Experiments

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some basic experiments I can do with my daughter who is 3 years old. I have no understanding of physics and science and some of you notice. I don't want her to grow up with my knowledge, I would like to start her young.

Please no home-made bombs...lol


If anyone can give me a couple or maybe point me to the right website it would be much apreciated. And also hopefully stuff I can do with basic house-hold products.

Thank You

Hi Slasher,
There are 2 experiments that jump at me which could be understood by a sharp 3 yr old.
1) Even though you might not want to use maths, you can introduce her to the speed of sound. Counting the seconds from a lightning bolt to the thunder can tell her the distance you are from the lightning. (If you need anymore info on this, just ask). Also, the speed of sound is faster in water, so, you do devise an experiment that exploits that fact. (Again, ask specifics if you like any of these ideas.
2) You could always do Galileo's experiments with dropping balls of different sizes and weights and seeing that they fall together, no matter the difference in weight. Also, if you drop a ball straight down from a certain height, and throw a ball from that same height (exactly parallel to the ground) they will both hit the ground at the same time. I first heard that one with the analogy of dropping a bullet and firing a bullet at the same time, will both hit the ground at the same time.
Just a couple of thoughts.
Peace,
Ron

This post has been edited by Ron on Oct 27 2007, 04:58 PM

So you basically you want me to hold my daughter's head under water,

Can I do it to my wife instead...lol

the thermite reaction is always a crowd pleaser... technically its not a bomb

inflated balloon in the freezer (temperature pressure relation)
mirrors (why back the front) and prisms (splitting white light into colors)
plastic comb and bits of paper (static electricity)
magnets (metal fillings on sheet of paper to show field lines)

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/index.html

congratulations on being a great dad

Sorry Slash! Oww.
I Wasn't thinking clearly. That idea came from a physics question on a test which made me laugh out loud. It was a diver who heard an explosion, came to the surface, and heard the same explosion again.
Obviously I'm not a dad, and when you put it that way, I choked for a second.
I mean well, for an idiot.
How bout the lightning or the balls experiments (you would have to hold a golf club under a tree for the lightning experiment, though!)
Peace,
Ron

This post has been edited by Ron on Oct 27 2007, 08:52 PM

Thanks for making light of my mental disabilities, K!
That's what I get for posting early Sat morning.
Peace all,
Ron

How can both hit the ground at the same time if one ways more

Oh, dear.

So this physics for 3-year-olds is for your daughter or for you?

For your daughter, try physics4kids.

While you are there, go to motion basics

um helooo....we are missing the point here ron!!! were talking about a 3 year old god damn it!!!!! how will the child know about the speed of sound.....let alone it travels in waves!!!!

we should have a really open mind.....but not so open that it literaly falls out!!!

Well, he means teach the 3 - year - old about it.

They could both go to class together.

Physics for three year old girls

When dad is sprayed by hose, he gets wet and laughs alot.

When I drop a glass of water it breaks and no body laughs.

Mashed potatos can be fun

Soap makes bubbles


Simple science experiments, like baking soda and vinegar, dry ice, helium ballons. Point things out when on a walk, like the wheels on the shopping cart, and how things are stacked. Talk about the clouds, the rain. Ice, Jello, Whatever. What makes it work. What makes it tick.

Overall, I wouldn't really sweat physics with a three year old. I'd be more concerned with physical coordination and general puzzle solving/mental agility, or musical talent. (anything that isn't television) Play tennis, golf, kick the ball, or whatever she thinks is fun. The secret is that whatever the child enjoys should be encouraged and maximized. Don't try to steer them just in the directions you are pre-disposed to. The links below will make that more clear.

I'm a firm believer in "experts are made, not born"

I think these two articles are the most important concept in teaching with regard to parenting:

A Star Is Made:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/magazine...serland&emc=rss

The Expert Mind:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa...F9E83414B7F4945

Watch the NASA channel.
NASA has many experiments for kids.

You could do this one My son thought it was nifty
Diet Coke and mentos is a good one.

get
2 liter diet coke

Some mentos (they have to be the white ones not the colored) alternatively

Rock Salt will work.

A stable surface to set your diet coke on

Do this outside in the yard as it is really messy.

1. Place the coke bottle on your stable surface.
2. Drop in several mentos.
3. Stand back and watch the fountain of diet coke and bubbles.

If you want to show how restricting the flow you can put several different sized holes in the cap of the diet coke.

Make sure you re fast when you screw on the cap.

If you really want to get fancy you can mount a tube on the top of the bottle with a magnet and a piece of iron you can control when the Mentos drop into the bottle with the restrictor pre installed.



I used to love the vinegar and baking soda cork rocket.

For this you need the following

a glass bottle

a cup of vinegar

About a tablespoon of baking soda

A stable surface


Procedure

1. put your vinegar in the bottle

2. Place your bottle on your stable surface.

3. Add your baking soda, quickly put the cork in the bottle and stand back.

4. Wait for it with a pop the cork flies into the air.

Enjoy.

Ed Wood

Here are the experiments YOU want to do (forget the kid)
http://amasci.com/weird/microwave/voltage1.html

This is my absolute favorite of all time (careful, it destroys microwaves)
http://barnesos.net/homepage/lpl/grapeplasma/

I keep this around for when I get bored - Cool, Simple, Dangerous --- they are all here
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/02/10/...8.shtml?tid=134

Good place to look around
http://www.amasci.com/

And, the highest possible noise/safety ratio , the dry ice bomb!!.

And the obligatory on-topic link

Kids science projects
http://scienceclub.org//kidproj1.html