Demonstrate the miscibility (how well substances mix) of four different liquids by filling a cup with layers of colorful liquid. Fill 1/4 of a large glass with water before dropping in three drops of one food coloring. Fill another 1/4 of the glass with vegetable oil before dropping in three drops of food coloring of a different color. On top of the vegetable oil add rubbing alcohol and three drops of a different color of food coloring. For the last layer fill the glass to the top with clear dishwashing liquid before adding food coloring. The result is a glass containing four separate layers of different colored liquid. The food coloring puts a new spin on this traditional science experiment and provides your child with observable data. On the poster, position the research question, background research, and hypothesis on the left-hand panel, information about the experiment in the middle panel, and the analysis and results on the right-hand panel.
Experiment with the molecular properties of a balloon by sticking a long skewer through one end of the balloon and out the other without popping it. The long molecules in a balloon will stretch and remain attached in places where there is more rubber. To conduct this project, fill a balloon with air, but not so full that it is too thin. Cover a long skewer in petroleum jelly from one end to the other. First try sticking the skewer through the top of the balloon, opposite the knot. This area is darker because it has more concentrated rubber molecules than on the sides. The skewer should be able to slide into the balloon without popping it and can even go out the other end near the knot. The petroleum jelly lets the skewer enter and exit the balloon easily, so the tear doesn't result in a popped balloon. Next try sticking the skewer through the side of the balloon. The molecules are thinner here, so the balloon will pop. On the poster, position the research question, background research, and hypothesis on the left-hand panel, information about the experiment in the middle panel, and the analysis and results on the right-hand panel.
Teach about air pressure by fitting a peeled hard-boiled egg into the opening of a milk bottle. Because there are not many modern milk bottles that this experiment works with, look at antique stores for traditional milk bottles with wide mouths. Begin by attempting to fit the egg through the opening. The egg will be too wide and will not fit through. Next, light a strip of newspaper on fire, drop it into the bottle and quickly set the egg on top of the opening. Within seconds the heated air molecules inside the bottle expand. When the egg is set on top of the bottle, it seals it, putting the fire out and contracting the molecules. The high air pressure outside the bottle pushes the egg into the bottle. As in all of these experiments, on the poster, position the research question, background research, and hypothesis on the left-hand panel, information about the experiment in the middle panel, and the analysis and results on the right-hand panel.