows absorbed from eating contaminated grass. Cow dung to be burned for fuel should be sourced well. In India, there have been reports of arsenic poisoning from cow dung used for fuel.

While stove design can have a variety of appearances and engineering, it should be designed for use in third world countries where cow dung is the primary source of energy.

References to existing stove designs:

Cow-dung stove by Kumar and Shende. Click here.

The next link that follows will take you to the web page that features the QB charcoal-burning stove invented by Edelmiro I. Quibilian of the Philippines. The QB stove covers much of the issues regarding efficiency. Although it's not really designed for cow dung, it can be a good example to guide you in designing and making your cow-dung stove.

QB Charcoal Burning Stove from the Philippines

Here is a related video on how cow dung is used in Israel to produce electricity.

Physical Science Products: Learning about Science in a Hands-on Environment!

by Christopher Cameron

Hands-on science products are both fun for children and highly educational. There are many science products and supplies available on the internet and finding these science products isn't difficult. You can simply perform a search online for the topic you are interested in. Through this search, you can identify products that will teach children about different aspects of physical science and the world that we live in.

Most of the science products that you will find do come with specific directions on how to perform the experiment and will also come with explanations to account for the outcome. This explanation is what makes these science products so effective for teaching children. These science products allow your children to learn about the world around them and understand why things work the way they do, by taking advantage of other people's discoveries. Of course you will be able to draw some your own conclusions from the experiments as well.

These projects often are connected to specific aspects of science and you will be able to select the category or topic that you wish to cover before choosing a project. Most websites will have the projects broken down so you can merely choose the topic you wish to cover and then will show you the list of possible science products that you can purchase to create a corresponding experiment. Some of the more common topics would include magnetism and electricity, electrostatics, simple circuits, density and thermal expansion. Of course the topic you choose should be age appropriate. There would be no sense in trying to teach a first grader the laws of quantum physics, when they don't have the background to understand it.

An example of one of these science products would be a floating and spinning magnet. This is a very popular science product for children, and explains a great deal about magnetic fields. The reason it is so popular is it meets more desires than simply the desire to learn. The magnet seems to float on air, almost as if by magic. Children are excited to know exactly why the magnet will float and are eager to touch it and play with it. This of course will lead to better learning, because children who have a hands-on learning environment will ultimately learn more than children who are taught using a text book.

Most science products will require some degree of setup and pre-planning to use. Teachers and parents are rewarded for these efforts though, because the enjoyment that children experience in this type of learning environment will inevitably lead to a better understanding of the scientific principles involved. This allows children to see that learning doesn't always have to be tedious. Indeed, it can be quite fun and exciting. Interactive science products will help open children's eyes to the world around them and give them a better understanding of physical science.

About the Author

Find unique and innovative Science toys and Science Supplies for Physics and Physical Science. A wonderful resource for science teachers for teaching electrostatics, magnetism, electricity, force, motion, sound, light, color, waves, gas laws, alternative energy, pressure, fluid dynamics and elementary science. For details visit http://www.sci-supply.com

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

How to Organize a School Science Fair

by Ajax

Elementary schools often organize many events to give students a hands-on experience of various topics and subjects. Science fairs have been one of the most common and educative school events. Most importantly, it gets even an unenthusiastic student interested in science. Moreover, it's the best way to exhibit hidden talents and achieve something from healthy competition. Such school activities also enhance the child's applications for colleges or jobs in future.

Looking at how important science fairs can be in shaping a kid's future, special attention must be given to make sure it's organized correctly and successfully. Here are some tips to help students and teachers sail through the event.

1.A healthy discussion between teachers and students should be the start of any science fair. It could either be within classrooms or special committees could be set up to discuss topics and assign them to students. Weaker students will need guidance to choose the right topic. A good bit of research on the topic is necessary before students plunge into the work.

2.Students should draft a plan for more than one topic and submit it to their science teachers. There could be circumstances when a certain project or experiment may not be feasible. In such situations, it's sensible to keep a buffer topic ready.

3.Most schools keep a cache of projects conducted previously. Children should make maximum use of this facility and dig into the collection to learn from them. Pick out the best project from previous fairs and pick out valuable tips from there.

4.Judges chosen for the competition should have a background in science. They could be in-house science teachers or outside faculty, or even a university student studying science. Inform the judges about the judging protocols much before the event, and make sure they receive appropriate tokens of appreciation for their participation.

5.Once the date of the event is fixed, start off with the publicity work. Use the word of mouth, telephonic conversations and posters abundantly, since other methods are expensive and time consuming. Use an online organization tool to coordinate the whole event and the volunteers, which will make it easy to carry out the science fair as planned.

6.Stalls should be erected at a suitable location, with maximum visibility and space for students to display their skills and experiments. The drama hall, the sports ground or an amphitheatre (if any) would be great venues.

Schools should finish the event off with quality rewards for worthy students. It's important to motivate talented students so they can perform better and aspire for higher goals.

About the Author

I love to write.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Using A Spray Can and the Sun to Make Fire

There are many ways to make fire. Usually, it involves friction and a source of fuel. We can picture fire created from a match, a cigarette lighter, and a stove, but can you imagine fire coming from a pressurized spray can? You probably can if you imagine spraying it's highly volatile contents onto a flame. That would surely create a big fire and this blog doesn't advise you to do that!

What we are talking about here is making fire from a pressurized spray can together with the light of the Sun. it's really simple. if you'd turn the can of an air freshener or a bug spray, you'd notice that the bottom is shiny and curved (concave). This is what you can use to make fire.

During a cloudless day at noon in summer, go out with your spray can and a thin piece of paper in the open sun and point the can bottom up towards the sun. You'll see that the light of the sun is reflected off the bottom of the can and focused at a point, much like when you use a convex magnifying glass to burn paper. Only this, time, we are using a concave device to focus the rays.

You can see where the rays converge by placing your piece of paper in front of the can bottom and moving it back and forth. You shouldn't block out the sun though and you have to keep the can parallel to the rays of the sun. It's tricky, but with enough practice you can get to burn a round hole in the paper you have. You should not stare too long at the reflected light from the
sun since it can be damaging to your eyes. Use a welder's glass to be on the safe side.

This activity shows you how much energy from sun can be harnessed from an area the same size as the bottom of a spray can! Please do not do this activity without supervision if you are a kid and never, ever look at the sun directly. You should not use any optical device like a telescope to look at the sun if you don't have proper filters and know-how.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Simple Science Fair Projects

by Doug Nicholson

Simple science fair projects can be fun experiences if you find the right ones. Do you know what the hardest thing is for most students when assigned a science project? Many would say it's coming up with an idea that interests them and then getting it started. If that is the case with you, then these ideas for simple science fair projects will be just what you need this year.

Gravity

Gravity is the earth's pull or attraction on objects. Gravity is what holds you and I to the ground and keeps everything else that moves from floating around in space. Everything from people, pets, rocks, water, books, schools, houses, cars, softballs, and more, have weight because of the earth's gravity. You may know that things have different weights depending on how big and dense they are. A small marble for example weighs less than a baseball.

Did you know that even though a baseball weighs more, a small marble and a baseball will both fall through the air at the same speed? In other words if they are dropped from the same height, at the same time, they will both hit the ground at the same time. This idea can be easily turned into a simple science fair project that you would enjoy.

Humidity

Humidity simply means how much water vapor or moisture the air around us contains. The amount of water vapor in the air will vary depending on the time of year, where you are located, the type of air mass over your area at the time, etc.

How well air can hold moisture depends also on the temperature of the air. The higher the temperature the more moisture air can hold. The lower the air temperature the less moisture the air can hold.

This is why we see dew on the cars and grass in the mornings sometimes. The air is often warmer during the day than at night and collects moisture from evaporation. At night when the temperature drops the air can't hold all the moisture it has collected and it condenses (the water falls out and collects on colder objects) onto cars, grass, etc. that are cooler.

Can you think of a simple science fair projects experiment to show that air can hold more moisture when its warmer than when its colder? How about taking a glass of cold water from the refrigerator and placing it on a table or counter in a warm room. Does water collect on the outside of the glass? The colder glass cools the warmer moisture laden air that is touching it causing some of the water to collect on the outside of the glass.

About the Author

My name is Doug Nicholson and I hope you will find these ideas for simple science fair projects interesting and helpful. I have made the 2 ideas here part of the 16 science projects in my new ebook Step By Step Science Fair Projects. Go check it out now at http://www.stepbystepsciencefairprojects.com.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Ideas for an 8th Grade Science Fair Project

by Slavco Stefanoski

Coming up with 8th grade science fair project ideas can be pretty challenging especially if this subject isn't your favorite. There are some ways to come up with plan for classroom experiments that suits your personal tastes and the requirements for the class. It may help to talk to your teacher about a few possible science projects that you can complete.

Remember that the idea for the assignment does not have to be completely original. Try looking for interesting projects for a science fair that are variations of ones done in the past. It helps if you completely know the subject really well. Studying past assignments is a great way to get inspiration.

These experiments for science shows shouldn't be copied. They just serve as a source of inspiration. Imagine being the teacher when developing 8th grade science fair project ideas. He has probably seen the same thing year after year. Try to choose something that's interesting enough to you that you will be willing to put your own spin on the endeavor.

Use your personal strengths when developing a plan for a science fair project. If you are a great artist, mix this into your science presentation. Computer knowledge is very valuable in this subject. Add graphs, charts and other visual aids using programs like Microsoft Excel. Work as many of your own talents into your 8th grade science fair project ideas.

Keep focused. It's easy to fall into the temptation to try and communicate everything you know about the subject. However, your science fair assignment should be targeted on one specific theory, question or goal. Begin with a statement and refer back to it frequently. If the information doesn't relate or doesn't make any sense, get rid of it. Your teacher will thank you for it.

Be prepared to explain your science project ideas with other people. Some teachers like to conduct interviews. Worse yet, many teachers may require you to create a speech about the science fair assignment. This speech may be followed by questions that you have to answer on the spot. This is why choosing a topic that is focused is so important.

Don't worry about getting too fancy. Look for concepts that you really like and understand well. Create something that explains your understanding in a creative way. 8th grade science fair project ideas may be difficult to find at first but if you use your strengths and interests you may find more than one that interests you.

About the Author

Dear readers don't get scammed and visit this free Bookmark Site and get quality links for your site or share your bookmarks with the others.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Build Your Own Solar Panels Learn How It Is Easy Affordable And Fun To Build Solar Panels

by Houston

If you have thought about learning to build your own solar panels, today's technology has advanced to the point where it's very easy and affordable. Solar energy systems now can work twice as well and even work in less sunlight. Building solar panels has become much more simple and easy allowing any one with a little motivation and instruction manual to be able to build and install their own solar panels. By utilizing solar technology you can save thousands of dollars a year in energy costs.

All the materials like plywood, glass and copper wire needed to build solar panels can be purchased from your local hardware store. Photovoltaic cell's can be purchased for below wholesale prices if you know where to look. A lot of them are available online or in some cases they can be found at local retailers where you can purchase them. Solar panels can be built in your garage or back yard and it takes about a day to build a solar panel once you have all your materials.

With homemade solar panels saving you thousands of dollars, I would recommend you invest in a good quality instruction manual, as this would save you from many mistakes and wasted time researching for what you need. Over all the cost of building your own solar panels can be very low and a good how to guide can end up saving you even more.

The truth is solar energy has become a lot easier and affordable for home use, it is growing in popularity and can even be see along roadways in use to power signs and lights. Solar power could lesson the effect of global warming, save you money and help become less dependant on fossil fuels. With the energy crises, now could be the perfect time to go solar. Plus building your own solar panels can be a fun project the whole family can be involved in.

About the Author

Learning to build your own solar panels can be something you can be very proud of, it is very easy, fun and rewarding to build your own solar panels

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Fifth Grade Science Projects for Kids - and Their Parents

by Kayla Fay

A fifth grade science project is a bit different from all the projects your child may have done. In many elementary schools, grade five is the last class before middle school. As the oldest and most experienced students, fifth graders are expected to submit outstanding projects to the science fair. Fifth grade is often the year that determines class placement in middle school. It's important for the science project to follow the scientific method, show good research, and be well-presented.

There are several things to consider when searching for any good science project. The first priority is choosing a topic that interests your student. Then, it's important to check the science project guidelines from the teacher. Is the project to be presented on a science board? Is there an oral report or a demonstration involved? Your teacher may require an experiment with a hypothesis, several trials, and a conclusion. If so, is there an appropriate experiment for your topic? Are the supplies easy to find - and are they affordable? Will the science experiment actually work?

It can be really complicated; it can be really frustrating. We know! We did our first 5th grade science project in 1997. Two years later, we did another one, then did another one a year later. Our last 5th grade science project was done two years ago. That was the year we decided that, since we've been through it all before, we would choose our best science experiments and make them available to others. We picked out five science projects and made them into a package of project guides that we sell online at www.24hourscienceprojects.com.

We've done 5th grade science projects four times, not to mention all the projects we've done in the other grades. We would love to help you and your 5th grader do a fabulous project. We enjoy helping others discover that science projects can really be fun. Take a look at our projects at www.24hourscienceprojects.com. We know that you and your child will have a great time together as you work on your fifth grade science project.

About the Author

Kayla Fay and her four boys are the creators of Online Science Project Guides, science projects that are fun, easy, affordable, and teacher pleasing! Find out about these guides, and get a free copy of "The Non-Scientist Parent's Guide to Science Fair Projects" at http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

4th Grade Science Fair Projects - Preventing Soil Erosion 4th Grade Science Fair Project

by Magriet du Plessis

This is one of our 4th grade science fair projects where we are going to find out what can be done to prevent soil erosion. Soil erosion is a big problem world wide and it is important to learn about preventing it from a very early age. This is why we have this 4th grade science fair project on soil erosion. We all need to take responsibility today.

Here are some of the Scary Facts making these 4th grade science fair projects essential!

• Did you know that the world's deserts grows by about 16,000 square miles a year?
• In the US alone about 7 billion tonnes of very valuable topsoil is eroded by streams and rivers, as they carry the topsoil away.
• Did you know that about 75% of the rocks on earth are made up of small grains and particles that are pressed together under the weight of tons of water over very long periods? These rocks are called "sedimentary rocks."

This is a really worrying situation, don't you agree?

Well this is one of the reasons for our 4th grade science fair projects. Here we are going to be looking at one of the methods we can use to prevent this. We are going to do an elementary science fair project to find out whether planting grass or other plants in areas with a lot of erosion can help.

What you will need for this science experiment:

• Some easy growing grass seeds
• Two rectangular cake pans
• 2 Tick books of the same size
• Enough soil to fill the pans
• A jug to pour the water with
• Water

What you have to do

1. First of all you have to fill one of your cake tins with the soil.
2. Plant your grass seeds in this cake tin.
3. Water this tin thoroughly with water.
4. Place this tin in a sunny spot where the grass can grow well.
5. Now you have to gently water your seeds and make sure that the soil in the pan is moist at all times without over watering.
6. Wait for your grass to grow about 3 inches high.
7. Fill up the other cake tin with soil.
8. Water it just enough to be as moist as the tin with your grass in it.
9. Now you have to place the one end of both your tins on your books to make them lie at an angle.
10. Fill your jug with water and pour the water down the cake tin without the grass.
11. Note what happens.
12. Now you pour the water down the cake tin with the grass growing in it.
13. Make a note of what happens.
14. What is the difference?
15. What is the reason for the difference?.
16. write down your explanation.

What happens here is that in the pan without grass some of the dirt is carried away with the water. This is what happens in nature in places where there is nothing to stem the flow of water. In the pan with the grass growing in it, the grass stems the flow of the water and less soil is carried away with the water. So, by planting indigenous grass and other indigenous plants in areas where soil erosion is a problem, the soil erosion can be slowed down.

This is one of our 4th grade science fair projects that stresses the importance of caring for nature. Damage done today will take a very long time to repair and it is all of our responsibility to preserve nature as best we can.

Warning! Science fair projects needs to be done according to proper scientific method. Have a look at: Science Fair Projects Made Easy e-Book

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

How to Build a Windmill - Initial Thoughts and Ideas

by Jake Strong

It's time to build a windmill. Most people picture a huge monstrosity, but there are many sizes of windmills you can build. Many people need to build smaller-scaled windmills. Harnessing the power of the wind (and other of Earth's natural resources) is the responsible thing to do.

The size of the windmill you need to build--and the tech behind it--varies with your desired power output. For instance, you could build a micro windmill and add it to your solar powers for added power. How does this help? Well, at night there's no sun, so your solar panels aren't doing much. But, there might be wind right?

Safety is a must for any DIY windmill project. Ensure you have the correct tools and parts. Trying to use the wrong tool or part can lead to safety issues. Review your windmill plans to make sure you understand everything.

As you begin to build a windmill, you'll be dealing with a few components, such as the nacelle, tower, base, and wind blades. Whether you're building a windmill the size of your hand or the size of a mountain, these components will be there. Your DIY windmill plans will require specific parts, so make sure you have everything before starting.

Relying on the power company for everything, including an over-priced energy bill, is yesterday's news. By using the Earth's natural power, you can reduce your power bills. We can all live better by harnessing the Earth's power Our future and our kid's futures rely on responsible people like you using the Earth's natural powers. Yes, you can build your own windmill today and it can be easy.

About the Author

Save more money on your power bill, or eliminate it completely, by harnessing the natural (and free) power of the Earth. To see how you can save a fortune and help the Earth click the link---->STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO MAKE YOUR OWN WIND POWER!<-----

Related Resource: Build a Windmill

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Bubblology Experiments to Share with Your Kids

by Aurora Lipper

This article teaches kids about the science of bubblology and gives a handful of totally fun activities to experiment with for their homeschool science learning (including bubble castles, light shows, and a kid-in-a-bubble). It's also good for boy scouts working on a badge, or for any kids that love science experiments. These experiments are part of a homeschool science program that I teach, and I promise your kids will love it.

If you pour a few droplets of water onto a sweater or fabric, you'll notice the water will just sit there on the surface in a ball (or oval, if the drop is large enough). If you touch the ball of water with a soapy finger, the ball disappears into the fibers of the fabric! What happened?

Soap makes water "wetter" by breaking down the water's surface tension by about two-thirds. The force that keeps the water droplet in a sphere shape is called surface tension. It's the reason you can fill a cup of water past the brim without it spilling over.

Water becomes "wetter" because without soap, it can't get into the fibers of your clothes to get them clean. That's why you need soap in the washing machine. Soap also makes water stretchy. If you've ever tried making bubbles with your mouth just using spit, you know that you can't get the larger, fist-sized spit-bubbles to form completely and detach to float away in the air. Water by itself has too much surface tension, too many forces holding the molecules together. When you add soap to it, they relax a bit and stretch out.

Soap makes water stretch and form into a bubble. The soap molecule looks a lot like a snake - it's a long chain that has two very different ends. The head of the snake loves water, and the tail end loves dirt. When the soap molecule finds a dirt particle, it will wrap its tail around the dirt and hold it there.

To make the best bubbles for teaching homeschool science, you'll first need to make the best bubble solution. Gently mix together 12 cups cold water in a shallow tub with one cup green Dawn (or clear Ivory) dish soap. If it's a hot dry day, add a few tablespoons of glycerin. (Glycerin can be found at the drug store.)

You can add all sorts of things to find the perfect soap solution: lemon juice, corn syrup, maple syrup, glycerin - to name a few. Each will add its own properties to the bubble solution. (When I teach this class, I have buckets of each variation along with plain dish soap and water so we can compare.)

The absolute best time to make gigantic bubbles is on an overcast day, right after it rains. Bubbles have a thin cell wall that evaporates quickly in direct sun, especially on a low-humidity day. The glycerin adds moisture and deters this rapid thinning of the bubble's cell wall.

Tip for Teaching Homeschool Science: Keep a box handy with these items inside: paper clips (in two different sizes), rubber bands, dish soap (clear Ivory and green or blue Dawn), straws, string, plastic berry baskets, plastic water bottles, and wire coathangers. Label your box "Bubblology Experiments". Pull the box out, add kids, and stand back.

Zillions of Tiny Bubbles can be made with strawberry baskets. Simply dip the basket into the bubble solution and twirl around. You can also use plastic six-pack soda can holders.

Trumpet Bubbles are created by using a modified a water bottle. Cut off the bottom of the bottle, dip the large end in the soap solution, put the small end to your lips and blow. You can separate the bubble away from the trumpet by rolling the large end up and away from your bubble.

Bubble Castles are built with a straw and a plate. First, spread bubble solution all over a smooth surface (such as a clean cookie sheet, plate, or table top). Dip one end of a straw in the bubble solution and blow bubbles all over the surface. Make larger domes with smaller ones inside. Notice the bubble changes shape and size when it connects with another.

Stretch and Squish! Get one hand-sized bubble in each hand. Slap them together (so they join, not pop!). What if you join them together s l o w l y?

Light Show is one of the favorites when I teach this class. Find a BIG flashlight and stand it on end (or use a thin one with three clothespins). Rub soap solution all over the bottom of an uncolored plastic lid (like from a coffee can). Balance the lid, soapy side up, on the flashlight (or on the spring-type clothespins). Blow a hemisphere bubble on top of the lid. Find a dark room, turn on the flashlight, and blow gently along the side of the bubble and watch the colors swirl.

Weird Shapes are the simplest way to show how soap makes water stretchy. Dip a rubber band completely in the soap solution and pull it up. Stretch the rubber band using your fingers. Twist and tweak into all sorts of shapes. Note that the bubble always finds a way of filling the shape with the minimum amount of surface area.

Make a Moebius Bubble by cutting open a thick rubber band or a thick ribbon; give one end a half-twist, and reattach it together.

Polygon Shapes allow you to make square and tetrahedral bubbles. Create different 3D shapes by bending pipe cleaners made into cubes, tetrahedrons, or whatever you wish. Alternatively you can use straws threaded onto string made into 3D triangular shapes. Notice how the film always finds its minimum surface area. Can you make square bubbles?

Gigantic Bubbles. Using the straws and string, thread two straws on three feet of string and tie off. Grasp one straw in each hand and dip in soap solution. Use a gentle wind as you walk to make BIG bubbles. Find air thermals (warm pockets of air) to take your bubbles up, up, UP!

Kid-In-A-Bubble. In a child's plastic swimming pool, pour your best bubble solution. Lay a hula hoop down, making sure there is enough bubble solution to just cover the hoop. Have your child stand in the pool (use a stool if you don't want to get your feet wet), and lift the hoop! For a more permanent project, use an old car tire sliced in half lengthwise (the hard way) to hold the bubble solution.

About the Author

As a teacher, homeschool science teacher, engineer and university instructor Aurora Lipper has been helping kids learn science for over a decade.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Building Your Own Still - The Perfect Science Fair Project

by John Grant

If you are one who is searching for that perfect undertaking that will surely win the year's award for the best science fair project then don't look any further beyond constructing the simple still. For those who do not have any idea as to what a still is, it is an apparatus that is meant to distill, or separate, liquid mixtures by boiling since different liquids have different boiling points.

Before starting with the construction, it is important to note that building a still may lead one to run-ins with the law which makes it important for one to be knowledgeable of the regulations in one's area and to devote the project entirely for scientific and educational purposes.

To start the construction process of the still: the following materials are needed: a 4-gallon size copper boiler, a copper sheeting that is 18" in diameter, a copper pipe that is 36" long and 2" in diameter, a 24-inch copper tubing that is 1" in diameter, lead-free solder, glass thermometer, milk can made out of stainless steel, two reducing coupler that have the following dimensions: 1" x 1-1/2" and the other 1-1/2" x 2", an elbow joint that has a 1" diameter, a 3" nipple, 1" x 2-1/2" nipple, a large copper tub, 1-1/2" copper elbow pipe, copper coils, standard spigot faucet, any container that can be easily sealed, a siphon, an airlock, a rubber stopper, flour and water (a silicon kit can be used as an alternative), a connecting ring, yeast, a large amount of cold water, and the mixture to be fermented.

For the tools, one would need a holder gun, a drill, a saw, and a heat source.

To assemble the boiler, one would have to saw the copper boiler in half and lay on its open end the copper sheeting. Cut a piece from the sheeting that is 1 centimeter larger in diameter than the copper boiler's open end. Solder then the sheeting to the open end of the copper boiler. After this, place the boiler flat side down and drill a 2" hole on the boiler's top. Solder a connecting ring directly on top of this hole.

To construct the still's column, bore a hole on the top of the elbow connector that will be big enough for it to be soldered to the 3"-sized nipple. Soldering is also done to the 2" pipe to fasten it to the ring on top of the boiler. The elbow connector is in turn soldered to top of the pipe with the help of the 1 x 1-1/2" reducing coupler. Solder then the nipple in place after which the thermometer is inserted there and secured into place with the use of the silicon kit or flour and water. The elbow pipe is then soldered to the other coupler. The 1" elbow joint is then fastened with the end of the pipe in a way that makes the elbow point downward. This end is then soldered with the smaller nipple. The nipple is then soldered to the coiled copper tubing and the spigot is soldered into the drilled hole present on the side of the metal container. The heat source is then placed below the boiler.

Put the yeast and the fermented mixture in the container, which will be drilled with a hole just enough for a rubber stopper to make it sealed air-tight.

You are now ready to use the still. Constructing it may be a bit laborious but with the proper materials and a thorough adherence to the right steps of building it, the still is just the thing for that science fair competition.

About the Author

John Grant is a the author for a how to site where he is writing articles about how to build a still.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Be a Part of the Growing Popularity of Hydroponics Gardening

by Anne Harvester

The science of hydroponics is allowing more and more to enjoy indoor gardening. There are many reasons for the increasingly widespread indoor growing of food. Hydroponics supplies are now easily secured over the Internet. Everything from cloning kits to full blown hydroponic systems are now available with a click of the mouse. No longer is it necessary to drive long distances to a specialty supply house.

Many choose indoor growing for their food for health and safety reasons. It seems every day brings a new food scare. Some consumers have made decision to take personal control of what goes into their food. Having your own farm is now made possible by hydroponics no matter what the weather is like where you live. Vegetables and fruits can be harvested year round with indoor gardening which allows you to control exactly which pesticides are used. It also prevents your food from being exposed to sewage during the growing phase. Food safety has unfortunately become a salient and tangible issue.

Hydroponics is also becoming more attractive as the price of food rises. It seems the expenses associated with basic foodstuffs are increasing at alarming rates. Family food budgets are being stretched. Hydroponics allow for an escape from market prices. Depending upon the volume and type of foods you grow the payback period for hydroponic systems can be quite reasonable. The rising cost of food as well as food transportation portends prices continuing their upward trajectory.

In the future it is quite likely that many will wish they had invested in an indoor growing set up. Many choose to engage in hydroponics for the sheer fun of it. Indoor gardening has all the appeal of outdoor gardening except without the heat, dirt or bugs. Many feel a sense of satisfaction knowing they produced the food on their plate. The pride is magnified once they experience the taste which often surpasses that of similar very expensive produce bought at organic stores.

With the easy availability of hydroponics supplies and cloning kits your indoor growing endeavor is easy to maintain. Hydroponics provides for the therapeutic and otherwise relaxing hobby of gardening to be enjoyed by many for which it would otherwise be impossible.

Indoor gardening is not solely limited to food. Many enjoy growing flowers of all varieties. With the ability to control environmental factors some of the most stunning flowers emerge from amateur greenhouses. Hydroponic systems can be used for food, spice and plant purposes. The dream of a tropical garden can be reality even in the dead of winter.

Hydroponics can yield health, financial and lifestyle benefits. Whether you desire to win a ribbon at the county fair or just have your own fresh vegetables you should explore the increasingly popular world of hydroponics.

About the Author

Anne Harvester has a great deal of experience with indoor gardening. Hydroponic gardening is the way of the future. Known to some as "soil less gardening," hydroponics are proven to grow plants 20-30% faster than their soil grown counterparts.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Examples Of Science Projects - Fun Experiments On Liquid Density

by Margreit Du Plessis

We have a number of short Examples Of Science Fair Projects. In this short easy elementary science projects we are going to see some of the interesting things that happen because of the density of liquids. The density of and object has to do with how tightly packed the object is. Two objects can weigh the same but one is smaller than the other, the smaller one is packed more tightly and is therefore denser than the other object. These experiments are meant to make learning fun and are also very suitable for homeschoolers.

The floating egg experiment

What you will need for this easy elementary science project:

• A container
• Water
• An egg
• Salt
• A spoon

This is what you have to do for this easy experiment:

1. Fill the container with enough water to cover the egg completely.
2. Carefully place the egg in the water.
3. What happens to the egg?
4. Make a note of what happens.
5. Start adding salt to the water and stirring it very carefully so as not to break the egg.
6. Keep on adding salt until your egg starts to float.
7. You will need quite a lot of salt, about 4 tablespoons full of salt per 1 ½ cup water to make the egg float.
8. Now you add water to your solution again until the egg start sinking again.
9. Keeping density in mind, try and explain what just happened.

If you worked carefully and did the experiment the right way your egg started rising because it became less dense than the water when you added the salt. When you added extra water, the water once again became less dense than the egg and the egg started sinking again.

This is one example of our easy elementary science projects, one of many examples we have of science fair projects.

About the Author

Watch out for the other fun, Examples Of Science Fair Projects Magriet has. Get even more examples of science fair projects when you visit Elementary Science Fair Projects Magriet is a work at home "Gran" with an interest in all family related subjects.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Science Fair Projects for Fun

by fun science projects

Selecting a topic for a science fair project may be a great deal of trouble for the students. If the topics or topic ideas are freely available on a site and easy to do it with the inexpensive materials available that will be of more help. There are many good examples of free and easy science fair projects that you can do in almost any scientific field, so there are an abundance of choices available to the student and to the parent. While students should be encouraged to choose a topic of their interest, if they seem to have expensive tastes, a parent should step in to guide them towards something more economical.

The free fun science projects include those projects which can be easily done and with easily available household materials. It could be anything from an empty milk can to egg carton. A good science fair project does not have to be expensive. Often the best project ideas come from simple observations of daily life.

Methods to control the cost of a science fair project:

- Choose a topic related to simple theme.

- Use public resources like library to collect information.

- Take the advantage of school computer lab for Internet resources.

- Use the materials that are available easily without spending much.

Projects with magnets are very inexpensive, simple, and fun filled. To test the properties of magnets we just need two magnets and some pins and iron rods. The outcome will be fantastic as the experiments will be exciting. Another free easy science fair project idea will be the topics related with plants. Plants make perfect subject for science fair projects, as plants, soil, seeds, and other required materials are easily available, inexpensive, and the procedures are also easy to be carried out. If you want to really control costs, you can even work with grass from your lawn, or rocks from your garden. This is probably a little extreme, but you have to do what you have to do.

Simple observation of night sky may even be a wonderful idea for free easy science fair project, as it does not cost to observe that. Then collect resources related with constellation, phases of moon, and location of various stars. Then drawing reasonable conclusions and presenting the report will turn out to be good project. Water can serve as an excellent topic for free easy science fair project as a number of water related experiments can be done and the results can be presented to draw conclusion.

It is not about spending a lot of money to present a good project, but it is the concept and the way it is presented matters. We should keep in mind that science is all around and not only in fancy technology and expensive gadgets.

A science fair project generally compares two variables to check what works and what does not. It also explores the different dimensions of scientific literacy. The great thing about these experiments is that there are no wrong or right answers. The same can be said of selecting a project. There is not a finite set of science fair projects, so you can always invent something completely on your own. Whatever your selection, as long as yours follows the guidelines set out by your school, university, or individual teacher, then you can be sure of a good grade and a solid performance. Money isn't everything, especially when it comes to schoolwork.

If you need more help with fun science fair projects ...

About the Author

Need help with fun science projects? Find out how to quickly and easily create fun science fair projects...

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Fun Science Projects To Do at Home

by Jill

It's important for kids to get involved in fun science projects from an early age, as exposure to scientific ideas and the world of exploration as soon as possible is the best way to foster a love for learning in your children that will last a lifetime. At the same time, scientific knowledge is cumulative, so kids have to start with a solid foundation if they are to develop the necessary scientific skills to succeed in school, and perhaps in a future career. Of course, when doing science projects with kids the most important thing to remember is to have fun! Youth science fair projects aren't meant to transform your child into a scientist - they are meant to get the creative juices flowing within your child and help him or her continue to explore the natural world and make use of the imagination.

So where do you find ideas for science projects, if you want to get your child started on something at home? Luckily, these days you don't have to look far to find science projects for your children - simply do an online search and you should be able to find tons of websites containing information and ideas pertaining to science fair projects and science for children in general. These websites list science projects and tell you exactly how to do them and what to do, so the process of helping your child discover science or prepare science fair projects for school is made easy.

In the past, it was easy for parents to become frustrated when helping kids with homework and coming up with ideas for science fair projects - now it's easy to help them out and you don't have to be a science whiz yourself! And if your child demonstrates a natural interest in science, it's even more important that you encourage it from an early age. Whether or not you have to do a project for school, or complete a homework assignment, kids getting involved in science at home is a great idea!

In fact, doing their own fun science projects at home is a great way to supplement the regular educational exposure your kids get during the day in the classroom. And if you home school your children coming up with fun and educational science experiments that are easy to recreate at home is the perfect way to help your kids exercise their minds and learn about science while having a lot of fun at the same time.

When you set up science projects for your kids to do at home, it makes learning fun - this will carry over to the child's classroom experience and may even improve their grades overall. Of course, that is not the main goal of doing science experiments at home. Again, do these projects with your children as a fun activity and the learning will spring from that organically. Specifically, when searching for science projects for your kids to do at home it's a good idea to find something your children, and maybe even their friends, will enjoy. Figure out what interests your child and go from there. Involving them in the process will help them naturally discover where their interests are and what type of experiments they'll gain the most from.

You can find the instructions for these experiments for free, although you will have to purchase some basic supplies in most cases. At the same time, materials used in most of these projects are relatively inexpensive and not difficult to find.

Come and find more fun science projects. See you next time.

About the Author

Find out why its so important for kids to get into fun science projects from a young age...

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ

Create an Award-Winning Science Fair Project with the Correct Steps

by Madeline Binder

For the student (and parent) faced with a science fair project for the first time, it is easy to to become side-tracked by the issues of how to go about the entire process. In many science classes students may be given a template to follow; however, this is not always the case. Steps need to be identified and carefully clarified so that any novice can understand what needs to be accomplished at each step. It is hoped that an explanation of the step-by-step process given here will help any student in creating an awesome science fair project which meets all of the criteria by which science fair projects will be evaluated. Getting an idea for a project must occur before any of the actual steps are implemented, so a look into fun kids science fair projects will give you lots of possibilities.

1. The first step is to identify something in which the student has an interest. Completing even an easy and fast science fair project will become drudgery if there is little to no interest in the subject matter.

2. Once an area of interest has been identified, what questions does the student have about this subject? If a child has observed ants carrying food around on the sidewalk, for example, how does the ant know the way back to the colony nest?

3. At this point, some research will most likely be necessary. What have other researchers learned about this question? It is always a good idea to summarize the research in writing to become a part of the final project. The point of the research, however, is to help the student develop a hypothesis.

4. Developing the hypothesis is nothing more than making an educated guess about why something happens or, in some cases, what will happen as a result of some experimentation. The hypothesis should be written simply and predict a definite outcome. For example, people who watch violence on television will experience an increase in their blood pressure and pulse rate. Note that the hypothesis is stated in a way that allows testing to determine if the hypothesis is correct.

5. Procedures and Materials: This is an important part of the actual science fair project because it must set up the experimentation in such a way that it is both valid and able to be replicated. The experimentation that is conducted must be as void of "nuisance factors," that is conditions which might affect the outcomes. For example, if one is testing the impact of observing television violence on blood pressure, the presence of loud noises from other rooms or outside could affect the results. The procedures must be listed carefully and in order. As the procedures are being designed, the scientist must identify all materials necessary for the procedures and any steps that will be taken to avoid any interference from outside the experimentation parameters. A crucial material will be the "manner" in which the data will be observed and recorded, for it must be accurate, systematic, and consistent. If you are unsure about the materials to gather for sample science fair projects, review the research or look into science kits

6. Performing the actual experimentation or observation is the "meat" of the best science fair projects. If the procedures have been properly designed, this becomes the fun and exciting part. The hypothesis is tested, and accurate and detailed data is recorded by the method determined in the former section. This can range from maintaining a detailed journal of observations to the actual implementation of an experiment, the results of which must be carefully recorded.

7. Summary of Results: In detail, explain what happened during your observations or experimentation. Graphing or charting the data can be very helpful in this step as it gives the evaluators and viewers good visuals. Photographs are also ofte used and can be excellent time-dated records of the process.

8. Analysis and conclusion are the final steps. What did your data show? Was your hypothesis confirmed? If not, why? What changes might you implement to improve the project next time? Does this completed science fair project present additional questions or hypotheses that could be the basis for future experiments for science fair projects?

Following these steps correctly will mean that you have designed and implemented an actual science fair project that has followed the scientific method used by every reputable scientist.

About the Author

Madeline Binder, M.Ed. has been interested in assisting kids and parents with sience fair projects for many years. To this end, she has developed procedures, ideas, and step-by-step instructions for projects from the quick and simple to the more complex, dependent upon age and interest of the student. Visit Madeline at Super Science Fair Projects and learn more!

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase IQ