Fun and Easy Science Projects: Grade 8 - 40 Fun Science Experiments for Grade 8 Learners

1.41

FUN & EASY SCIENCE PROJECTS: GRADE 8

VOLUME 8 | 40 science projects for grade 8

Revision 1.41

This edition was first internationally published in Dec 2010 by JBC Media Group (Pty) Ltd for www.experiland.com. Original fixed layouts remastered in .epub & .mobi formats (Jan 2017)

ISBN: XXXXXXXXXXX

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

[PREFACE]

Preface

Introduction

Let’s Begin!

A Word about Safety

How to…

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: CHEMISTRY]

Introduction to Chemistry

What is Chemistry About?

Project 01 - Testing One, Two, Three

Use red cabbage as an indicator to test if a substance is an acid or base

Project 02 - High Protein Food for Thought

Test and compare the protein content in various everyday foods

Project 03 - And Now…The Weather Forecast

Use cobalt chloride as a humidity detector to predict the possibility of rain

Project 04 - How Is Water Made?

Use electrolysis to find out what substances is water made of

Project 05 - Up in A Cloud of Smoke

Make a slow burning smoke bomb

Project 06 - Elephant Toothpaste

Produce a huge heap of foam in this exothermic reaction

Project 07 - Don’t Burn Your Fingers to Snuff a Candle

Snuff out a candle by ‘pouring’ carbon dioxide gas over it

Project 08 - The ‘C’ In Citrus Chemistry

Test how oxygen affects the amount of vitamin C contained in orange juice

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: EARTH SCIENCE & ASTRONOMY]

Introduction to Earth Science & Astronomy

What is Earth Science & Astronomy About?

Project 09 - Swing Low, Sweet Pendulum

Prove the rotation of the earth with Foucault's pendulum

Project 10 - Earth’s Magnetic Field

Illustrate the earth's magnetic field on a piece of paper

Project 11 - Solar Eclipse in Totality

Demonstrate how a total solar eclipse works

Project 12 - Inclined Towards North

Make an inclinometer or dipping compass

Project 13 - Seismic Seizure

Make a simple seismograph

Project 14 - Astro’ordinary

Make a simple astrolabe to measure the altitude of objects in the sky

Project 15 - Tornado in A Bottle

Make a tornado in a bottle

Project 16 - Under The Weather

Make a simple device to measure the dew point

Project 17 - It’s Not the Heat, It’s The Humidity

Measure the humidity level with your own hygrometer

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM]

Introduction to Electricity & Magnetism

What is Electricity & Magnetism About?

Project 18 - Lightning Crashes

Build a Franklin bells device for detecting high voltage lightning storms

Project 19 - Rapid Radio Waves

Listen to the news by building your own foxhole radio

Project 20 - [S]ave [O]ur [S]ouls

Learn about sending Morse code signals with your own telegraph

Project 21 - Electro-Magnetic Bouncer

Make a wire spring jump up and down with electro-magnetism

Project 22 - Blink, Blink…

Build an integrated circuit oscillator

Project 23 - On or Off

Build and learn about an ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ computer logic circuit

Project 24 - Relay Replay!

Build a relay to remotely control other electrical circuits

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: LIFE SCIENCE]

Introduction to Life Science

What is Life Science About?

Project 25 - Bio-Jar

Build your own biosphere

Project 26 - Insect Repellent

Study what effect low or high pitched sounds have on nocturnal insects

Project 27 - More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

Make a Von Frey device to test where your body are most touch sensitive

Project 28 - Spit It Out

Compare the rate of bacterial growth in dog versus human saliva

Project 29 - Milk Microbes

Test what affects the growth of microbes in milk

Project 30 - Food Fungus

Create a colourful fungus garden

Project 31 - Every Worm Has Its Hole

Study the complete life cycle of a mealworm

[SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS: PHYSICS]

Introduction to Physics

What is Physics About?

Project 32 - Eggs for Breakfast!

Make an egg eating bottle with the science of air pressure

Project 33 - Hungry Fire

Study how fire use up air when burning

Project 34 - Can You Crush a Can?

Use the power of air pressure to crush a tin can

Project 35 - Two-Stage Rocket Science

Make a two-stage rocket powered by air pressure

Project 36 - The Power of Falling Water

Make a simple water turbine to produce ‘hydro’ power

Project 37 - The Comeback Can

Make a tin can that will comeback like a boomerang

Project 38 - Blast Off!

Launch a powerful rocket using water pressure

Project 39 - Need a Lift?

Design & build you own kite

Project 40 - Colour of A Kaleidoscope

Make a kaleidoscope to view beautiful coloured shapes

[EPILOGUE]

Unit Conversions

Acknowledgements

Thank you

INTRODUCTION

FOREWORD

Thank you for purchasing a science experiment e-book from Experiland.com! Whether you are a parent or a student trying to find an idea for a science project, a teacher looking for ideas for the classroom, or a science enthusiast who enjoys the delight of experimentation, we trust you will find what you're looking for in this book. This book is a fascinating collection of both old and new science projects & experiments covering the whole basic spectrum of the astonishing field of science, and at the same time avoiding repetitions and similarities so often found in science project literature.

This book is not intended for serious scientists, we will not be discussing quantum physics, Astrophysical equations, or Human stem cell cyto-kinesis. Rather is it written and compiled as fun educational entertainment for the young scientist who enjoys putting their mental agility to test and curiosity to rest!

Enjoy the content and may you have many hours of fun with the experiments!

LET’S BEGIN!

GREETINGS!

Greetings fellow scientists! Welcome to the exciting exploration of the world around us...the world of science. This is a book full of fun & though-provoking science projects and experiments that will teach you, step-by-step, how to create an exciting project that not only demonstrates good scientific practice but provides a safe and fun educational experience too! With this book you will discover that science is a part of every object in our daily lives. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll create your own fascinating inventions—or even grow up to be a rocket scientist!

You can read all the books on music and guitars in the world, but that won't make you a great guitar player. You have to actually practise with a guitar to get it right! It is easiest to figure things out by getting your hands 'dirty' by doing! Science works exactly the same way. Yes, you can learn a lot in science class or by doing homework, but there's nothing quite as much fun as learning by getting your hands dirty doing some science experiments.

Science can be really simple and is actually only about understanding the world you live in! Science certainly does not need to be complicated formulas, heavy text books and geeky guys in white lab coats with thick glasses. Doing science experiments are all about testing and getting results, even if you get a surprising result than you might not have expected. But remember, even if things don't work out as you would have hoped, a good scientist is constantly asking: Why? Science is in fact only an organized system created by people to gather and store information. We use it as a way to define and understand the world we live in!

Science experiments are an awesome part of science that allows you to engage in cool and exciting hands on learning experiences that you are sure to enjoy and remember! A short introduction to each project will help raise questions in your mind, followed by step-by-step instructions for creating your project. Finally, our conclusion and learn more sections will help you understand what your project demonstrates and how this information can answer broader questions about science.

Most of the items you will need for the experiments, such as jars, aluminium foil, scissors and sticky tape, you can find around your home. Others, such as magnets, lenses or a compass, you will be able to buy quite cheaply at a hobby shop or hardware store.

When you carry out experiments, always keep notes about the things you use (materials / apparatus), what you do (method), and what happens (observations, results and conclusion). All scientists do this. If an experiment does not work first time, don’t be discouraged. Try again. You may find there is something simple you have not done. Surprisingly, by doing things wrong,