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Mathematics

Science activity that demonstrates the angle of repose
Avalanche
Find order in well-mixed chaos.
Science activity that experiments with rocket designs and a PVC launcher
Bottle Blast Off
Ready for liftoff? Build your own rocket launcher!
Science activity demonstrating paths of light reflection
Corner Reflector
See yourself as others see you.
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 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 that demonstrates the Doppler effect
Doppler Effect
The Doppler effect causes the “neeeeeoowwm” sound of a speeding car passing by.
Science activity that demonstrates reflections in a kaleidoscope
Duck Into Kaleidoscope
Make multiple images of yourself.
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 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 explores fractal patterns and how they’re formed
Fractal Patterns
Make dendritic diversions and bodacious branches.
Science activity that demonstrates use of nonstandard measurements and simple ratios for estimating sizes or distances
Handy Measuring Tool
Measure the height of an object indirectly using your hand and a ratio.
Build an inclinometer, a tool that can measure the height of a distant object, no matter how far away it is
Height Sight
Find the height of a tree, a flying paper rocket, or even the North Star!
Science activity that explores infrared radiation through a parabolic mirror
Hot Spot
Focus the invisible light from an electric heater.
Science activity that explores growth rates for cultured cells
How Many HeLa?
Dividing cells expand exponentially.
A science activity that demonstrates a straight rod passing through a curved slot
Hyperbolic Slot
How do you put a straight rod through a curved slot?
Science activity that explores the relationship between light, area, and distance
Inverse-Square Law
Why the world gets dark so fast outside the circle of the campfire.
Science activity that uses gelatin to demonstrate behavior of filters and lenses
Laser Jello
Gelatin can do much more than just wiggle and jiggle.
Science activity that demonstrates light wave interference
Moiré Patterns
Imperfect alignment can lead to interesting patterns.
Science activity that investigates geometry of non-round rollers
Non-Round Rollers
A flat panel rolls smoothly on non-circular rollers, providing a decidedly counterintuitive experience.
Science activity that demonstrates the brightness of two light sources
Oil Spot Photometer
Compare the brightness of two light sources using an oil spot on a white card.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance of sound waves
Organ Pipe
Get Bach to the fundamentals.
Science activity that demontrates pendulums of different lengths swinging to their own rhythms
Pendulum Snake
Pendulums dance in a shifting series of patterns as they swing to their own rhythms.
Science activity that investigates peripheral vision
Peripheral Vision
Discover the outer limits of your eyes.
Science activity using straight lines to learn about circles
Pi Graph
Use straight lines to learn about circles.
Science activity to estimate pi with the random tossing of toothpicks
Pi Toss
Randomly toss some toothpicks, with pi as your reward.
Science activity that explores how graphing can reveal patterns in data
Plot the Dot
Graphing can be a slippery slope to understanding.
Science activity that demonstrates light and mathematical relationships through a pinhole viewer
Poking Fun at Math
Make pinhole predictions.
Science activity that models radioactive decay
Radioactive-Decay Model
Substitute coins for radiation.
Science activity that demonstrates depth perception
Size and Distance
So close, yet so far away.
Science activity that explores the relationship between the temperature and volume of a given amount of gas
Sizing Up Temperature
Explore Charles’s Law—in a syringe.
Science activity that investigates skin surface area
Skin Size
Get all wrapped up in a lesson about your skin.
Science activity that investigates motion through position, speed, and acceleration
Slow Your Roll
Use a slow-moving wheel on a track to investigate position, speed, and acceleration.
Science activity that models light wave interference
Soap Film Interference Model
Get on our wavelength!
Science activity investigating surface area and light
Soap-Bubble Shapes
Create geometric art with soap films.
Science activity that demonstrates properties of convex mirrors
Spherical Reflections
Discover art and science in a myriad of spherical reflections.
Science activity that explores unexpected patterns
Spinning Blackboard
Create graceful loops and spirals by drawing on a spinning disk.
Science activity that investigates rotation and perception
Spinning Cylinder
Make a triangle appear on a spinning wheel.
Science activity demonstrating how a square wheel will roll smoothly on a round surface using catenary curve
Square Wheels
You may not be able to put a square peg in a round hole—but you can make a square wheel roll on a round road.
Science activity that demonstrates chaotic motion
Strange Attractor
The attraction and repulsion of magnets produces entrancing, unpredictable motion.
Science activity that demonstrates the mathematics of the center of gravity
Take It from the Top
How does this stack up?
Science activity that demonstrates pressure and weight distribution
Tired Weight
Calculate the weight of a car by using air pressure.
Science activity that demonstrates Thomas Young's two-slit experiment
Two-Slit Experiment
Light plus light equals dark.
A science activity that demonstrates the two-slit interference phenomenon
Two-Slit Wave Model
Use index cards to show how light plus light equals dark.
Science activity that demonstrates components of force and motion
Vector Toy
This toy uses components of force to walk and to stop at just the right time.
Science activity that models the structure of a virus
Viral Packaging
Get the most bang for your genomic buck.
Science activity demonstrating centripetal force
Water Spinner
Rotating water has a curved surface.
Science activity used to determine the field diameter of a compound microscope
What's the Size of What You See?
Determine the field diameter of a compound microscope.
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Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute