Here are three experiments for you to try!

ENERGY

POPCORN POPPING

Let's pop some popcorn to show the different changes in energy. We are going to pop the popcorn on the stove (the old fashion way!), so adult supervision is a must.

  1. Before we start popping the kernels, let's use our knowledge to find out a little bit about their matter and energy. What will you do to find out something about their matter? Can you tell what kind of energy the kernels have?

  2. Now let's do the fun part. You need an adult starting now! Turn on the stove. What happen? Is there any kind of energy going on?

  3. Add oil to the pan and place it on the burner. What is going on inside the pan?

  4. When the oil is hot, add the popcorn and cover the pan. How energy is working? How matter is changing?

  5. When the popcorn stops popping, turn off the stove. Before you start eating it, take a moment to think how energy and matter change the kernels into this delicious snack.

Remember: "Energy can not be created or destroyed. It can change forms and also change matter".

INERTIA

THE CAR CRASH

How often do you hear your mom or dad saying in the car: "Seat belts on". You might think that they are boring, but they want you to be safe. Try this.

Get a toy car and put any object inside. Get a heavy block, like a brick or a piece of wood shorter than the car. Place the block in the middle of a room and the car closer to the wall. Now push the car towards the block. WOW! BOOM! What happen when the car hit the block? What happen to the object inside the car?

How do you think that the first law of motion or inertia work here?

THE SECRET MESSAGE

Let's write a secret message to demonstrate the changes in matter. Remember that you need adult supervision to try this experiment!

This is what you need:

  • Lemon juice
  • Paintbrush
  • Paper
  • Iron

Dip the paintbrush in the lemon juice and write a secret message to you best friend.

Wait until the lemon juice dry. The message should be invisible at this point.

Heat the iron (here is when you need the help of an adult). Iron the paper. A chemical change in matter is taking place. Can you see what just happen? Do you know what cause this chemical change?