Experiment Videos
Watch for a new video coming Wednesday!
I am picking out some of my favorite science experiments, and posting them as videos. I am revising the text versions too, so you can watch the video and print the new text version for your files.

60. Extra Oxygen
Key Concepts:
Chemistry, Air, Combustion

Try this experiment to see what adding extra oxygen to a fire can do.


59. Nature Watching
Key Concepts:
Process of Science, Animal Behavior

Practice your observational skills while watching wildlife.


58. Density Column
Key Concepts:
Density

This experiment is one of the classics that is still a lot of fun to play with. It has to do with density.


57. Why Things Go Bang
Key Concepts:
Sound

Why do fireworks make so much noise?


56. Ice and String
Key Concepts:
States of Matter, Energy, Change of State

Can you lift an ice cube out of a bowl of water with a piece of string? Of course you can, if you know a little science, and have a little salt.


55. Light as Air
Key Concepts:
Air, Density

Have you ever heard someone say that something was "as light as air"? Exactly how light is air? Probably a lot heavier than you think. Try this fun, easy way to calculate the weight of the air in your room.


54. Measuring Lightning
Key Concepts:
Lightning, Sound

Many people know that you can use thunder to tell how far away the lightning is, but they often get confused as to how to do it.


53. Selective Smelling
Key Concepts:
Human Body, Senses

You've seen optical illusions, but have you ever tried a "nose illusion"?


52. Noisy String
Key Concepts:
Sound, Vibration

This fun activity will let you learn about sound while making all sorts of strange sounds.


51. Hanging a Hammer
Key Concepts:
Balance, Gravity, Levers,
Simple Machines

Can you balance a hammer, a ruler and some string on the edge of a table? Of course you can!


50. Planets and Pennies
Key Concepts:
Planets, Gravity

Try this simple experiment to see how the pull of gravity varies on the planets in our Solar System.


49. Measuring in Feet
Key Concepts:
Human Body, Forensics

Did you know that your foot is the same size as your head?


48. Bottle Tones, Part 2
Key Concepts:
Sound, Vibration

The answer to the previous video. Did you get it right?


47. Bottle Tones
Key Concepts:
Sound, Pitch

Find out why changing the water level in a bottle changes the sounds that it can make.


46. About Microwaves
Key Concepts:
Energy, Electromagnetic Waves, Molecules

Why wet food cooks better than dry food in a microwave oven.


45. Flame Color
Key Concepts:
Combustion

Have you ever wondered why some flames are yellow, while others are blue?


44. Candles in a Jar, Part 2
Key Concepts:
Combustion, Carbon Dioxide, Density, Scientific Thought

Finally, the solution to video #43!

This was Originally posted as experiment #448 on 1 November, 2005

43. Candles in a Jar
Key Concepts:
Combustion, Carbon Dioxide, Density, Scientific Thought

If you place a tall candle and a short candle under a glass jar, which will run out of oxygen first?

This was Originally posted as experiment #448 on 1 November, 2005

42. Ice and Soda
Key Concepts:
Gases

How can you pour a glass of soda without getting a glass that is half soda and half foam?

This was Originally posted as #172 on 11 June, 2000

41. Foot Circles
Key Concepts:
Human Body

Try this strange trick to see how your brain communicates with your body.

This was Originally posted as #364 on 1 March, 2004

40. Reaction Time
Key Concepts:
Human Body,
Science Fair Projects

Test your reaction time.

This was Originally posted as #141 on Nov. 7th, 1999

39. Wrong Way Balloon
Key Concepts:
Inertia

Why does a helium balloon act strange in a car?

This was Experiment of the Week #35, written on Feb. 7,1998

38. Doppler Effect
Key Concepts:
Sound

Why does the sound of a car change as it passes you?

This was Experiment of the Week #152, written on Jan. 23, 2000

37. Emergency Glasses
Key Concepts:
Light, Lenses

Learn how to make quick, easy, emergency eyeglasses.

This was Experiment of the Week #185, written on Sept. 10, 2000

36. Hear the Ocean?
Key Concepts:
Sound

Can you really hear the ocean in a seashell?

This was Experiment of the Week #173, written on July 16, 2000

35. The Science of Pizza
Key Concepts:
Heat

You can even learn about science when you're eating pizza.

This was Experiment of the Week #143 on 22 November, 1999

34. Grass Whistle
Key Concepts:
Sound

Learn how to make all sorts of unusual sounds with a blade of grass.

This was Experiment of the Week #271, on May 6, 2002

33. The Right Answer
Key Concepts:
Processes of Science

How many ways can you think of to keep water in a glass when it is turned upside down.

This was Experiment of the Week #165 on June 5, 2000

32. Half a Water Balloon
Key Concepts:
Properties of Liquids
and Gases

Have fun and make a mess while learning about science with half a water balloon.

This was Experiment of the Week #14, on May 22, 1997

31. The Singing Glass
Key Concepts:
Sound, Vibration, Friction

Play music with a glass of water.

This was Experiment of the Week #125 on July 19, 1999

30. When Sugar Isn't Sweet
Key Concepts:
Molecules, Taste

How can you put sugar on your tongue and not taste anything sweet?

This was Experiment of the Week #150 on Jan 9, 2000

29. Why We Sweat
Key Concepts:
Energy, States of Matter, Evaporation

Why does heat and hard work make you perspire?

This was Experiment of the Week #48 on February 2, 1998

28. Obedient Coin
Key Concepts:
Inertia

Try this fun challenge next time you are waiting in a restaurant.

This was Experiment of the Week #303, written on December 15, 2002

27. Got the Red Green Blues
Key Concepts:
Light, Color

Use a drop of water to see the true colors on your television.

This was Experiment of the Week #54, written on March 1, 1998

26. Preview of
Electricity DVD

Well, the team is swamped, finishing our new Electricity DVD, so I thought I would give you a sneak preview of what we are working on.


25. Paleo Cookies
Key Concepts:
Paleontology

Learn about being a paleontologist and eat cookies at the same time.

This was Experiment of the Week #74, written on July 19, 1998

24. Pick a String
Key Concepts:
Inertia, Newton's Laws

Use inertia to challenge your friends and win every time.

Originally posted as #113, written on April 28, 1999

23. How They Get the Sparks in a Sparkler
Key Concepts:
Chemistry, Combustion

Find out how burning metal produces the sparks in fireworks.

Originally posted as #20, written on July 3, 1997

22. Is That a Diamond?
Key Concepts:
Minerals

Is it true that you can identify a diamond by cutting glass? 

Originally posted as #159, written on March 14, 2000

21. Smoke Rings
Key Concepts:
Friction, Motion

Produce beautiful smoke rings from a soda bottle. 

Originally posted as #357, written on December 29, 2003

20. Orange Flash
Key Concepts:
Plants, Combustion

Can you make flames shoot out of an orange? Of course you can! 

Originally posted as #266, written on March 31, 2002

19. Strengthening the Dollar
Key Concepts:
Shape and Structure

This week we will are going to build a bridge.
 

Originally posted as #119, written on June 6, 1999

18. Coins Through a Hole
Key Concepts:
Surfaces and Spaces

Use the science of topology in a challenge that will frustrate your friends.
 

Originally posted as #161, written on June 5, 2000

17. Making Water Wiggle
Key Concepts:
Electricity, Static Charges

Use a balloon to attract a stream of waterr.
 

Originally posted as #29 on September 3, 1997

16. Making Turmeric Paper
Key Concepts:
Chemistry, Indicators

Use a common spice to make a pH indicator.
 

Originally posted as #25 on August 9, 1997

15. Fingerprints
Key Concepts:
Crime Science

Make your own fingerprint dust, and collect your fingerprints from a glass.
 

Originally posted as #67 on June 1, 1998

14. Tricky Bottle
Key Concepts:
Air Pressure

Use air pressure to control the flow of water.
 

Originally posted as #1 on July 1, 1997

13. Color Changing Flowers
Key Concepts:
Chemistry, Indicators

Use the science of chemistry to change the color of flowers.
 

Originally posted as #33 on October 2, 1997

12. Seed Search
Key Concepts:
Botany

Explore some of the ways that plants spread their seeds.

Originally posted as #282 on July 21, 2002

11. Going Through a Card
Key Concepts:
Surfaces and Spaces

Start with a standard 3X5 index card, and cut a hole in it that is large enough to fit your body through.
 

Originally posted as #92 on Nov. 30, 1998

10. Why Wet Things Turn Dark
Key Concepts:
Light

Why does adding clear water to white paper make it look darker?
 

Originally posted as #128 on August 9, 1999

9. Finding Your Way
Key Concepts:
Astronomy

If you were lost in the woods, would you be able to determine which way was north?
 

Originally posted as #60 on April 12, 1998

8. Cartesian Diver
Key Concepts:
States of Matter, Density

This classic experiment is a fun way to explore why things float or sink.
 

Originally posted as #80 on August 31, 1998

7. Relighting Candles
Key Concepts:
Chemistry

Try this dramatic experiment to add some science fun to your next birthday party.
 

Originally posted as #17 on June 30, 1997

6. Möbius Strip
Key Concepts:
Surfaces and Spaces

Use the science of Topology to make an object with only one side and only one edge.
 

Originally posted as #49 on March 4, 1998

5. Crushed Can
Key Concepts:
Air Pressure

Use steam and air pressure to crush a can in a fraction of a second.
 

Originally posted as #84 on October 15, 1998

4. Orange Slices
Key Concepts
Plants

Use science to tell the number of sections in an orange before you slice it.
 

Originally posted as #104 on Feb. 22, 1999

3. Heating a Balloon
Key Concepts:
Heat Energy

Can you hold a balloon in a candle flame without popping it? You can if you know the science!
 

Originally posted as #13 on May 15, 1997

2. High Bounce
Key Concepts:
Forms of Energy

Transfer energy to get a tennis ball to bounce higher than a house. Be sure to do this high energy experiment outside!
 

Originally posted as #31 on Sept. 19, 1997

1. The Old Tablecloth Trick
Key Concepts:
Inertia

Learn about the science of inertia with a classic experiment that will amaze your friends.
 

Originally posted as #43 on January 1, 1998
 
 
Basic Concepts in Science Video Series
Once the Experiment Videos have whetted your appetite for science, these videos will take you to the next level. Each explores a basic concept, making science interesting and understandable.

Volume 1 is now available on DVD.


NTSC

Erosion
From the beaches of Florida to the mountains of California, learn how wind, water, ice and gravity can erode big rocks into smaller rocks, and eventually into soil.

• On DVD Vol. 1


75% Water
75% of the Earth’s surface is water., but that only scratches the surface, as Robert Krampf dives into this deep subject.

• On DVD Vol. 1


Water Cycle
Have you ever really thought about the water cycle, and how old that glass of water really is?

• On DVD Vol. 1


Continuous Change
Just as we change as we age, the Earth changes too, wearing away in some places and building back up in others.

• On DVD Vol. 1


Fast and Slow Change
From earthquakes that last seconds to continental drift that takes millions of years, the Earth changes in many ways.

• On DVD Vol. 1


Recycle
With Americans producing 600,000 tons of garbage a day, it is important to look at what we throw away.

• On DVD Vol. 1