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Top 5 physics experiments you can do at home

October 17, 2022 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Physics is key to understanding the world around us. While some aspects may seem tricky to understand, many fundamental physics concepts can be broken down into simple concepts, some of which can be demonstrated using basic equipment at home.

This list of 5 physics experiments you can try at home is a great starting point for understanding physics and, hopefully a source of inspiration for little scientists everywhere!

Physics experiments you can do at home

1. archimedes and density.

The story behind Archimedes’ discovery of density is that he was asked by the King of Sicily to work out whether a goldsmith had replaced some gold from a crown with silver. Archimedes needed to determine if the goldsmith had cheated without damaging the crown.

The crown weighed the same as the gold the King had given the goldsmith, but gold is more dense than silver, so if there were silver in the crown its density would be less than if it were pure gold. Archimedes realised that if he could measure the crown’s volume, he could work out its density, but calculating the volume of a crown shape was a tough challenge. According to the story, Archimedes was having a bath one day when he realised the water level rose as he lowered himself into the bathtub. He realised that the volume of water displaced was equal to the volume of his body in the water.

Archimedes placed the crown in water to work out its density and realised the goldsmith had cheated the king!

Density Experiment

One fun way to demonstrate density is to make a density column. Choose a selection of liquids and place them in density order, from the most dense to the least dense. Carefully pour a small amount of each into a tall jar or glass, starting with the most dense. You should end up with a colourful stack of liquids!

2. Split light into the colours of the rainbow

Isaac Newton experimented with prisms and realised that light is made up of different colours ( the colours of the rainbow ). Newton made this discovery in the 1660s. It wasn’t until the 1900s that physicists discovered the electromagnetic spectrum , which includes light waves we can’t see, such as microwaves, x-ray waves, infrared and gamma rays.

How to split light

Splitting white light into the colours of the rainbow sounds tricky, but all you need is a prism. A prism is a transparent block shaped so light bends ( refracts ) as it passes through. Some colours bend more than others, so the whole spectrum of colours can be seen.

If you don’t have a prism, you can also use a garden hose! Stand with your back to the sun, and you’ll see a rainbow in the water! This is because drops of water act like a prism.

3. Speed of Falling Objects

Galileo’s falling objects.

Aristotle thought that heavy objects fell faster than lighter objects, a theory later disproved by Galileo .

It is said that Galileo dropped two cannonballs with different weights from the leaning tower of Pisa, which hit the ground at the same time. All objects accelerate at the same rate as they fall.

If you drop a feather and a hammer from the same height, the hammer will hit the ground first, but this is because of air resistance!

If a hammer and feather are dropped somewhere with no air resistance, they hit the ground simultaneously. Commander David Scott proved this was true on the Apollo 15 moonwalk!

Hammer and Feather Experiment on the Moon

Brian Cox also proved Galileo’s theory to be correct by doing the same experiment in a vacuum!

While you won’t be able to replicate a hammer or heavy ball and feather falling, you can investigate with two objects of the same size but different weights. This means the air resistance is the same for both objects, so the only difference is the weight.

Take two empty water bottles of the same size. Fill one to the top with water and leave the other empty. Drop them from the same height. Both will hit the ground at the same time!

4. Newton’s Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton pops up a lot in any physics book as he came up with many of the laws that describe our universe and is undoubtedly one of the most famous scientists of all time. Newton’s Laws of Motion describe how things move and the relationship between a moving object and the forces acting on it.

Making and launching a mini rocket is a great way to learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion .

The rocket remains motionless unless a force acts on it ( Newton’s First Law ).

The acceleration of the rocket is affected by its mass. If you increase the mass of the rocket, its acceleration will be less than if it had less mass ( Newton’s Second Law ).

The equal and opposite reaction from the gas forcing the cork downwards propels the rocket upwards ( Newton’s Third Law ).

4. Pressure

Pressure is the force per unit area.

Imagine standing on a Lego brick. If you stand on a large brick, it will probably hurt. If you stand on a smaller brick with the same force it will hurt more as the pressure is greater!

Snowshoes are usually very wide. This is to reduce the pressure on the snow so it sinks less as people walk on it.

Pressure and Eggs

If you stand on one egg, it will most likely break. If you stand on lots of eggs with the same force, you increase the area the force is applied over and, therefore, reduce the pressure on each individual egg.

That’s five easy physics experiments you can do at home! Can you think of any more?

Last Updated on June 14, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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6 Simple Physics Science Experiments for Kids

Physics is the natural science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force. The goal of studying physics is to understand how our world, and by extension, how our universe works! Here are 6 super simple science experiments for kids to explore density, gravity, electricity, and pressure. You probably already have the materials you’ll need laying around the house: eggs, water, food coloring, oranges, a comb and even spaghetti!

Changing the Density of Water

Have you ever seen a lake freeze in winter? When the temperature drops, a sheet of ice forms across the top, but underneath the ice layer, the lake is still there. Why does this happen, and why do you think it’s so important? We’ll tackle these questions in the following experiment. We’ll take a close look at the effects of temperature on water, and see what happens when you try to mix differently tempered water.

Changing the Density of Water Printable Instructions

What you’ll need:

• Two containers such as jars or measuring cups
• Food coloring

1. Add approximately four cups of water to a container. Add 2-3 drops of blue food coloring and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator overnight.

2. Heat approximately 1 cup of water to steaming or just boiling. Add 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring and mix well.

3. Slowly pour ~1/4 cup cold water into the hot water. Make sure to pour very slowly and along the side of the container so there is minimal mixing. You should see two layers form. Time how long it takes for the two layers to gradually come together to make a single green layer.

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-------------------------------------------------------, what’s happening.

Changing the temperature of water affects its density. When water heats up, its molecules vibrate and move around. This makes the space between them increase, resulting in a lower density. As the water cools down, its molecules slow down and come closer together. This makes the water more dense. The cooled water in our experiment sank to the bottom because it had a higher density than the heated water. It turned green because it touched some of the hot water on the way down, cooling it down and making it sink.

In nature, this phenomenon is responsible for a process called “turnover.” The sinking of cooler water and rising of warmer water causes the layers of a lake to mix, allowing nutrients such as oxygen to be dispersed throughout. So why doesn’t a lake freeze solid from the bottom up? The density of water continues to rise until it reaches freezing, but then its density changes again. Ice is far less dense than liquid water, so any water that freezes rises to the top. The ice forms a layer across the surface of the lake, but the lake remains liquid underneath, allowing the plant and animal life to survive through the winter.

How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim

When trying to guess if an object will float, it’s useful to take into account the object’s density. Density is defined as mass per unit of volume, and objects with a higher mass-to-volume ratio have a higher density. Objects that are denser than water will sink, while those that are less dense will stay afloat.

Because it’s less dense than water, an unpeeled orange will float. It should stand to reason that peeling an orange, and thereby decreasing its mass, should have little or no effect. What happens, in fact, is the opposite. It may seem counterintuitive, but in the following experiment we’ll see that peeling an orange actually makes it sink.

How to Make an Orange Sink or Swim Printable Instructions

• A wide-mouth container such as a jar

1. Fill the jar with enough water to cover an orange, should it be submerged.

2. Gently place an unpeeled orange into the water. Observe what happens. Does the orange sink or float?

3. Remove the orange from the jar and peel it.

4. Place the peeled orange back into the jar. What happens to the orange now?

It may seem like peeling the orange should allow it to float even better, since by peeling it we’re removing some of its mass and making it lighter. In fact, what we observe it that peeling an orange makes it sink. This seems illogical until you consider the nature of density.

Density is defined as mass per volume. An orange peel is highly porous, meaning that it has lots of tiny holes in it. The holes are essentially tiny bubbles of air. These air pockets are empty space, or pockets of no mass that, when calculating the total density, serve to decrease the final result. When you take away the peel, the air pockets are removed. Now, the orange has a higher density, because its mass per unit of volume is goes up. The orange is now denser than water. It therefore sinks. So, while it seems to go against reason, the result is actually adhering to the rules of density.

How to Use Gravity to Tell if an Egg is Cooked

“Gravity” is the force that draws us toward the earth, and it’s responsible for making things fall to the ground when they’re thrown up, or dropped from a distance. The “center of gravity”, or the “center of mass”, is the point at which an object’s weight is concentrated. It can be considered as the point on which gravity acts on an object.

Having a stable center of gravity makes things like spinning tops possible, or for a tightrope walker to balance on a thin wire. We can also take advantage of this phenomenon to determine if an egg is cooked, without having to crack the egg open!

How to Use Gravity to Tell if an Egg is Cooked Printable Instructions

• 1 small pot
• Water for boiling

1. Hard-boil one of the eggs. *Note: this part requires adult supervision. There are several ways to hard-boil an egg, but for the purposes of this experiment we want to make sure the egg is thoroughly hard-boiled. To achieve this, let the egg sit in actively boiling water for at least 15 minutes.

2. Drain the egg and rinse it under cool water. Place the egg in the refrigerator for an hour or more. This is it so you can’t tell which egg is cooked simply by checking the temperature.

3. Remove the cooked egg and the raw egg from the refrigerator. Spin the eggs, one at a time, on a countertop or clean surface. Note the differences in the way each egg moves. One egg spins smoothly while the other wobbles about and is difficult to spin.

The contents inside the raw egg’s shell are liquid, so they’re able to move around.  When you try to spin the raw egg, its contents shift around. This makes it so the egg’s center of gravity is constantly changing. Because it doesn’t have a stable center of gravity, the egg doesn’t spin smoothly, as a top would, but wobbles about. The cooked egg, on the other hand, is solid inside. Its center of gravity remains the same. Therefore, the hard-boiled egg will spin smoothly, and is easily distinguished from the raw egg without cracking either egg open.

Testing a Spaghetti Bridge

One of the key decisions in construction is the selection of building materials. Depending on their composition, different materials are capable of withstanding different loads. We can examine this concept by constructing a miniature bridge, and then testing its ability to support weight. We’ll use strands of uncooked spaghetti to look at how the structural makeup of a particular building material affects its ability to withstand pressure.

Testing a Spaghetti Bridge Printable Instructions

• Paper clip or S hook
• Small paper cup
• Several coins

1. Place one strand of uncooked spaghetti between two jars or boxes so that the spaghetti forms a bridge.

2. Bend the paper clip to form an S hook (or simply use and S hook) and poke a hole in the paper cup. Suspend the paper cup from your hook, and then carefully hang the hook and cup on the spaghetti bridge.

3. Add coins to the cup one at a time. Record how many coins you can add before the spaghetti breaks.

4. Set up the experiment again, but this time use two strands of spaghetti to construct the bridge. How many coins can your new bridge hold before it breaks now?

5. Repeat the experiment using increasing amounts of spaghetti strands. What do you notice about the ability of the bridge to carry coins as you add more strands of spaghetti?

A strand of uncooked spaghetti is very brittle, and will snap when pressure is applied to it. When we add additional strands of spaghetti, however, the pressure is distributed among the strands, so the total pressure applied to each is lower. The strands are basically sharing the load, so the number of coins that can be added before the bridge breaks increases.

An example of a building material that utilizes this principle is plywood. Plywood is made up of multiple thin sheets of wood veneer that have been glued together. This results in a material that’s capable of withstanding a higher amount of pressure than would be possible by just one single sheet.

How to Make a Comb “Magnet”

Chances are, you’ve experienced static electricity at some point. That tiny shock you feel sometimes when you reach for a doorknob, the way your hair stands up when you brush it, the way your hat clings to your hair – all of these are examples of static electricity.

In the following experiment, we’ll use static electricity to make a “magnet.” We’ll generate an electric charge on a hair comb and examine how that charge works. By the end of the experiment, we’ll have a better understanding of static electricity, why it behaves the way it does, and what we can do to minimize its effects in our daily life.

How to Make a Comb “Magnet” Printable Instructions

• A hair comb

1. If your tissue is 2-ply, separate the two layers and use only one. Using scissors, cut the tissue into quarters. Set one of the quarters flat on a tabletop.

2. Run a comb through your hair several times (at least 12 times) in quick succession. This works best on clean, dry hair, and will yield the best results with the finer part of the comb, or the end where the teeth are closer together.

3. Immediately after running the comb through your hair, touch the comb to one edge of the tissue. You’ll know it worked if the tissue rises up to meet the comb as soon as it comes close. Using your new “magnetic” comb, lift the tissue from the table and up into the air.

Static electricity is generated when negatively charged particles called “electrons” are transferred to an object and allowed to accumulate. In the case of our experiment, the object was the comb. Electrons “jumped” from our hair onto the comb, giving the comb a temporary negative charge. Because opposites attract, the negative charges on the comb were drawn to the positive charges on the tissue, and the tissue “stuck” to the comb.

Drier conditions are more conducive to static electrical buildup, which is why you tend to get more static shocks in the winter. This is because water is a great conductor. When there’s moisture, the static electrical charges that naturally build up on a surface can be absorbed by water particles suspended in the air. These water particles aren’t present during dry conditions, so the charges accumulate, only to dissipate all at once when they come into contact with another object, such as your hand on a doorknob.

Make an Egg Float in Water

Not everything floats in water. An egg, for instance, will sink to the bottom when placed in a container full of water. A ping-pong ball, on the other hand, will float. Why does this happen? What makes something float or sink? The answer is density. Objects that are denser than water will sink. Those that are less dense will float.

The following experiment will allow you to observe the effect of density in action. By changing the density of water, we can change an egg’s ability to float.

Make an Egg Float in Water Printable Instructions

• A see-through container such as a jar
• An Egg (Note: The egg doesn’t have to be hard-boiled, but it might be less nerve wracking to let little ones handle a hard-boiled egg.)

1. Add 1 cup of water to the empty container, or however much it takes to fill the container halfway and allow an egg to be completely submerged. Gently place the egg in the water and observe what happens.

2. Remove the egg. Add 6 tablespoons of salt to the water in the container and stir to mix. Gently place the egg back in the salt water and observe.

3. Remove the egg and rinse it with fresh water. Slowly, so as not to disturb the salt water, add one cup of clean water into the container. The goal is to layer the fresh water onto the salt water, not to mix the two layers. Place the egg in the container a third time.

An egg has a higher density than water, so it won’t float. When we added salt to the water, however, we changed its density. We made it so the water had a higher density than the egg. Because of this, the egg was able to float. To further highlight this concept, we added a layer of fresh water over the salt water. The egg sank through the fresh water but stopped sinking when it reached the saltwater layer.

One point to emphasize is that an object doesn’t have to weigh less than water in order to float, it just has to be less dense. This means that it has to have a greater number of pockets of empty space in relation to its mass. This is how boats are able to float despite being so large and heavy, and it’s why a ping-pong ball will float, but an egg will not.

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Easy Physics Experiments For Kids

These easy physics experiments are fantastic for kids; you can even do them at home or with groups in the classroom. Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our science experiments for all year-round learning and play.

What Is Physics for Kids?

Physics is, most simply put, the study of matter and energy and the interaction between the two .

Physics is like the rulebook of the universe. It helps us understand how everything around us works, from tiny atoms to the vastness of space. When we study physics, we learn about motion (like why things move), forces (like pushes and pulls), energy (what makes things happen), electricity, magnetism, and more. It’s like solving puzzles about how the world functions.

Kids can learn more about the world around them through fun physics experiments like the ones below and deep thinking!

Try this Physics Project:

Physics Experiments By Topic

If studying a specific physics topic, check out these additional resources below. Each topic includes easy-to-understand information, everyday examples, and additional hands-on activities and experiments for you to use.

• Static Electricity
• Potential and Kinetic Energy
• Forces & Motion
• Simple Machines
• Newton’s Laws
• Light Energy
• Capillary Action
• Surface Tension

Click here to get your FREE Physics Activity Guide!

You will love these neat physics project ideas we have to share with you. I handpick my selections based on what I think my son would enjoy, what supplies are needed, and what amount of time needs to be dedicated to each activity.

💡 Click on each link for the full descriptions of each experiment and activity.

AIR PRESSURE CAN EXPERIMENT

Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment. 

AIR RESISTANCE EXPERIMENT

Whoa! A physics experiment in under 10 mins and all you need to do is go raid the computer printer! Make simple air foils and learn about air resistance.

AIR VORTEX CANNON

Make your own homemade air cannon and blast down dominoes and other similar items. Learn about air pressure and the movement of air particles in the process.

ALKA SELTZER BOAT EXPERIMENT

This experiment is a fun way to explore physics and chemistry with Newton’s Third Law of Motion. When the Alka Seltzer tablet reacts with water, it produces carbon dioxide which will propel the mini boat.

BALANCING APPLE EXPERIMENT

Explore balancing apples and gravity with real apples for our  Ten Apples Up On Top Dr Seuss theme. Also try to balance a paper apple (use our FREE printable template to make your own).

BALLOON CAR

Here are two balloon car design suggestions to get the creative juices flowing! You can make a LEGO balloon car or you can make a cardboard balloon car . Both work off of a similar principle and really go. Find out which makes the fastest balloon car.

BALLOON IN A JAR

Explore how changes in air pressure can cause a balloon to get pulled into a jar when you light a match inside the jar.

BALLOON ROCKET

Explore fun forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project. Also see our Valentine’s Day version ; we have a Santa balloon rocket too! This simple experiment can be turned into any fun theme. You can even race two balloons or set it up outside!

BENDING WATER

Can you bend water? Yes, you can with static electricity. Grab a balloon and some water to set up this easy physics experiment.

BROKEN TOOTHPICK

Is it magic, or is it science? Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water, and see capillary action at work.

Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh. and a bowl of water too!

CAPILLARY ACTION

Check out these fun ways to demonstrate capillary action. Plus, all you need is a handful of standard household supplies.

COLD AND HOT AIR

Demonstrate air expansion and contraction with a balloon. Kids can observe real-world science through this hands-on physics experiment and discover why warm air rises and cold air sinks.

COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS

Learn about the forces of capillary action as you change your flowers from white to green. Or any color you like! Easy to set up and perfect for a group of kiddos to do simultaneously.

COLOR WHEEL SPINNER

Famous scientist Isaac Newton discovered that light is made up of many colors. Learn more by making your spinning color wheel! Can you make white light from all the different colors?

DANCING SPRINKLES EXPERIMENT

Explore sound and vibrations when you try this fun dancing sprinkles experiment with the kids.

DENSITY TOWER EXPERIMENT

Explore how some liquids are heavier or denser than other liquids with this super easy physics experiment.

DIY PHONE SPEAKER

With just a few simple materials, you can create a DIY phone speaker that amplifies sound waves, making your phone’s music louder.

DOMINO CHAIN REACTION

Demonstrate transfer of energy with a box of dominoes and a flat surface. When a domino falls, its stored energy becomes kinetic energy, transferring to the next domino.

DROPS OF WATER ON A PENNY

How many drops of water can you fit on a penny? Explore surface tension of water when you try this fun penny lab with the kids.

EGG DROP PROJECT

Check out our mess-free version of a classic science experiment. This egg drop challenge is a great way to introduce kids to the scientific method as you test out ideas to protect your egg from cracking.

EGG IN A BOTTLE

This egg in a bottle project is a fun way to learn about how changes in air pressure can result in a fascinating and almost magical outcome. Watch a boiled get sucked into a bottle without even touching it!

Let the egg race experiments begin! Which egg will roll to the bottom of the ramp first? Help your kids make predictions as to what will happen with different size eggs and different angles of ramps.

Older kids may also find learning about Newton’s 3 Laws to be interesting, and explore how they can apply those ideas to their egg races.

ELECTRIC CORNSTARCH

Can you make oobleck jump? Learn about static electricity with this fun cornstarch and oil experiment.

ELECTROMAGNET

Did you know you can create a magnet that turns on and off? Using electricity, learn how to make an electromagnet to pick up objects like paper clips!

FLOATING ORANGE

Investigate whether an orange floats or sinks in water, and even add in the scientific method. Learn about buoyancy and density with a simple ingredient from the kitchen, an orange.

FLOATING PAPERCLIP EXPERIMENT

How do you make a paperclip float on water? This is an awesome   physics activity for young kids and older ones too! Learn about surface tension of water, with a few simple supplies.

FLOATING RICE

Can you lift a bottle of rice with a pencil? Explore the force of friction with this easy physics experiment.

GLOWING SPINACH

Transform ordinary spinach that you eat into a glowing green mixture under ultraviolet light! Learn about the pigments present in plants, particularly chlorophyll and how certain pigments can absorb light at one wavelength and emit light at another, resulting in the observed glow.

Learn about the gravity and the force that keeps us firmly planted on the ground with hands-on and engaging activities for kids. Check out these fun preschool gravity activities and gravity experiments for elementary and older .

HEAT ABSORPTION

Investigate what colors absorb heat better with this easy to set up physics experiment. It is a fun way for kids to find out why they feel hotter when they wear a black t-shirt on a sunny day.

HOMEMADE COMPASS

Learn about magnets and magnetic fields with this fun and easy DIY compass project. Build your own compass that will show you which way is north.

HOMOPOLAR MOTOR

Explore how a battery, a magnet, and a conductive wire interact to create motion.

HOT AND COLD WATER

What happens when you mix hot and cold water? Learn about how changes in temperature affect the density of water.

HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT

Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean and buoyancy with this simple physics activity.

Check out more awesome Shark Facts for Kids (Free Printable)

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOWS

Explore light and refraction when you make rainbows using a variety of simple supplies—awesome hands-on science for kids of all ages.

INSULATION EXPERIMENT

This insulation science experiment is an easy way for kids to learn how different materials retain heat. Test various materials and determine which makes the best thermal insulator!

KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS

Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for simple physics.

KITE BUILDING

A good breeze and a few materials are all you need to tackle this Kite making physics project at home, with a group or in the classroom. Learn about forces needed to keep a kite up in the air, as you fly your own kite.

Explore physics with common items found around the house. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids.

Design a parachute and investigate how factors such as parachute size, shape, and material affect its descent time. Also try our LEGO parachute for a mini-fig!

LEGO ZIP LINE

Can you set up a LEGO zip line and see how well it holds up when in motion? This LEGO® building challenge is also a great way to introduce gravity, friction, slope, energy, and motion while getting creative with your LEGO® design. You could also add a pulley mechanism like we did here for this toy zip line .

LEMON BATTERY

What can you power with a lemon battery? Grab some lemons and a few other supplies, and find out how you can make lemons into lemon electricity!

MAGNETIC COMPASS

Use a magnet to make a compass , or combine the science of magnets with paint for a STEAM project!

MAGNIFYING GLASS

Here’s how you can make your own homemade magnifying glass from a plastic bottle and a drop of water. Find out how a magnifying glass works with some simple physics.

MARBLE RUN WALL

Pool noodles are amazing and cheap materials for so many STEM projects. I keep a bunch on hand all year-long to keep my kid busy. I bet you didn’t know how useful a pool noodle could be for physics projects. Learn about gravity, friction, energy and more with hands-on physics fun!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cardboard Tube Marble Run

MARBLE VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Grab some marbles and find out which one will fall to the bottom first with this easy viscosity experiment.

PADDLE BOAT DIY

Learn about kinetic and potential energy with this simple paddle boat project.

PAPER HELICOPTER

Make a paper helicopter that actually flies! This is an awesome   physics challenge for young kids and older ones too. Learn about what helps helicopters rise into the air, with a few simple supplies.

PAPER ROCKET

Kids will love making this simple paper rocket using our free rocket template and a straw. Explore simple physics with gravity, propulsion, energy, and aerodynamics while having a blast!

Build a simple pipeline from cups and straws, and observe how water moves through it because of gravity.

POPSICLE STICK CATAPULT

Want to learn how to make a catapult with popsicle sticks? This  Popsicle stick catapult design is an easy physics experiment for kids of all ages! Everyone loves to launch stuff into the air.

We have also made a spoon catapult , LEGO catapult , pencil catapult , and a jumbo marshmallow catapult !

POPSICLE STICK CHAIN REACTION

Explore what happens when stored energy bursts into action. With popsicle sticks, patience, and a little science, you can create a spectacular exploding popsicle stick chain reaction!

LEGO RUBBER BAND CAR

We made a simple LEGO rubber band car to go along with our favorite superhero book. Again these can be made as simple or as detailed as your kids would like to make them, and it’s all STEM!

PENNY SPINNER

Make these fun paper spinner toys out of simple household materials. Kids love things that spin and spinning tops are one of the earliest toys made in the US.

POM POM SHOOTER

Similar to our snowball launcher further on, but this physics activity uses a toilet paper tube and balloon to launch pom poms. How far can you fling them? See Newton’s Laws of Motion in action!

POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT

We tested a variety of fluids all with a unique viscosity for this fun pop rocks science experiment. Grab a few packs of pop rocks and don’t forget to taste them too!

POTATO LIGHT BULB EXPERIMENT

Explore how potatoes can power a light bulb! This physics experiment is a fantastic way to introduce kids to electricity and circuits.

RAINBOW IN A JAR

This water density experiment with sugar uses only a few kitchen ingredients but produces an amazing physics project for kids! Enjoy finding out about the basics of color mixing all the way up to the density of liquids.

RISING WATER EXPERIMENT

Add a burning candle to a tray of water, cover it with a jar, and watch what happens!

ROLLING CAN

Another fun way to demonstrate static electricity. Check out this easy physics experiment with an aluminum can and a balloon.

ROLLING PUMPKINS

It doesn’t get much easier than pumpkin rolling on homemade ramps. And what makes it even better is that it’s also a great  simple physics experiment for kids. 

RUBBER BAND CAR

Kids love building things that move! Plus, it’s even more fun if you can make a car go without just pushing it or by adding an expensive motor. 

SALT WATER DENSITY

This easy to set up salt water density experiment is a cool variation of the classic sink or float experiment. What will happen to the egg in salt water? Will an egg float or sink in salty water? There are so many questions to ask and predictions to make with this easy physics experiment for kids.

SCREAMING BALLOON

This screaming balloon experiment is an awesome   physics activity for kids of all ages! Explore centripetal force or how objects travel a circular path.

SHADOW PUPPETS

Kids love their shadows, love to chase shadows, and love to make shadows do silly things! There’s also some fun things to learn about shadows for physics. Make simple animal shadow puppets and learn about the science of shadows.

SIMPLE PULLEY EXPERIMENT

Kids love pulleys and our homemade pulley system is sure to be a permanent fixture in your backyard this season. Make a pulley simple machine, learn a little physics, and find new ways to play.

We also have this simple pulley system you can make with a paper cup and thread.

SINK OR FLOAT

Use items straight out of the kitchen for our sink or float experiment. Plus I am sure your child will be able to come with other fun things to test! This is a simple physics experiment and totally engaging for young kids.

SNOWBALL LAUNCHER

Explore Newton’s Laws of Motion with this easy-to-make indoor snowball launcher. All you need are a few simple supplies for hands-on fun!

SOUND EXPERIMENT

Kids love to make noises and sounds is all a part of the physical sciences. This homemade xylophone sound experiment is truly a simple physics experiment for kids. So easy to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and play!

SOAP POWERED BOAT EXPERIMENT

Explore surface tension as kids observe firsthand how soap influences the movement of a small boat on the water’s surface.

SPECTROSCOPE

Create your own DIY spectroscope from a few simple supplies and make a rainbow from visible light for a fun physics project for kids.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

Balloons are a must for this one! These simple experiments explore the concept of static electricity in a hands-on way.

TOY CAR FRICTION EXPERIMENT

Kids love to send cars down ramps! The faster the better! But did you know that this favorite playtime activity is also an awesome science lesson for kids of all ages. Explore friction with just a few simple materials.

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Test the viscosity or “thickness” of different household liquids with this easy physics experiment for kids.

WATER DISPLACEMENT

Learn about water displacement and what it measures with this simple physics experiment for kids.

WATER REFRACTION

Why does the image appear reversed? Have fun with a hands-on demonstration of what happens when light bends! Plus, grab a free printable!

VALENTINE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

5 simple physics experiments with a Valentine’s Day theme, including a balloon rocket, static electricity, buoyancy, and more!

WIND POWERED CAR

Build a wind-powered car and explore how wind energy can be transformed into motion.

Add The Scientific Method To Any Physics Project

How To Use The Scientific Method

Encourage kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time.

Grab a free printable and learn more about variables and using the scientific method with kids here .

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

Wow, I see so many ideas here I want to try? Gravity art, nuts and bolts sculptures…my daughter is going to love these!

Great list of activities! I know that even as an engineer, physics “sounds” hard. Anything we can do to get kids trying it, playing with it and learning it helps remove that stigma. Thanks for including our slime, too 🙂

Your welcome! Yes Physics does sound intimidating but it doesn’t have to be.

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Babble Dabble Do

80 of the Best Physics Projects for Clever Kids

February 21, 2020 by Ana Dziengel Leave a Comment

Physics projects are some of the most memorable science projects your kids will ever try. There, I said it even if you don’t believe it!

You see, physics is the branch of science that studies flying, launching, moving, and floating, as well as magnets, motors and electrical circuits, heat, light, and sound. Physics is fun! After you look over some of the projects in this collection I hope you’ll agree.

Now before we begin I want to address a common notion a lot of folks have about this branch of science: Physics is really hard! I completely understand this thought.

In fact the only class I ever almost failed in my entire academic career was physics. And I know why. Physics was presented to me as formulas about force, equilibrium, and momentum with not one single demonstration. Then I walked into a structural engineering class where we discussed the forces at work in designing buildings and my teacher told us he didn’t want us to open a book all quarter. Instead he told us to build models. He wanted us to experiment with how forces really interact in a structure by testing them in hands-on experiments. It was a profound experience for me and suddenly all the book learning “clicked.”

My goal with this collection of projects is to make physics more accessible and inviting to parents, teachers, and kids alike! But before we dive into the physics projects let’s get a bird’s eye view of what physics is all about!

What is the study of physics?

Physics is the branch of science that studies matter, how it moves and how it interacts. It is a HUGE topic and there is a lot of overlap with chemistry and biology. It’s really easy to hear the word physics and have your eyes glaze over, but in simple words physics is the study of how things move and interact with each other.

How do you explain physics to a child?

The best way to explain physics to kids is to skip an explanation and do a demonstration . Since physics encompasses the study of motion, light, electricity, magnetism, and aerodynamics, instead of trying to explain these concepts demonstrate them! I am a big believer in hands-on projects that give kids a chance to experience and experiment with a scientific concept rather than just hear or read about it. We all know an amazing project is memorable while a wordy explanation is forgettable. Kids are great visual learners so give them the chance to get excited about physics through projects!

What are main branches of Physics?

While I was assembling this post I realized scientists define the branches of physics in many different ways. The following is a list of the most commonly cited branches of physics compiled from both online and offline resources:

• Mechanics This includes force, motion, fluid and aerodynamics, and is the branch most people think of when they hear the word physics.
• Electromagnetism Electricity is physics!

Thermodynamics

• Sound and Waves
• Quantum Mechanics This is for the very serious! It’s the branch that studies atomic particles.

80+ Physics Projects for Kids

How to use this guide.

The physics projects for kids featured here are sorted by branches of physics and subcategories as follows (click on the topic to skip to that section) :

• Mechanics and Motion: Work & Energy, Newton’s Law’s of Motion, Radial Forces, Gravity, and Balance
• Electromagnetism & Electricity: Magnetism, Electricity

Optics & Sound

• Heat, Liquids, and Air: Thermodynamics, Hydrodynamics, & Aerodynamics

Some topics and categories were really easy to find great projects for (work and energy) some were more challenging (thermodynamics) and at least one impossible (Quantum mechanics, but that’s okay!). We tried to assemble as many as we could on this list!

Please note that many of these projects could fit in two or more categories as they demonstrate various principles and forces. I only classified them once on this list.

Mechanics and Motion

When most people think of physics they think about mechanics and motion. Mechanics refers to the motion of objects and motion is the position change of an object over time. Everything around us is constantly in motion. Even when we consider ourselves to be sitting still, the earth is rotating on its axis and moving around the sun.

Scientists have studied motion over the centuries and determined there are laws that can explain the motion of objects. These laws revolve around the idea of forces .

A force is something that pushes or pulls on an object to make it move. A force can make an object speed up (like kicking a ball) or or slow down (like friction) or hold an object in place (like gravity). Momentum is the force an object has based on its weight and motion. For a deeper look into forces go here .

In this section we’ll cover projects that focus on motion including 3 of the most famous laws of motion as outlined by Sir Isaac Newton.

Work and Energy Projects

Energy is defined as the ability to do work. Work refers to the amount of energy needed to move something over a distance using a force. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy is never created or destroyed it is simply changed from one state to another.

Potential Energy vs. Kinetic Energy

Two types of energy frequently disucssed in phyiscs are kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy in motion. Potential energy is energy that is stored. An example of potential enrgy is a rubber band twisted up and held in place. Once the rubber band is released it unwinds quickly as kinetic energy.

Here are some projects that demonstrate work and energy:

Physics Project Idea: Rollback Can

Steam activity: stixplosions, how to build a catapult, transfer of energy science experiment, catapult stem project – diy catapult for kids, how to make a windmill model with a printable pattern, simple machines for kids: lego pulleys stem building challenge, power up your planes with a paper airplane launcher, featured work & energy videos:, newton's laws of motion.

Sir Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who studied motion in the 1600's. He is credited with discovering the force of gravity as well as developing three laws of motion to describe how objects move. We'll look at each law of motion and some projects that highlight them below.

Newton's First Law of Motion is called the Law of Interia and states: An object at rest tends to stay as rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

Newton's Second Law of Motio n states that the acceleration of an object depends on the force applied to the object and the object's mass. The relationship can be described with the following formula: F=ma

Force= Mass x Acceleration

Newton's Third Law of Motion states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Here are some projects that focus on the laws of motion:

How To Make A Simple Newton's Cradle

Easy inertia science experiments with pennies, inertia zoom ball: super fun s.t.e.a.m. project, make a balloon pinwheel science demonstration, physics activities that explore newton's laws of motion, radial forces.

Kids love things that spin! There are several types of forces and movement that act upon objects as they spin:

Angular Momentum The momentum of an object rotating around a point.

Centripetal Force A force that pulls an object towards the center point, causing it to move in a circular path. The force is always orthogonal to the fixed center.

Centrifugal Force A force that pushes away from the center as an object is spinning. It's not a REAL force but an apparent force.

Friction is a force that slows down objects sliding against each other. It's the reason that spinning tops eventually slow down. If there was no friction on between the point on which a top spins and the surface on which it is spinning, it would spin forever!

Action Art: Spin Art Using a Bike

Diy spin art: art spinners from steam play & learn, simple paper toys: paper tops, homemade toy idea: diy skip-it, diy toys: spinning tops (+ magical disappearing colors), diy toy idea: spin-finite tops, gorgeous spin art hearts painting activity for kids, easy fidget spinner diy (free template) - science fair project idea, halloween science for kids: pumpkin spinning tops, stem toy: penny spinners, featured radial forces videos:.

Gravity is a force that attracts two bodies together. It's also the natural force that pulls everything towards the earth. The greater the mass of an object the more garvitational pull it has.

Scientists measure the acceration of gravity at the Earth's surface at 32 feet per second squared! That means the longer an object is free falling the more it's speed increases (not accounting for air resistance).

Here are some phyics projects for kids that explore the force of gravity and speed:

Recycled DIY Marble Run

Playground sized diy marble run, science & art for kids: salt pendulum.

Substitute paint for the sand to make a painting pendulum!

Drippy Gravity Painting | TinkerLab

Gravity beads experiment, the lincoln high dive, egg drop project with printable recording sheets, preschool science: weight, featured gravity videos:.

In phyiscs we use the word balance to describe a situation in which two forces are equal in magnitude and extered in opposite directions.

See saws and scales are two easy wasy to illustrate the concept of balance to kids. Here are some additonal project ideas:

How to Make a Balance Toy: Balance Hearts STEAM Activity

Diy balance toy & game, awesome earth day activity: make an earth balancer, how to make balance scales for toddlers and preschoolers, easy kid's craft: straw mobile, engineering for kids: twirling twig mobile, featured balance project videos, electromagnetism & electricity.

Did you know that electricity and magnetism are physics topics? Both of these “invisible” forces are some of kids’ favorites to explore through hands-on projects!

Magnetism describes a force that attracts or repels objects that are made of magnetic material.

A magnet is a type of material that attracts iron and produces it's own magnetic field. Magnets have a north and a south pole. If you hold two magnets close to each other and place like poles together the magnets will repel each other. If you place the opposite poles together they will quickly attract each other.

Science and Art for Kids: Magnetic Sculptures

The creepiest slime ever: how to make magnetic slime, 4 easy magnet experiments that will amaze your kids, science for kids: bouncing magnets, steam camp: how to make a magnetic field sensory bottle, how to make a compass - magnetic science experiment for kids, five minute craft: magnet painting, make an aladdin magic flying carpet, traveling magnets, easy science experiments for kids: gravity activity with paperclips, featured magnetism videos, electricity.

Electrical force is a force that causes electically charged bodies to either repel or attract. It's the force that carries electrical current through a wire. There are two types of electrical charges: positive and negative.

Similar to magentism like charges REPEL each other and opposite charges ATTRACT each other.

Here are some fun ways to explore elctriclty with kids.

How to Make Electric Play Dough with Kids

Steam project: tiny dancers (a homopolar motor), simple electronics: how to make a magic wand, how to make dance bots an electronics project for kids, how to make salty circuits: a simple circuit project for kids, how to make a lemon battery and a lime light, how to make a lightning bug paper circuit card, make an electromagnet, science for kids: diy magnetic led lights, static electricity balloon and salt and pepper experiment, steam camp: how to make a modern art steady hand game, origami firefly paper circuits, featured electricity videos.

What we see and hear is determined by physics! This includes the behavior of light waves and sounds waves, those that we can perceive and those we cannot.

Light is a type of energy made up of photons. Our eyes can perceive some of it and some forms we cannot perceive at all. Light travels in both wave form and particle form.

Photons are particles which can transmit light.

Optics is the study of light's behavior as well as tools we use to study and understand it, including how our eyes perceive it.

For a further study of light head over here .

Magic Mirrors: How To Make Reflection Art

Optical illusion toy: decotropes, how to make a teleidoscope (a type of diy kaleidoscope), how to make a microscope with water, magic happens when you pour water into a jar, steam project ideas - zoetrope and benham disk, rainbow science: creating light patterns with a cd, light box - a great tool for exploring the museum, spiral illusion, featured optics videos.

Sound is a vibration that travels in waves and can be detected by the ear. Sound can be transmitted through air, water, and solids.

Here are some projects that make use of sound and vibrations:

Simple Engineering Project: DIY Voicepipe

Explore the science of sound with a diy spinner, how to do the dancing oobleck experiment, sound sandwich, water-bottle membranophone, vibrating snake, how to make a rainstick instrument, rainbow water xylophone - mama.papa.bubba., featured sound videos, heat, liquids, and air.

Physics also covers the study of heat and fluid dynamics which includes aerodynamics (the study of movement in air and gases) and hydrodynamics (the study of movement in liquids) .

Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that studies heat and heat transfer. When two obejcts of different temperatures come in contact, energy will transfer between them until they reach the same temperature and are in a state of equilibrium. Heat always transfers from the higher temperature to a lower temperature. You can read more about heat here.

Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime

Kids science: flying tea bag hot air balloon, magic jumping coin trick, convection detection, inverted bottles, convection currents, featured thermodynamics videos, hydrodynamics.

Hydrodynamics is the study of how fluids move and behave and the forces they exert. And let's be honest, kids love playing with water so use it an an entree to science!

Magic Potions Density Tower

Make a freestanding diy water wall, science for kids: scupley ships, stem project- build a hydraulic elevator, buoyancy for kids: will it sink or float, science experiments for kids: siphon water coaster, anti-gravity water - sick science, simple machines science lesson: lift water with an archimedes' screw, simple rain gauge, density science for kids : create fireworks in water & oil, featured hydrodynamics videos, aerodynamics.

After playing with water I'd say thay making things fly ranks very high on kids' must try list! Aerodynamics focuses on air movement and the forces at work as objects move through the air. It's the physics branch that let's kids explore building planes, helicopters, and rockets!

How To Make A Paper Helicopter

Diy toy: zappy zoomers, awesome science experiments with hot wheels cars, whirly twirly flying birds, stem for kids: straw rockets (with free rocket template), make an indoor paper boomerang with the kids, straws circle paper planes - s.t.e.m. for kids, how to make awesome paper airplanes 4 designs, more physics for kids resources.

The following websites are terrific resources for more information on the wonderful world of physics! These all offer in depth explanations about the phenomena we touched on above and some of them also offer additional physics projects to try.

• NASA and Newton’s Laws
• Exploratorium
• Physics 4 Kids
• Science 4 Fun

More Science on Babble Dabble Do

There’s lots more science on Babble Dabble Do! Here are some additional projects collections for you to check out:

50+ Chemistry Projects for Kids

30+ science fair projects that will wow the crowd, leave a reply cancel reply.

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