Learn with us online while the Exploratorium is temporarily closed. You can help us reopen—donate today.

Grades: 9-12

Science activity to make Earth's atmosphere to scale
A Little Atmosphere
Use a little bit of math to make a bonus accessory for your globe of the earth—an atmosphere, to scale.
Science activity to investigate the color of water
A Splash of Color
Is pure water colorless?
Science activity that demonstrates the afterimage phenomenon
Afterimage
A flash of light prints a lingering image in your eye.
Science activity demonstrating diffusion in cells
Agar Cell Diffusion
Use cubes of agar to investigate how size impacts diffusion.
Science activity that demonstrates the chemistry of batteries
Aluminum-Air Battery
Foiled again!
Science activity to construct a cube that can be perceived in two ways
Ambiguous Cube
Strange things can happen when your brain gets confused.
Science activity in which short pieces of chenille stem look random until viewed in the proper perspective
Ames Chair
It’s all in the way you look at it.
Anti-Gravity Mirror
Learn how to fly with this neat mirror trick.
Science activity that explores how waves travel and interact
Anti-Sound Spring
Send waves down a spring to watch them travel and interact.
Science activity to make a model of your immune system
Antibody Attack
Discover how antibodies launch attacks on invaders.
Science activity that demonstrates the angle of repose
Avalanche
Find order in well-mixed chaos.
A science activity to discover the diversity of insect life in your neighborhood
Backyard Bug Bonanza
Step outside and discover the diversity of insect life in your neighborhood.
Science activity that explores how yogurt is made
Bacteria Culture Club
Make yogurt from yogurt.
Science Activity to investigate microorganisms
Bacteriopolis
Make a home for a colorful community of microorganisms.
Science activity using a balancing ball to demonstrate the Bernoulli principle
Balancing Ball
Suspend a ball in a stream of air.
Science activity demonstrating balance and the center of gravity
Balancing Stick
Does it matter which end is up?
Science activity to simulate natural selection among predators and prey
Bean-Counter Evolution
Hunt for prey and discover the meaning of evolutionary “fitness” in this physically active group game.
Science activity to create a toy that sounds like a swarm of buzzing bees
Bee Hummer
Make a stick, rubber band, and index card sound like a swarm of bees.
Science activity that demonstrates a color illusion
Benham's Disk
A rotating black-and-white disk produces the illusion of color.
Science activity demonstrating the Bernoulli principle
Bernoulli Levitator
Suspend an object in the air by blowing down on it.
Science activity demonstrating angular momentum
Bicycle Wheel Gyro
A bicycle wheel acts like a giant gyroscope.
Science activity demonstrating color afterimage phenomenon
Bird in a Cage
Stare at one color—but see another.
Science activity demonstrating the blind spot phenomenon
Blind Spot
To see or not to see.
Science activity demonstrating the phenomenon of light scattering
Blue Sky
Discover why the sky is blue and the sunset is red.
Science activity demonstrating light polarization and stress patterns
Bone Stress
Polarized light reveals stress patterns in clear plastic.
Science activity that experiments with rocket designs and a PVC launcher
Bottle Blast Off
Ready for liftoff? Build your own rocket launcher!
Science activity to build a rubber-band-powered rolling plastic water bottle
Bottle Racer
Here’s a new “spin” on an old toy.
Science activity to make water boil at room temperature
Boyle-ing Water
Watch water boil at room temperature.
Science activity demonstrating transcription and translation
Breakfast Proteins
Construct a protein through cereal additions.
Science activity that demonstrates how some light sources flash on and off many times a second
Bronx-Cheer Bulb
Give a light source the raspberry and watch it wiggle—but the only thing wiggling is you.
Science activity demonstrating buoyancy and semipermeability in soap bubbles
Bubble Suspension
Soap bubbles float on a cushion of carbon dioxide gas.
Science activity demonstrating the physics of bubbles
Bubble Tray
Create giant bubbles!
Science activity investigating spectroscopy
CD Spectroscope
Make a truth teller for light.
Science activity to convert your cell phone into a Miniscope
Cell Phone Miniscope
Use your cell phone to explore the mini-scopic world.
Science activity that explores the properties of soap films and relates them to the properties of plasma membranes
Cellular Soap Opera
Soap films can behave like membranes.
Science activity that demonstrates center of gravity
Center of Gravity
Balance a checkbook using the physics method.
Science activity that demonstrates electrostatic charge
Charge and Carry
Store up an electric charge, then make sparks.
Science activity demonstrating visual perception illusion
Cheshire Cat
Make a friend disappear, leaving only a smile behind.
Science activity that demonstrates a magnetic field created by electromagnet
Circles of Magnetism
Make a magnetic field that's stronger than Earth's.
Science activity that demonstrates the dominant eye phenomena
Circles or Ovals?
Your brain combines information from your eyes in surprising ways.
Science activity that explores series and parallel circuits
Circuit Workbench
Circuits so interesting you can’t possibly get board.
Science activity to build a musical instrument that uses vibrations
Coffee-Can Cuíca
Make a homemade version of a traditional instrument.
Science activity that demonstrates temperature perception
Cold Metal
"Cold" metal and "warm" wood may be the same temperature.
Science activity that demonstrates color perception illusion
Color Contrast
A colored object may look different against different-colored backgrounds.
Science activity to explore variations in skin color and tone
Color Me Human
Explore variations in skin shade and tone.
Science activity that demonstrates effect of color filters on perception
Color Table
Color your perception.
Science activity that demonstrates perception of additive color mixtures
Colored Shadows
Not all shadows are black.
Science activity that demonstrates fluid pressure and buoyancy
Condiment Diver
To paraphrase French philosopher René Descartes: "I sink, therefore I am."
Science activity that demonstrates conductivity of solutions
Conductivity Meter
Let your electrolytes shine.
Science activity that demonstrates convection
Convection Currents
Make your own heat waves in an aquarium.
Science activity that demontrates the movement of a fluid undergoing convection
Convection Detection
Create a convection cell inside a CD case.
Science activity that demonstrates the effect of air density on sound
Conversation Piece
A balloon acts as a lens to focus sound.
Science activity that demonstrates effect of temperature on density
Cool Hot Rod
Objects change size when heated or cooled.
Science activity demonstrating paths of light reflection
Corner Reflector
See yourself as others see you.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance in a pendulum
Coupled Resonant Pendulums
These pendulums trade swings back and forth.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance in pendulums
Coupled Resonant Pendulums 2
Take advantage of resonance.
Science activity that demonstrates the critical angle phenomenon
Critical Angle
Discover why your favorite cat videos don't leak out of optical fibers.
Science activity to discover how a variety of traits in a group of living specimens can impact evolution
Critter Comparison
Observe physical and behavioral differences in locally collected creatures.
Science activity that uses a coil of wire, a paper cup and a magnet to create a radio speaker
Cup Speaker
Make a speaker that turns changing electric current into sound.
Science activity that demonstrates the Curie point phenomenon
Curie Point
When a piece of iron gets too hot, it loses its attraction to a magnet.
Science activity to demonstrate the Magnus effect by launching cups with rubber bands
Curveball Demonstrator
Give flight a spin with the Magnus effect.
Science activity to demonstrate pi using circumference and string
Cutting Pi
String and scissors are all you need to find pi all around you.
Cylindrical Mirror
See yourself as others see you in this cylindrical mirror.
Science activity to explore underwater color perception
Deep Blue
Underwater, what you see is not what you get.
Science activity that demonstrates adaptation in visual perception
Depth Spinner
What happens when you get off the merry-go-round?
Science activity that demonstrates how differently shaped ears affect your hearing
Designer Ears
Make “better” ears!
Science activity that demonstrates diffraction using a candle or flashlight bulb and two pencils
Diffraction
Light can bend around edges.
Science activity that demonstrates a heat engine
Dipping Bird
A dipping bird seems to go forever—but it's not perpetual motion.
Science activity that demonstrates perception of camouflage and movement
Disappearing Act
If you want to stay hidden, you’d better stay still.
Science activity that demonstrates the index of refraction
Disappearing Glass Rods
You can make glass objects disappear.
Science activity that demonstrates neuroplasticity
Distortion Goggles
Retrain your brain.
Science activity that uses falling dominoes to model signal transmission in a neuron
Domino Effect
Falling dominoes model signal transmission in a neuron.
Science activity that demonstrates the Doppler effect
Doppler Effect
The Doppler effect causes the “neeeeeoowwm” sound of a speeding car passing by.
Science activity that demonstrates linear and rotational kinetic energy
Downhill Race
Two cylinders that look the same may roll down a hill at different rates.
Science activity that uses a pendulum and a marker to create beautiful designs
Drawing Board
A pendulum moving in two directions creates beautiful designs.
Drip Chamber
Viscous liquids create a mesmerizing light display.
Science activity that demonstrates reflections in a kaleidoscope
Duck Into Kaleidoscope
Make multiple images of yourself.
Science activity that demonstrates the art of natural dyes
Dye Like a Natural
Stain your clothes on purpose.
Science activity to investigate earlobes
Ear Sort
Do your ears hang low—and what do textbooks know?
Science activity that explores the relative sizes of the earth and moon and the distances between them
Earth and Moon
Create a scale model of the earth-moon system using spheres of different sizes.
Science activity that demonstrates the eddy current phenomenon
Eddy Currents
A magnet falls more slowly through a metallic tube than it does through a nonmetallic tube.
Science activity that models the motion of electrons
Electric Current Model
Use magnets to model the motion of electrons.
Science activity that demonstrates corrosion, using saltwater and electricity to etch patterns on metal
Electrical Etching
Etch patterns on metal using saltwater and electricity.
Science activity demonstrating static electricity
Electrical Fleas
Start your own electric flea circus.
Science activity to change the measured weight of an object without touching it
Electromagnetic Antigravity
Change the measured weight of an object—without touching it.
Science activity detecting electric charge
Electroscope
What's your (electrical) sign?
Everyone Is You and Me
Science activity measuring density of a liquid
Eyedropper Hydrometer
Buoy your understanding of density.
Science activity demonstrating a visual illusion
Fading Dot
Now you see it; now you don’t—an object without a sharp edge can fade from your view.
Falling Feather
Prove to yourself that Galileo was right.
Science activity that demonstrates calculating the acceleration of gravity using simple materials
Falling for Gravity
“g,” that’s interesting!
Science activity creating music with gravity
Falling Rhythm
Listen to the rhythm of falling weights.
Science activity that demonstrates action-reaction pairs described in Newton’s Third Law
Fan Cart
Can a fan save your sailboat from the doldrums?
Science activity that demonstrates an ambiguous figure optical illusion
Far-Out Corners
Your experience of the world influences what you see.
Science activity demonstrating how changes in atmospheric pressure feel
Feeling Pressured
Get into air pressure—literally.
Science activity that infuses vegetables with a tasty brine—instantly—using a syringe
Flash Pickling
Take the pressure off pickling.
Science activity to observe shapes floating inside your own eye
Floaters
See shadowy shapes floating inside your own eye.
Science activity that demonstrates levitation with electrostatics
Flying Tinsel
Hone your electrostatic levitation skills and fly some tinsel.
Science activity that demonstrates how clouds form
Fog Chamber
Make a portable cloud in a bottle: Now you see it, now you don’t!
Science activity that explores the carbon cycle
Follow the Carbon
Model the carbon cycle and its principal reservoirs and flow rates using rice.
Science activity that explores fractal patterns and how they’re formed
Fractal Patterns
Make dendritic diversions and bodacious branches.
Science activity that demonstrates the kinetic behavior of gas
Gas Model
Caged molecules do their thing.
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute