Science Snacks: Waves | Exploratorium

Science activity to investigate the color of water

A Splash of Color

Is pure water colorless?

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 demonstrating color afterimage phenomenon

Stare at one color—but see another.

Science activity demonstrating the phenomenon of light scattering

Discover why the sky is blue and the sunset is red.

Science activity demonstrating the physics of bubbles

Create giant bubbles!

Science activity investigating spectroscopy

CD Spectroscope

Turn an old CD into a spectroscope to analyze light.

Science activity that demonstrates the critical angle phenomenon

Discover why your favorite cat videos don't leak out of optical fibers.

$Science activity that demonstrates diffraction using a candle or flashlight bulb and two pencils$

Demonstrate diffraction using a candle and two pencils.

$Science activity that demonstrates the index of refraction$

Disappearing Glass Rods

You can make glass objects disappear.

Science activity that demonstrates the Doppler effect

The Doppler effect causes the “neeeeeoowwm” sound of cars.

A hand holding up a glass of water, casting a shadow on a surface below that creates an abstract pattern.

Viscous liquids create a mesmerizing light display.

Science and engineering activity to make a record player

Make a record player with a pencil, pin, and paper.