If you’re getting ready to go to bed, and Junior just remembered that the science fair project is due tomorrow, there’s no need to panic. Any of the projects on this page will provide a suitable demonstration of some scientific principle, and you–er, I mean Junior–can whip them together in a few minutes with materials found around the house.

The first one, shown at right, demonstrates static electricity. A glass jar with a metal cap contains a few bits of tissue paper, and Junior can make them “dance” without moving the jar. This is done by shuffling his feet along the carpet to get an electric charge. Instead of touching an unsuspected family member as he would usually do, he touches the lid of the jar. This causes the paper to be attracted and leap from the bottom of the jar.

The next experiment, shown at the top of the page. demonstrates the relationship between magnetism and electricity. A closed coil of copper wire is suspended next to a magnet. Another magnet is moved inside the coil. The magnet induces a current in the coil, which causes the coil to become an electromagnet. It is then repelled from the hanging magnet.

The third experiment, at left, demonstrates indirectly the acceleration due to gravity. A liquid is poured, and it is noted that the column becomes thinner toward the bottom. This is because the liquid is moving faster at the bottom.

Finally, Junior can demonstrate the concept of surface tension with the experiment shown below. A cork is carefully connected to a metal ring, and placed in a cup of water so that the cork is just barely submerged by the surface tension of the water. When a bar of soap is touched to the water, the surface tension is reduced, and the cork pops to the surface.

The science teacher will be suitably impressed, and won’t have any idea that the experiments actually came out of the May, 1943, issue of Popular Science.

What we know as the “disco ball” has a long heritage, as shown by this depiction 85 years ago in the December 1937 issue of Popular Science. The magazine featured a number of ideas on what to do with a broken mirror, and assured readers that it needn’t signify seven years of bad luck.

The magazine noted that one use was to provide spectacular color effects for parties and dances. This was done by focusing colored spotlights on a mirror-covered globe. This was made by cementing small squares of mirror on a large ball or toy globe. This was attached to a spindle which could be spun by hand or with a small geared-down motor.

According to Wikipedia, what is now known as the disco ball dates back to 1917.

If you have a piece of mirror left over after making your disco ball, you can mystify your friends with the magic trick shown below:

If Junior wants to impress the judges at the science fair with attention to detail, skill with hand tools, and a generally spectacular project, then this 1985 project is sure to fit the bill. It’s a small electric motor, capable of providing some motive power to other projects.

The diagram shows old-fashioned dry cells, but modern alkaline D cells will work just as well, especially if you get battery holders to keep them in place.

The November 1937 issue of Popular Science shows the complete blueprints for the motor, but without too many verbose instructions. So as long as Junior can read a set a blueprints, the blue ribbon is pretty much assured.

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If Junior is looking for a spectacular science fair project, they can’t go wrong with this project from 80 years ago, from the November 1942 issue of Popular Science.

Octopus furnace. Wikipedia image.

It demonstrates how an old-fashioned “gravity” furnace works.  These are often affectionately known as an octopus furnace, since they had tentacles going from the furnace to each room. As shown clearly by this experiment, the air in the furnace heats up and rises. Then, when it gets to the room, it cools and returns through the lower set of pipes.

Such furnaces are out of favor, and I doubt if they are still manufactured. But there’s really nothing that can go wrong, so they still exist in some older houses. They are not as efficient as modern furnaces, but they have some advantages. Unless some electronic controls have been retrofitted, they don’t require any electricity to operate. In the event of a winter power outage (see our earlier post for more thoughts), modern furnaces would be useless, even if they burn gas or oil, since they need electric power to run the blower. But the old gravity furnace will keep the house toasty warm, even with no electricity. Back in the day, the homeowner would shovel coal to keep it going, although most were converted to gas or oil.

To put the experiment together, in addition to the items found around the house, Junior might need to purchase the following items. You can find them locally, but as with everything, you can also find them on Amazon, at the links below:

• Saran Wrap
• Mailing tubes (or just use paper towel tubes).
• Candle
• “Joss stick” incense
• Sealing wax
• Other fancy stuff

As with many of our science fair projects, don’t forget to give Junior a box of matches!

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