How Things Work – From Floating Boats to Waterproof Raincoats!"//Everyday Science for Kids

 

1. How does a boat float on water?

A boat floats on water because it is designed to push water down. The water pushes back up and holds the boat. This is called buoyancy. If something is too heavy or not shaped well, it will sink.

Activity:

Sink or Float Experiment

1. Take a bowl of water.

2. Drop different objects in it (a coin, a plastic toy, a small paper boat, a rock, a sponge).

3. Observe what sinks and what floats.

4. Explain that objects with more air and less weight (like a boat) float.

2. Why do salt and sugar mix with water?

 Explanation:

Salt and sugar mix with water because they are made of tiny pieces called molecules. Water molecules break them into even smaller parts and spread them out, making them disappear in water.

Activity:

Magic Water Experiment

1. Take two glasses of water.

2. Add salt to one and oil to the other.

3. Stir both and observe which one disappears.

4. Explain that salt and sugar dissolve in water, but oil does not.

3. Why does oil float on water?

 Explanation:

Oil floats on water because it is lighter than water. Water is heavier and pulls oil up, making it stay on top. This is called density.

Activity:

Oil and Water Experiment

1. Take a clear glass of water.

2. Pour a little cooking oil on top.

3. Observe how the oil stays on top.

4. Add a few drops of food coloring and watch it move through the water but not mix with oil.

4. How is a rainbow formed?

Explanation:

A rainbow is made when sunlight passes through raindrops. The raindrops act like tiny prisms and break the light into seven colors. These colors make a rainbow!

Activity:

Make Your Own Rainbow

1. Take a glass of water and place it in sunlight

2. Hold a white paper near it.

3. Watch the light passing through the water create a rainbow on the paper!

5.How Do Flexible Fasteners Work?

 Explanation:

Flexible fasteners, like Velcro, work by having two sides – one with tiny hooks and the other with tiny loops. When pressed together, the hooks grab onto the loops, making them stick. When you pull them apart, the hooks and loops separate easily.

Activity:

Velcro Test

1. Give kids two strips of Velcro (one hook side and one loop side).

2. Let them press the strips together and pull them apart.

3. Explain how the hooks and loops create a strong but removable bond.

6. How Do Blankets Keep Me Warm?

 Explanation:

A blanket keeps you warm by trapping the air around your body. Your body produces heat, and the blanket stops the warm air from escaping, keeping you cozy.

Activity:

Warm Hand Experiment

1. Take two cups of warm water.

2. Wrap one cup in a thick towel and leave the other uncovered.

3. After 10 minutes, check which one is warmer

4. Explain that the towel works like a blanket, trapping heat.

7. How Does a Zipper Work?

 Explanation:

A zipper works like a train track. It has two rows of tiny teeth, and a slider (the moving part) brings them together, locking them in place. When you pull the zipper down, the teeth separate.

Activity:

Zipper Close-Up

1. Give kids a zipper to examine closely.

2. Let them move the zipper up and down slowly.

3. Use a magnifying glass to show how the teeth interlock.

8. How Does a Sealed Plastic Bag Keep Food Fresh?

 Explanation:

A sealed plastic bag keeps food fresh by stopping air and moisture from getting in. This slows down the spoiling process because bacteria and mold need air and water to grow.

Activity:

Food Freshness Test

1. Place half an apple in an open bowl and another half in a sealed plastic bag.

2. Leave them for a day and compare.

3. Explain that the sealed bag kept the apple fresher by blocking air.

9. How Is a Raincoat Waterproof?

 Explanation:

A raincoat is made of a special material like- (Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC),Polyurethane (PU) ,Nylon with a Waterproof Coating) repels water instead of absorbing it. The tiny gaps in the fabric are too small for water droplets to pass through, keeping you dry.

Activity:

Waterproof Test

1. Take a raincoat, a cotton cloth, and a plastic bag.

2. Pour a little water on each and see what happens.

3. Explain why the raincoat and plastic bag keep water out while cotton absorbs it.