365 Weird and Wonderful Science Experiments

Pencils Through 357
a Plastic Bag Add drama to this experiment
by holding the bag of water
over someone’s head!

Supplies. Do It!

Resealable 1 Fill the plastic bag about ¾ full of water and seal it tightly.
plastic sandwich 2 Poke the pointy end of a pencil into the bag. Without
bag, 3 or more
hesitating, slide the pencil the rest of the way through so
sharpened
pencils, Water that the pointy end is on one side of the bag and the eraser

is on the other. Does the water leak out? Can you add more

pencils? How many pencils can you poke through the bag?

What’s.Happening?

Polymers are simply long chains of molecules that are connected. Many common materials are made of
polymers: rubber balloons, nylon pantyhose, paper, and plastic bags. When the pencils are pushed into
the plastic bag, they simply slide between the polymer chains. The polymer chains are held together
around the hole created by the pencil, preventing the water from leaking out.

Shrinking Plastic 358

Use thermoplastics to make some incredible shrinking creations. ADULT NEEDED

Supplies Do It!

Clear plastic takeout 1 Preheat the oven to 325oF.
tray (make sure it has 2 Cut a flat piece of plastic into a 4" x 4" square. Cut other shapes too, and
a #6 recycle symbol),
Permanent markers, color them with a permanent marker. Use a hole punch to make a hole for
jewelry.
Ruler, Scissors,
Aluminum foil, Cookie 3 Line the cookie sheet with foil. Lay the plastic on the sheet. Make sure they
are not touching.
sheet, Oven, Hole
punch (optional) 4 Place the sheet in the oven for three minutes. Let the plastic cool
completely (about five minutes) before removing them.

5 Measure the square. How much did it shrink?

What’s.Happening?

The clear plastic in this experiment is made of tangled chains of polystyrene molecules, or polymers. To make
the thin, clear plastic, the polystyrene is heated and rolled out so that the polymer chains straighten out. The
plastic is cooled very quickly so that it holds its shape. Plastics made in this way are called thermoplastics. If you
reheat a thermoplastic, the polymer chains will curl back up to their original shape, and the thin plastic shrinks!

249

A Quick Lesson on Slime

All slimes are non-Newtonian fluids, which is just a fancy way of saying that they don’t
act how most liquids are supposed to act. Isaac Newton came up with a way to describe
how liquids flow called viscosity. Thin liquids, such as water, have a low viscosity. Thick
liquids, such as molasses or ketchup, have a high viscosity. Viscosity is not the same as
density. For example, vegetable oil is more viscous (flows slower) but is less dense than
water. A liquid is non-Newtonian when its viscosity can be changed by other factors,
such as stirring, stretching, or squeezing.

How Do You Make a Slime?

Slimes are made of polymers, or chains of molecules like a long chain of paper clips.
Slime happens when you add a cross-linking chemical that connects those chains.
(Think attaching strings to different paper clip chains, and then tangling them together
so they can’t easily come apart.) All the slime recipes here have two ingredients: a
polymer and a cross linker.

Soap Slime359 Here's a soft
slime that smells
good, too!

Slime Supplies Do It!

Cornstarch, Shampoo, 1. Pour ¼ cup of cornstarch into the bowl, and then squirt a small amount
Spoon, Bowl
of shampoo into the bowl. Mix them together.

2. Keep mixing in small amounts of shampoo until the mixture comes

together. Take the slime out of the bowl and finish mixing it together

with your hands. Add more cornstarch if the slime is too sticky or

shampoo if it is too stiff.

What If?

What if you use other soaps like hand soap, body soap,
or even shaving cream?

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Oobleck This slime is named after the ooey, gooey 360
slime that falls from the sky in the Dr.
Seuss book of the same name. It is simple,
slimy fun, and the easiest slime to make.

Supplies. Do It!

Cornstarch, 1 Pour 1 cup of cornstarch into a bowl.
Water, Measuring 2 Add about ¼ cup of water and a few drops of food coloring. Use a

cup, Bowl, spoon or your hands to mix the oobleck. If it is too dry, add more
Spoon (optional),
water. If it is too wet, add more cornstarch.
Food coloring
(optional) 3 Put your finger on top of the oobleck and push down slowly. Then use

What.If? your finger (or whole hand) to hit the oobleck hard. What happens?

What if you adjust the amount of water? What is the least amount of water
needed to make oobleck? What is the most water you can add so that it still
has slimy properties?

Snot This slime bears a striking resemblance to the 361
mucus that comes out of your nose!
Do It!
Supplies
1 Pour ½ cup of glue (a 4-oz. bottle) and ½ cup of liquid starch into the
Clear school glue,
Liquid starch, bowl or bag.
Measuring cup,
Bowl or quart- 2 If you use a bag, push the air out and seal the bag. Use your hands to

sized resealable squish the bag and mix the glue and starch. Once it’s mixed, you can
freezer bag,
Spoon take it out and play with it over the bowl. Keep the bag for storage later.

What.If? 3 If you use a bowl, use the spoon or your hands to mix the glue and

starch. This is definitely the messier option, but that’s the whole point

of slime.

4 After the glue and starch are mixed, try rolling your slime into a ball and

stretching it out. Grab a handful of slime, hold it high over the bowl,

and let it flow from your hands. How long can the snotty slime flow

before it breaks?

What if you add more glue than starch, or more starch
than glue? Try to get the slime solid enough to roll it into
a bouncing ball. How high can the ball bounce?

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362 Sticky Slime

This is a classic slime recipe for the ooziest, stickiest, slimiest slime you can make.
Add some food coloring to increase the slime factor even more!

Supplies. Do It!

White school glue, Borax 1 In one bowl, add ½ cup of glue (a 4-oz. bottle) and ½ cup of
soap, Water, Measuring
cup, Measuring spoon, 2 water. Use a spoon to mix them together.
bowls, 2 mixing spoons,
Food coloring (optional) 2 In another bowl, mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of

What.If? Borax soap. Make sure the soap is completely dissolved.

3 Add the soap mixture to the glue mixture, and mix slowly with

a spoon. Once the slime thickens, use your hands to knead it

together until it is completely mixed. Now your slime is ready for

sticky stretching and squishing!

What if you add more Borax to the soap solution? What if you add less? How does the amount of soap
affect the stickiness or ooziness of your slime?

363 Edible Slime ADULT NEEDED

Yes, you can eat this version of slime, but it is probably more fun to play with than to eat.

Supplies. Do It!

Soluble fiber that 1 Pour 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of soluble
contains psyllium, such as
Metamucil; Water; Glass fiber into a bowl. Stir well until the fiber is

microwave-safe bowl; completely dissolved.
Measuring cup; Spoon
2 Heat the bowl in the microwave for four
What.If?
minutes. Stop heating as soon as you see the

mixture boil.

3 Stir the mixture, and then microwave for

another two minutes. Repeat this process four

more times. Let the slime cool completely

before playing with it.

What happens if you use more soluble fiber in the slime? How about less? What if you continue to heat
the slime more than four times? What if you only heat the slime two times instead of four?

252

Magnetic Slime 364

Adding iron to the slime gives it surprising magnetic properties.

Supplies. Do It!

Ingredients for 1 Make Snot or Sticky Slime, except add ¼ cup of iron
Snot or Sticky
Slime, ¼ cup iron oxide powder to the soap or liquid starch before
oxide powder,
Strong magnet, adding the glue.
Styrofoam plate
2 Make a small ball of slime and put it on a Styrofoam
What.If?
plate. Put the magnet under the plate and drag it

around under the slime. Can you move it with the

magnet? Put all the slime on the plate and spread

it out. What happens if you move the magnet

underneath the plate now?

What if you try magnetizing different types of slime? Which one responds to
the magnet the most?

Glow-in-the-Dark 365
Slime Create spooky slime with some glow-in-the-dark science.

Supplies Do It!

Ingredients for 1 Make Oobleck, Sticky, or Edible Slime, but with
Oobleck, Sticky, or
Edible Slime; Tonic tonic water instead of regular water.
water; Green food
coloring (optional); 2 Place the slime under a black light to see it glow.

Black light The tonic water will glow blue, but you can add

green food coloring to give it a more traditional

slimy color.

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Index Chlorophyll 190, 195
Chromatography 190, 207-208, 227
Acids 14, 34, 38, 103, 123, 133, 136, 139, 144, 174, 193, Clouds 129, 181
205, 248 Cloud seeds 181
Cohesion 162
Adhesion 109, 162 Collagen 247
Air pressure 27, 36, 43, 108-115, 118-119, 121-122, 124, Color 54, 57-58, 79, 125-126, 155, 158, 187, 190, 193, 195,

156, 164, 168, 181 208, 223, 227-229, 231, 233-235
Air resistance 30, 82 Combustion 217
Alcohol 131, 145, 158, 183, 198, 208 Condensation 169
Algae 175, 196 Conduction 98
Ammonia 208, 243 Conductors 92
Amplification 12, 58, 62, 65 Convection 39
Amyloplasts 194 Coriolis force 167
Anemometers 184 Crickets 178
Anodes 105 Crookes, William 229
Antennae 202 Crustaceans 200
Anthocyanin 190, 193 Crystals 95, 137, 161, 242-246
Aristotle 142 Cyanoacrylate 204
Associated memories 74 Cyanobacteria 175
Atoms 95, 99-100, 102, 105, 173, 193, 223 Dams 10
Attractants 200 da Vinci, Leonardo 24
Autonomic nervous system 172 Density 14, 26, 39, 42, 67, 125, 134-135, 139, 147, 154-
Axles 21, 23, 86
Bacteria 13, 157, 175 155, 157, 168, 170, 235, 250
Balance 45-53, 91, 145, 151, 211 Density column 125
Barometers 181 Depth perception 61
Batteries 9, 101-107 Detection threshold 59, 61
Bernoulli, Daniel 27, 29, 112-113, 115 Diamagnetism 102
Bernoulli principle 29, 112, 115 Diffusion 143
Biodiversity 202 DNA 131
Birds 176, 178 Drag (aerodynamics) 24-25
Brain activity 44 Dry ice 239
Bubbles 14, 34-35, 42, 105, 123-124, 129-130, 137, 139, Ears and hearing 12, 35, 55-56, 58, 62-63, 67, 70-71
Earth 33, 41, 100, 114, 151, 167
147, 161, 163, 166, 170, 173-175, 236-241, 244 Ecosystems 186
Buoyancy 26 Edison, Thomas 9
Butterflies 199 Elasticity 83, 85, 247
Calcium 123, 144, 147, 149, 223 Electricity 9, 92-99, 101, 103, 105, 159
Camera obscura 221-222
Cantilever 12 Charge 92-98, 105, 109, 193, 214, 225, 245
Capillary action 162, 227 Current 9, 99, 102, 104, 106-107, 159
Carbon dioxide 33-35, 38, 124, 130, 147, 174-175, 186, Electric circuit 9, 101, 104
Electric fields 96, 102
190, 217, 239 Hydroelectricity 159
Carotenoids 190 Static 87-88, 92-97
Casein 133, 144, 248 Electrolytes 105
Catapults 16 Electrons 9, 92-96, 98-100, 102-103, 107, 214, 223
Cellulose 11 Emulsifiers 135
Center of gravity 45-53, 145, 211 Energy 15-16, 20-23, 62, 82-122, 127-128, 132, 137,
Centripetal force 91, 153, 217-218 141, 159, 165, 175, 181, 186, 190-191, 194, 223, 224-225,
Chemical reactions 14, 40, 145, 205, 217
Chemical signals 200
Chemiluminescence 224

254

232 Ice 128, 153-161
Elastic 83-85 Illusory contours 76
Gravitational 84 Induction 98
Kinetic 16, 21, 23, 84-85, 101 Inertia 89-91, 171, 216
Potential 16, 20-22, 83 Insects 178-179, 186, 198-199, 202
Enzymes 128, 136 Insulators 86, 92
Equator 41 Ions 105, 193, 245
Equinoxes 151 Kanizsa, Gaetano 76
Escher, M.C. 76 Keratin 149, 182
Ethylene 134 Lactose 144
Evaporation 129, 154, 169, 181, 187, 191, 204, 207, 237, Laminar flow 235
243-245 Lenses 179, 209, 222
Experiments with… Levers 16
Animals, plants and microscopic life 13, 157, 175, 178- Lichen 196
Lift (aerodynamics) 18, 24-25, 28-29, 213
179, 186-199, 202 Light 9, 54, 57-58, 103-104, 176, 180, 190, 192, 195, 197,
Cars, planes, and things that move 15-32, 34, 36-39
Chemical reactions 14, 33-35, 38, 40, 128-129, 133- 206, 209-210, 212, 221-235
Lightbulbs 9, 104
136, 139, 145, 147, 192, 204-205, 217, 224 Light pollution 180, 197
Explosions and eruptions 32-39 Light wavelengths 225, 232, 234-235
Magic tricks and illusions 73-81, 205-225 Load (engineering) 9, 14
Food 16, 33, 35, 102-103, 123-151, 245 Lorentz force 102
Friction and electricity 9, 22, 31, 51, 70, 85-107, 159, Lung capacity 241
Lyme disease 198
216 Magnetism 99-102, 106-107, 132, 159, 253
Measuring instruments 40-44, 181-184 Magnification 176, 179, 209, 222, 226
Noisemakers 56, 62-72 Magnus Effect 117
Your body and brain 45-61, 73-81 Mason bees 177
Eyes and eyesight 54-55, 57-58, 61, 73, 77-78, 81, 210, Mass 32, 36, 51, 82-83, 85, 91, 125, 146, 160, 171, 184-
212, 215, 226, 230-231, 233, 235
Fats 127, 129, 133, 144, 207, 227 185, 211, 216
Fingerprints 203-204 Memory 74
Delta 203 Merkel’s disks 60
Bifurcation 203 Metamerism 233
Fluorescence 206, 224-225, 233 Micelles 168
Franklin, Benjamin 28 Microbes 175
Friction 22, 31, 51, 70, 85-88, 92, 100, 216 Microwaves 170, 232
Rolling 86-87 Minerals 123, 144, 161, 163, 194, 244, 246
Sliding 86-88 Mold 13, 192
Static 87 Molecules 10, 26, 40, 62, 105, 108-110, 112, 122, 127,
Galileo 43, 82
Gases 33-35, 38, 105, 128, 130, 137, 147, 154, 169, 173- 134-135, 137, 148, 154-155, 165, 168, 183-184, 213, 220,
174, 217, 237, 239 227, 229, 242, 245, 247-250
Geodes 244 Momentum 85, 146
Geysers 34 Moss 196
Gravitropism 194 Moths 197, 202
Gravity 17, 24, 26, 30, 51, 82-84, 90-91, 94, 99, 109, 111, Motors 102, 106-107
114, 145, 154, 162, 166, 194, 211, 213, 215, 217-219 Mpemba Effect 142
Heliotropism 192 Mummification 13
Hemispheres 196 Muscles 61, 78, 80
Hero (Ancient Greek engineer) 164 Nerves 54, 58-59, 172
Hurricanes 167, 185 Newton, Isaac 216-217, 250
Hydrogen peroxide 173, 224 Newton’s cradle 85
Hydrophilia 165 Newton’s three laws of motion 19, 32, 36, 39, 153, 164,
Hydrophobia 169 171, 216-218
Hygrometer 182 Nocturnal animals 197
Hygroscopy 213 Non-Newtonian fluids 250

255

Noses and smelling 56, 126, 202, 251 Seuss, Dr. 251
Nucleation 242 Sodium polyacrylate 213
Nucleus 92, 131, 223 Soil and sediment 8, 10, 33, 152, 186-187, 194, 198, 201
Odorants 56 Solenoid 99
Oils 14, 42, 96, 129, 135, 157, 160, 168, 171, 203-204, Sound vibration 62, 72
Spores 192
230, 250 Stalactites, stalagmites and speleothems 246
Optical illusions 73, 75-78, 81 Starches 40, 130, 140-141, 251
Optic nerve 54 Stars 180
Osmosis 143 Steam 34, 140, 164, 169
Oxidation 105, 136, 175 Steam engines 164
Oxygen 12, 105, 124, 132, 134, 136, 148, 173, 175, 186, Stethoscopes 12
Stomata 187
191, 217 Stroop, J. Ridley 79
Parabola 17 Structural engineers 9
Parkinson’s disease 75 Sugar 125, 136, 190, 199, 202, 225, 236, 245
Pendulums 43 Sulfur 175
Peripheral vision 57 Surface tension 109-110, 158, 162, 165-166, 209, 236
Periscopes 210 Surfactants 168, 171
Perspective 76 Temperature 83, 86, 127-128, 137, 139, 142, 153, 155, 161,
pH 193
Pheromones 177, 179 165, 178, 181, 183, 224, 239, 250
Phosphorous 123 Termites 179
Phosphors 206 Thermometers 183
Phytochromes 192 Three-dimensional objects 73, 78
Pill bugs 200 Ticks 198
Pitch (sound) 67, 69-70, 72, 123 Tornados 166, 185
Pitfall traps 198 Toroidal vortex 120
Pivot point 91 Torque 12
Plants 11, 18, 131, 143, 162, 186-197, 201-202 Touch and feeling 59-60, 78
Plastic 72, 86, 92, 99, 125, 129, 154, 176, 179, 247-249 Tourette syndrome 75
Pollinators 177, 198 Transpiration 187, 191
Polymers 10, 220, 247-250 Triboluminescence 225
Polyphenols 133 Two-dimensional objects 73
Pressure 34, 38, 60, 112, 150, 156, 161, 187, 212 Ultraviolet light 224-225
Proboscises 199 Vacuums 111, 168, 229
Proprioception 78 Vinegar 33, 123, 135, 147, 149, 205, 208, 217, 248, 250
Proteins 129, 131, 133, 141, 144-145, 149, 182, 227 Viscosity 250
Protons 223 Volcanos 33
Radiometers 229 Volume (size) 125, 160, 170, 183, 241
Rain 182-183, 186 Voluntary and involuntary motion 75
Rainbow 125, 195, 231, 234 Von Frey device 59
Receptors 54, 56, 59-60, 126, 195 Water clocks and timers 43, 82
Red blood cells 132 Water hardness 163
Reflection 15, 180, 195, 210, 228, 230 Waves (physics) 15, 64, 68, 71-72, 232, 234
Refraction 212, 230 Whirlpools 117, 185
Regelation 161 Wind 18, 23, 27-29, 72, 184
Repellents 200 Winogradsky column 175
Retina 54, 81 World records 25, 200
Rods and cones (eyes) 57-58 Worms 201
Roots 162, 187-189, 191, 194 Wright Brothers 24
Salt 10, 13, 95, 105, 128, 131, 136-137, 143, 147, 153-154, Xanthophyll 190
Yeast 130, 173
163, 170, 174, 243-245
Seeds 18, 176

256