Summer break is here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the warm weather and try some fun science experiments outside. One of the coolest things you can do is blow bubbles. Bubbles might seem simple, but there’s a lot of science happening in their short lives!
To blow bubbles, you need bubble liquid (mostly soap and water) and a wand. Dip the wand into the liquid and blow gently. If you blow too hard, the liquid will just splash out. Bubbles are like a sandwich with a layer of water between two layers of soap. The soap helps the water spread out and form a bubble.
Even if you use a wand with a different shape, like a diamond, the bubbles will still be round. This is because the water particles pull on each other, giving the bubble its round shape. When you pop a bubble, you’re breaking the attraction between the water particles, letting the air escape.
Another fun summer activity is flying kites. Kites fly because of their big, flat sail. The sail is tilted so that the back is lower than the front, which helps the air push up on the kite and keep it in the air. The tail of the kite helps keep it stable by weighing down one side.
You can make your own kite with a plastic sheet, two dowels, string, and some tape. Once it’s built, find a windy day and a big open space to fly it. Have a friend help you launch it by holding the kite while you pull on the string.
On a sunny day, you can try making a solar updraft tower. This tower uses the sun’s energy to make air move upward and spin a paper pinwheel. You’ll need three tin cans, tape, a piece of wire, thumbtacks, and a square piece of paper.
Stack the cans and tape them together. Make a wire arch on top and attach a pinwheel. Place the tower near a sunny window, and watch as the sun heats the air inside, causing the pinwheel to spin.
Feeling hot? Make some ice cream using science! You’ll need cream, sugar, vanilla, ice, salt, and two sealable bags. Mix the cream, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag. Fill the large bag with ice and salt, then place the small bag inside.
Shake the bags for about 5-10 minutes. The salt makes the ice melt, which cools the cream quickly, turning it into ice cream. Enjoy your homemade treat!
We hope you have a fantastic summer filled with fun and learning. Try these experiments and share your results with us. Have a great time in the sun!
