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10 physics toys for experiments – STEM activities

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Physics toys are toys whose action can be explained using physics principles. That means many toys can be physics toys! Toys are interesting and motivating for children. Make them educational by learning the science behind them! Here are some STEM activities from my collection.11 physics toys use novelty toys for STEM experiments. Tops, rainbow glasses, and clacking toys help kids learn STEM concepts.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The physics toys for experiments use magnets and very small objects. Never let any child under 6 play with magnetic toys unsupervised. Never put a magnet in your mouth. If powerful magnets are swallowed, they attract each other internally and cause extremely serious injury. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Instructions for physics toys

Balancing bird. Any object has a center of gravity. For this bird, the center of gravity is on the beak, allowing it to balance and even spin without falling! Notice how the wings are heavy and flared forward. Try to find the center of gravity of objects by balancing on your finger. Start with a pencil or pen, then try less symmetrical objects.

Bernoulli demonstrator or the floating ball. Blow air into the tube and it lifts the ball. The stream of air is below the ball, then has to “split” and go around the ball, then join back together above the ball. This sets up a difference in air pressure around the ball. Try rotating the pipe so the blown air is not going straight up. Does the ball still float? This experiment will also work with a beach ball and leaf blower!physics-toys - 9

Tops spin on a small point cutting down on friction that allows the top to spin longer. Friction would slow down the spinning motion.

  • Top Secret has a battery in the bottom piece that sets up a magnetic field with the spinning of the top. There is a coil of wire in the base, which acts as a magnet with the current from the battery.physics-toys-top-secret
  • Rattleback is a special type of top. Notice that it is not symmetrical on the bottom. If you push on one side it will spin in one direction. Pushing the other side will make it spin in the opposite direction. Try actually holding it and giving it a good spin. Watch what happens!physics-toys - 10

Clacking balls. The balls are the same size and mass. When you get them moving, if one hits the other, all the energy is transferred to the second ball. You put energy in the system by rotating the handle. The balls swing like pendulums. What happens to the ball that has just hit? Another similar toy is Newton’s Cradle.

Diffraction glasses. The plastic in the lenses is full of tiny slits. This is known as a diffraction grating and is used in experiments to separate the colors in light. Different colors or wavelengths of light bend differently as they enter the slits.physics-toys-diffraction

Balancing fish. Carefully observe the angle cut on the tail and the hole for the bottle. Carefully insert the long neck of the bottle into the hole and work on getting it balanced. Does this work with a full bottle and an empty bottle? Gravity is the force that would be pointing down to make the fish and the bottle fall. How do they need to be arranged so they don’t fall?

Fortune Teller Miracle Fish is made of cellophane. It is a hygroscopic material, meaning it takes in water molecules. Place it flat on the palm of your hand. The side touching your hand is absorbing water. What do you observe about how it curls? Do both sides of the fish behave the same? I always keep the envelopes they come in to help get them back to flat after use.

Old favorites

Tanz Marie, the dancing ballerina. The company that made these has gone out of business, but play with one if you get a chance (there are videos of her on YouTube!). Marie has a heavy round base with a magnet and a rectangular mirror that also has a magnet. The magnetic fields interact with each other and Marie spins and dances. The north pole on the mirror magnet will repel the north pole of the dancer’s magnet and cause it to turn. If you’ve got one (or the similar Robby the Seal), use compasses to map the fields of the magnets.physics-toys-tanz-marie

Walking toy has legs that can walk on a surface, a string attached to the front, and a weight that will hang over the edge of the table. The weight has to be heavy enough to pull forward on the string to make the toy walk. These toys used to be very popular but are extremely hard to find now. The fun part is seeing if the toy will keep walking off the edge of the table. If the weight is correct, the toy will stop as soon as all the string is pointing straight down. There is no longer a forward force on the toy.

Let’s talk story

I have hoarded my physics toys all through my career. I’ve found that other science teachers have a similar stash. It made me sad to find how hard some of these toys are to find any more! I know time moves on, and kids play with technology these days, but there is something missing. Visual and kinesthetic learners really need the physical fun of playing with these types of toys.

Resource links

physics-toys-soda-bottleI’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

Magnet activities for STEM kids – and compasses

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People have been fascinated by magnetism since early times and kids enjoy magnet activities. This STEM activity uses a variety of magnets to show the force around the magnet and compasses to help show direction of the force.Magnet activities use compasses, iron filings, and other metal items for STEM experiments. Kids learn magnetism and forces and interactions.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The magnet activities use magnets and iron filings. Never let any child under 6 play with magnetic toys unsupervised. Never put a magnet in your mouth. If powerful magnets are swallowed, they attract each other internally and cause extremely serious injury. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for magnet activities and compasses

  • Put your compasses on a flat surface, away from magnets. Observe how the needles lines up. (Usually red points North).magnet-compasses
  • Using one magnet at a time, place the magnet in with the compasses. Move the magnet around. Try it upright from the surface. Try both sides of round or refrigerator magnets. Observe the compass needles. Can you identify the N and S on all your magnets?magnet-compass-field-lines
  • Put iron filings in a well-sealed plastic bag. Move the magnet around the bag. Observe the iron filings. Do not allow the iron filings near the magnets, they are almost impossible to remove!
  • Try other metal objects with the magnets. Metal paper clips and cut up pipe cleaners are fun to try. Cut the pipe cleaner into 2-inch sections with wire cutters or scissors.

What questions can you answer with the magnets and compasses? Is the North pole on a magnet the same as the North pole of the Earth? Where are the poles on a round magnet? A flat refrigerator magnet?

Supplies

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

What is the science?

Content: structure and properties of matter, forces and interactions, magnetic field, magnetic force

Magnets are metals that have a magnetic field and can attract other metals. They are usually made from iron or iron alloys, but cobalt and neodymium are also used.

Earth’s core has a lot of iron and the Earth’s magnetic field goes through the core, out through the poles and through space. The field lines are a way to represent the directions of the force the magnet can exert. The picture of the field lines is similar to the field lines around a bar magnet. (You can see these lines by carefully putting iron filings in a well-sealed resealable plastic bag. Spread the filings out inside the bag. Lay the bar magnet on top of the bag and observe the pattern the filings make.) A compass needle lines itself up with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Resource links for STEM magnet activities

magnet-compass-testingI’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria

Plastic cup chicken sound activity – STEM experiment

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Plastic cup chicken sound activity demonstrates how sound can be made with a string and amplified with a cup. This STEM activity uses a string, a cup, and a damp sponge to show vibration and amplification of sound.Plastic cup chicken sound activity uses a cup, string, and sponge to make crazy music. Kids learn sound and vibration.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The plastic cup chicken sound activity uses scissors and string. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for plastic cup chicken sound activity

  • Choose a plastic cup for your chicken. Measure the diameter of the bottom of the cup.
  • Download the pattern for the rooster cocks comb. Resize so that it will fit your cup. Print, then use as a pattern to cut out of felt.
  • Use sharp scissors or other tool to poke two small holes in the bottom of the cup.squawking-chicken - 2
  • Cut a piece of string about 18 inches long. Thread one end through the holes in the cup and tie a knot. You could also use a pony bead to tie the knot.squawking-chicken - 5
  • Use hot glue to attach the cocks comb to the head of the chicken.squawking-chicken - 3
  • Cut a piece of sponge 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches. Use sharp scissors or other tool to thread the free end of the string through the center of the sponge. Tie a knot.squawking-chicken - 11
  • Use a bit of water to dampen the sponge. Fold the sponge in half in your hand and grab the string towards the mouth of the cup. Drag the sponge down the string. What happens?
  • You can have fun decorating your chicken to look more like a chicken or turkey with construction paper feathers, real feathers, or felt.

What questions can you answer with the plastic cup chicken? What difference does the string make? Try cotton string, yarn, or polyester kite string. Try different lengths of string. Does the cup size make a difference? Try 16 oz. plastic, 9 oz. plastic, paper cups, or coffee cups. What methods can be used to wet the string? Try sponge, paper towel, or cloth.

Supplies

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

What is the science?

Content: sound, vibration in a string, wave frequency

Pulling on the string sets up a vibration in the string that is transferred to the air molecules around the string. The cup amplifies the sound, making it louder. Your ear will hear a pitch that is the frequency of the sound, or vibrations/second.

Resource links

Marilyn's Treats Wonderful Wenesday Feature

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.


Floating diver – STEM pressure activity

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A floating diver toy depends on buoyancy and an object’s ability to float in water. This STEM activity uses a Cartesian diver to show how pressure can change the size of a bubble.Floating and diver uses an eyedropper to make a Cartesian diver. Kids learn pressure and buoyancy!

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The floating and diving activity uses water. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for floating diver

  • Fill a glass or cup with water. You will use this glass to test your floating diver.

  • Squeeze the bulb on the eyedropper to fill the glass tube with water. How full does it get?cartesian-diver - 18
  • Place the eyedropper in the glass. Does it float? If a lot of it is above the water, you will need to get more water into it. Try holding it upside down so the water goes into the bulb. Now try to get more water into it – holding it under a running faucet might work.
  • Test your floating diver until most of it is under the top surface of water.
  • Fill a plastic bottle with water, all the way to the top. Place the diver in the bottle and screw on the cap.cartesian-diver - 19
  • Squeeze the sides of the bottle. What happens? Describe what happens to the air bubble in the eyedropper.

What questions can you answer with the floating and diving toy? Can you make the diver float at different heights in the bottle? Does it work the same in a large bottle and a small bottle? What happens if you fill the diver with colored water? Try this with a ketchup, mustard, or soy sauce packet. How does a whale go up and down in the ocean? A submarine?

Supplies

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

More: plastic pipettes, drinking straw, clay or sculpey, hex nut, ballpoint pen cap

What is the science?

Content: buoyancy, ideal gas law

Objects with density lower than water will float. The bubble in the diver changes when pressure is applied to the bubble, changing the density of the diver and causing it to sink.

Resource links

Let’s talk story

In the 1980s, it was pretty common for cereal to include a toy inside. I got this Tony the Tiger floating diver toy and immediately added him to my stash of physics toys. I wish they would make these available again!

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria

Straw sound activity – STEM experiment

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The straw sound activity makes drinking straws into musical instruments. The explanation for how it works uses physics and music.Straw sound activity uses large plastic straws to work as wind instrument. Kids learn sound, waves, frequency!

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The straw sound activity experiment uses scissors. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for straw sound activity

  • Find a large plastic drinking straw. Blow into it to see if you can make a sound. Try putting your lips in different orientations or blowing over the opening.
  • Flatten one end of the straw with your lips or teeth. Use scissors to cut two diagonals, forming a “reed”. The end of the straw should look like clarinet or other wind instrument.
  • Press your lips on the reed and blow air through the straw. What does it sound like?
  • Carefully hold scissors at a right angle to the bottom of the straw. While blowing, nip off about a half inch at a time. What happens to the sound the straw makes? (this might be easier to do with two people!).sound-straw - 8

What questions can you answer with the straw sound activity? What musical instruments work like this? How could you make straws with exact musical notes? What measurements would you need? Will it only work with plastic straws? How could you make the straws louder?

Supplies

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Tip: Many fast food places supply a large diameter straw.horizontal bar with plumeria

What is the science?

Content: sound, waves, frequency, resonance, standing wave

Blowing through the “reed” on the straw causes a sound wave to go back and forth inside the tube of the straw. Cutting the straw changes the size of the wave that will make a different sound. Each note you hear from the straw represents a different frequency.

Resource links

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria