Science from home
"Science from your home" is a project of the Science Museum of the University of Navarra to show in a visual way some physical phenomena and chemical reactions that surround us in our daily lives. This initiative is aimed at all audiences, especially children and their families, who will be able to carry out the experiments at home, due to the simplicity of their preparation and execution. The script and editing of the videos is the work of Dr. Cristina Sola.
The "Science from your home" project is part of the Science Museum's STEM strategy to make the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM) subjects more attractive.
pH indicator
Further information
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Red cabbage
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Alcohol 96º.
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Mortar
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Various colourless household substances: salfumán, lemon juice, vinegar, water, bicarbonate, ammonia, soda, soda pop, tonic, bleach...
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Vessels
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Scissors
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Strainer
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Cut a couple of red cabbage leaves with scissors.
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Put the pieces in a mortar and pestle and add alcohol.
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Crush with the pestle and mortar until the alcohol is a deep purple colour.
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Straining the solution
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Place a small amount of the product to be measured in different beakers to measure its pH.
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With a dropper or syringe add a small amount of cabbage extract.
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Observe the new colour
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Determine its pH by comparing the colour with the scale in picture 1.
Non-Newtonian fluid
Further information
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Maize flour
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Water
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Bowl
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Dye (optional)
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Place as much cornflour as you want in a bowl (be generous).
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Add water while mixing with your hands
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You must achieve the consistency of image 1
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If it is more solid, add a little water
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If you overdo it with water, add a little more cornflour.
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If you want to make it coloured, add colouring to the water.
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Experiment with the behaviour of the fluid.
Static electricity
Further information
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Tap
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Balloon
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Woollen garment
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Inflate a balloon
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Turn on a tap just enough to provide a steady, continuous flow of water.
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Rub the balloon against the woollen garment (or your own hair).
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Bring the balloon close to the water stream and observe
Limonene: an invisible weapon
Further information
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Balloons
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Mandarin or orange
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Candle
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Knife
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Inflate a balloon
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Cut the peel of the mandarin or orange with a knife (only the outer part).
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Bring the peel closer and fold it over so that the liquid in the peel comes out.
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Wait a few seconds
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Surprise!
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Light a candle
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Bring the shell closer and repeat the movement.
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You will observe small flares
Surface tension
Further information
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Glass
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Water
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Soap
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Currency
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Dropper / syringe
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Place a clean coin on a flat surface.
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Take a certain amount of water with a dropper.
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Add the water drop by drop onto the coin.
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Watch as a dome of water forms over it.
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Keep adding drops until you can't fit any more.
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To investigate further, you can prepare a mixture of water with a little soap (no matter the proportion).
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Repeat the above experience with this mixture.
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What's going on, do more or less drops fit?
Convection
Further information
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Dish
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Tea bag
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Scissors
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Lighter
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Cut off the top of the tea bag
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Empty its contents
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Place the sachet upright on the plate
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Turn on the paper from the top
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See
Home-made flares
Further information
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Wax
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Water
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Metal corking system for sparkling beverages
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Lighter
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Dropper
CONDUCT THE EXPERIMENT IN AN OPEN, DRAUGHT-FREE PLACE WITH ADULT SUPERVISION.
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Detach the metal cover from the corking system and turn it upside down.
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Place a small piece of wax on the metal lid.
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Melt the wax with the help of the lighter.
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Once the wax has melted, burn it with a lighter.
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Add, from a distance, a few drops of water with the dropper.
Raising agents
Further information
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Vinegar
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Bicarbonate
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Dishwashing soap
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Aluminium foil
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2 glasses
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Food colouring (optional)
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Spoon
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Place a square of aluminium foil over a glass to simulate a volcano.
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Prepare a mixture of 5 tablespoons of baking soda with a little water so that it has a liquid consistency, the minimum amount.
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Add a few drops of food colouring (optional).
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Add a squirt of liquid soap
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Stir the whole mixture well
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Put this mixture on top of the aluminium foil (you don't need to add all of it).
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Add a certain amount of vinegar
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Watch the rash
Sodium polyacrylate
Further information
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Nappies
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Tray
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Water
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Salt
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Take a nappy and open it.
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Separate well the plastic layers and the cotton.
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Look for small white grains (like sugar) and separate them.
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Depending on the brand of nappy, the grains are either between the cotton or between the plastic layers.
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Pile up all the grains you have found.
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Add water little by little and watch it swell.
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You can weigh the dry grains and measure the volume of water you add to study the holding capacity of the nappy.
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The "snow" is ready to play or decorate.
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When you want to remove it, add a handful of salt and watch.
Refraction - Light
Further information
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Currency
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Empty glass
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Glass with water
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Place the coin under the empty glass
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Place your eyes in a fixed position so that you see the coin through one side of the glass.
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Keeping your eyes fixed, add water until the glass is full.