Science can be Magical
Is it magic or is it science? We often encounter things that mysterious and seek to understand them. Science is an exciting way to explore the mysterious, allowing us to gain more understanding and grow our knowledge of the world. Science might not be magic but that doesn’t mean it can be magical!
Magical Science in a Minute
You don’t need hours or expensive equipment to explore the magical world of science. Try these easy to do, cheap science experiments which will only take a minute!
Magical Magnetic Cornflakes
You will need
- A bowl of Kellogg’s Cornflakes
- A single magnet
- Bowl of water
What to do
Sprinkle a few cornflakes into the bowl of water, allowing the cornflakes to float. Now bring the magnet near the floating cornflakes.
What to look out for
Using the magnet, you will be able move the floating cornflakes around the bowl of water. The cornflakes contain a large amount of iron which is magnetic. The iron in the cornflake is attracted to the magnet causing it to move toward the magnet it is brought near to the floating cornflake.
Magical Dancing Milk
You will need
- An earbud
- Food colouring (different colours)
- Glass of milk
- Bowl
- Dishwashing liquid
What to do
Pour the glass of milk into an empty bowl and add a few drop of food colouring (use a mixture of colours). Take the earbud and place a small amount of dishwashing liquid onto the bud. Place this ear bud into the milk.
What to look out for
When the earbud with dishwashing liquid is submerged into the milk, the milk begins to move causing the food colouring to mix. The fats in the milk are interacting with the soap, this is causing observed movement. Remove the earbud and submerged it in a different spot in the milk, the reaction will be observed. Continue doing this and explore the different hypnotic patterns made by the milk and the food colouring.
Missing Money
You will need
- A coin
- Glass
- Water
What to do
Place the glass on a table, with the coin underneath the glass. Looking though the side of the glass (not directly overhead), see the coin at the moment. Now keeping your eye on the coin, slowly fill the glass with water.
What to look out for
As the glass begins to fill with water you’ll notice the coin seems to disappear. This is due to the refraction (bending) of light as the light passes through the water. Move your head and look down from directly overhead and you’ll notice the coin is still where you left it – right underneath the glass.
Share the Fun
Post a picture of you performing your Magical Science in a Minute experiment on the Cape Town Science Centre Facebook page with the hashtag #MyScienceMinute and stand to win double tickets to the Let’s Have a Ball holiday programme at the Cape Town Science Centre this holidays.
