One science project about glow sticks explores how long a glow stick will stay lit when placed in water of varying temperatures. These temperatures should be relatively close together but even in number, such as using water samples brought to 5, 15, 25, 35 and 45 C in beakers. The size of each beaker, type of glow stick and amount of water in each beaker should be the same. Place a thermometer in each beaker to verify the temperature is correct and label each beaker with the temperature. The temperature can be kept consistent by adding ice or placing the beakers on a hot plate. Darken the room as much as possible and keep time with a stop watch, waiting for each glow stick to stop glowing and recording the results.
A science project can be for students to create the glow found in glow sticks in mixing bowls at home using three percent hydrogen peroxide, luminol, distilled water, copper sulfate pentahydrate and sodium carbonate. Begin by mixing 1 liter of the distilled water and the hydrogen peroxide in a large mixing bowl and setting it aside. In another bowl combine 4 g of sodium carbonate and another liter of distilled water, then after a few minutes mix in 0.4 g of copper sulfrate pentahydrate. Put on gloves and add 0.2 g of luminol, which will extract electrons from the copper in the copper sulfrate. Add the contents of the other mixing bowl and wait for the electrons to emit photons.
An experiment can show how the principle of a glow stick lasting longer when frozen can be applied to biological concepts like cold blooded animals. Projects can discuss how animals like snakes and lizards that have no control over their body temperature need to find ways to simulate their movement, like sitting on a tall rock on a cold day.
Other science projects concerning glow sticks have tested to see what other alterations to the glow sticks affect how long they stay lit. People have heated, frozen and refrigerated glow sticks and placed them in a vacuum to test the effects.