While children and adults may be at home for Science Week this year it doesn't mean that knowledge should be stopped.
Guardian Australia was informed by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki that while children today may have access to a lot of information via the internet, it is not possible for them to actually use the internet.
Dr Karl stated that science is more than a collection of facts. Science is an encyclopedia. Doing physical experiments at home is a great way to see the results and feel like you are actually dealing with reality.
Science is a way of understanding the world around us. If you perform cute experiments, you will begin to see that there's a lot more going on than you thought.
Dr Erinn Fagan Jeffries, a South Australian Museum wasp expert, created a show called Science and Magic, which ran during Science Week 2019 and at Adelaide Fringe 2020.
She stated that there are many ways to spark a child's natural curiosity.
She said that children are natural scientists when they work with them because they love asking questions and don't fear asking questions. That's all science really is.
Questacon offers a variety of science experiments that are fun and easy to do. However, Questacon also has some suggestions. We have compiled a list of our top picks, ranked according to difficulty, with a few suggestions from Dr Karl and Dr Fagan Jeffries.
For Beginners
1. Geyser in a Bottle: The classic
A Mentos can be added to any carbonated fizzy beverage. The liquid will eventually erupt as the carbon dioxide it produces builds up. To keep the trick fresh and interesting, you can simply increase its scale.
2. Keep it simple: Egg in the bottle
Another oldie, but a great idea: Light a piece paper and drop it into a glass container with an opening smaller than that of a hard-boiled eggs. You will see the egg slide through the bottle's opening.
If you're really good, repeat the process until the egg is out once more.
Although it's simple, this experiment shows how volume, temperature, and pressure of gases inside and around the bottles. The egg seals the bottle while heat inside causes the air pressure inside to build up, so that oxygen can escape. This reduces the volume of the bottle. The egg is gently pushed through the opening by the outside air pressure.
Intermediate
3. Fluid dynamics: Playing With Rainbows
This recipe will take it to the next level, but not so high that you'll be playing with fire. You'll need a dish, whole milk and some dye, as well as dish soap. To create a tie-die effect, place the milk in a dish. Next, add the dye to the milk. Finally, put a drop of dish soap in the middle. This is due to soap's molecular mechanics. It makes it a great research project.
Dr Karl also suggests other variations, such as soaking pepper in water and then adding dish soap to make it move. Another method involves placing four M&Ms along the edges of a plate, then filling it up with 90C water. The dyes from the sugary shells will dissolve in the water but the dyes won't mix.
Then, something happens. You then ask yourself why? You will need to research the answer.
Advanced
4. Wow factor: Hot Ice
Although this experiment is not easy, it's worth the effort. However, it should be done under parental supervision. The video will explain the science and how it works. It also demonstrates how to create supersaturated solutions that crystallize instantly. It creates ice that is hotter than cold. This is due to an exothermic reaction as well as the heat of crystallisation.
After you have mastered the basics, you can start having fun making instant ice flowers and towers.
5. The danger: Hybrid rocket engine
Rocket scientists and engineers should be aware that there are three types if rocket engines. There is liquid fuel, solid fuel, and hybrid engines that use both. It turns out that yeast, hydrogen peroxide, and uncooked pasta can be used to create a simple hybrid engine. Pure oxygen is created when hydrogen peroxide and yeast are combined. You can light the pasta on fire to create a basic rocket engine.
Another one to be avoided is this one. The instructional video below provides some safety tips.
6. Optional Bonus: Go into the backyard
Another option is to go into your backyard to discover the natural world. Bush Blitz Australia's largest nature discovery program has created a treasure hunt that participants can use to search their backyards or walls for new species.
My specialty is taxonomy, and I focus on insects. So my science is less about making vinegar and bicarb explosions. That is what is great. My science is about going outside and understanding the ecology. Dr Fagan-Jeffries believes that the living things of the environment are the most important.
70% of Australian animals, plants, and fungi have yet to be described. They have not yet been identified by western science. However, anyone who looks hard enough can discover a new species.
You can find instructions on how to participate at the Bush Blitz site.
