Fun Experiments?



ORCUS DEMENS

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Experiments that teach the concepts are usually lots of fun. Three states of matter, solid, liquid and One I did (unintentially) was the fourth state of matter, plasma. Wax is good for this, candle, liquid wax, vapor. This can also be turned into a plasma in a microwave. Candle in pan of water cover with a jar, flame burns out water gets pulled into jar as air cools (Atmospheric pressure and vacuums). Magneto electrical interaction, create magnets with electricity then make electricity with the magnets. Van de Graf generators are fun (static electricity). Some old hot wheel tracks and cars to teach gravity and simple physics (the math is pretty simple)
 


Davy Crockett

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Google the book “backyard ballistics”. Changed my life as a child!


Thank you Lionslayer, That book is right up my ally. I ordered 3 , One for me and each my boys for Christmas in remembrance of the good old days. What I like about this topic is seeing Dads that want to "Homeschool" their kids on weekends and evenings and give them that extra educational boost that is so important. It's hereditary , When I visit my grandkids no matter how many toys they have , What they want to show me is what they have created . Last visit I saw boards screwed together that was supposed to resemble a homemade wooden horse, It was poorly built but it was built with pride so it was worth many high fives. A plug and play circuit board and catapults that are starting to get too big for the garage. This topic is worthy of 20 pages , I have stories to tell. Some would make you giggle .
 

Ericb

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More of a craft than experiment but making match stick crossbows is fun. My boy did the Mentos one trying different sodas to see which worked best. I made a elctro magnet with my dad while growing up. I think he got me to sit quite for hours rapping those damn coils.

I wonder if they have anything like Heath(sp) kits anymore? My dad made a Ocilascope which was always fun to play with.

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Potato guns are fun as well!
 

Davy Crockett

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More of a craft than experiment but making match stick crossbows is fun. My boy did the Mentos one trying different sodas to see which worked best. I made a elctro magnet with my dad while growing up. I think he got me to sit quite for hours rapping those damn coils.

I wonder if they have anything like Heath(sp) kits anymore? My dad made a Ocilascope which was always fun to play with.

- - - Updated - - -

Potato guns are fun as well!



Those old Heatkits are valuable , I had a CB radio that was collecting dust and I saw them selling good on ebay so I listed it , I can't remember exactly what I got for it but it was close to $ 300. I paid a couple bucks for it at a garage sale.

Potato guns with golf balls wrapped in wet toilet paper for a snug fit are a blast.
 


Davy Crockett

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If you ever find yourself at the Mall of America with time to kill take a walk through the "adventure store". Tons of fun learning tools, books and experiments for kids of all ages. The website isn't near as exciting as the store but gives you an idea what the store is all about. The store has a lot of things that are not listed on the website.


https://www.jmcremps.com/
 

Ericb

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Those old Heatkits are valuable , I had a CB radio that was collecting dust and I saw them selling good on ebay so I listed it , I can't remember exactly what I got for it but it was close to $ 300. I paid a couple bucks for it at a garage sale.

Potato guns with golf balls wrapped in wet toilet paper for a snug fit are a blast.

My dad had all of them. My mom ended up giving them to a high school after he passed. Didn't care at all about them then but would be kind of neat to have around now.
 

Davy Crockett

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My dad had all of them. My mom ended up giving them to a high school after he passed. Didn't care at all about them then but would be kind of neat to have around now.



Probably be worth it to ask the school about them , My guess is if they still have them they are collecting dust in the storage area.
 

Davy Crockett

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I haven't tried this but evidently it works and to me it's pretty amazing . The first one in this video ~~coal into diamond .



 


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