Irresponsible Dad Science Class

[Tall_James]

Yesterday I showed my 4.5 year old son what happens when you put a penny on the railroad track. He was quite impressed with the results, while his mom thought it wasn't such a bright idea on my part. Maybe it wasn't but I'll be damned if the look on his face wasn't worth it.

Now I want to come up with some more science experiments that my kids will find cool that are relatively safe. "Relatively" being the operative word here. I'm thinking the Mentos/Coke experiment will be next.

Any ideas for future IDSC classes?

[Tenbatsuzen]

Any ideas for future IDSC classes?


For you? Short term effects of alcohol consumption.

[Slumbag]

I don't know if you wanna show him tricks involving matches, but when I was a kid, my dad did the egg in the bottle trick, and I loved it.

Light some matches, extinguish them, throw em in a Snapple bottle (or any bottle with a large mouthpiece). Put a hardboiled egg on top, and it gets sucked into the bottle.

[Tall_James]

I don't know if you wanna show him tricks involving matches, but when I was a kid, my dad did the egg in the bottle trick, and I loved it.

Light some matches, extinguish them, throw em in a Snapple bottle (or any bottle with a large mouthpiece). Put a hardboiled egg on top, and it gets sucked into the bottle.

That's a good one! Thanks!

[Tall_James]

For you? Short term effects of alcohol consumption.

I meant something they haven't seen already.

[FUNKMAN]

salt on a slug

banana slug

[Tenbatsuzen]

I meant something they haven't seen already.

Long term effects of alcohol consumption.



Give the kid a mirror.

[Tall_James]

salt on a slug

banana slug

Thanks for the suggestion but we're going to keep killing out of the classroom. Unless we're learning how to survive in the wild with only a knife and flint.

[Tenbatsuzen]

I would watch a few episodes of mythbusters, then use the concepts down on a kid level.

Growing plants, making a flashlight, etc... never fails.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Unless we're learning how to survive in the wild with only a knife and flint.

You're taking him to Foxboro?

[Tall_James]

I would watch a few episodes of mythbusters, then use the concepts down on a kid level.

Growing plants, making a flashlight, etc... never fails.

We've done the growing plants thing. Its great watching my kids eating grape tomatoes right off the vine when they're hungry.

[jennysmurf]

You could show him how ketchup cleans the corrosion off a penny. I always liked that one. Of course, I'm easily entertained.

[Tall_James]

You're taking him to Foxboro?

I usually take them to the humongous Bass Pro Shoppe in Foxboro at Patriots Place (the shopping/entertainment center built around the stadium).

We can kill several hours just walking around that place.

[Tall_James]

You could show him how ketchup cleans the corrosion off a penny. I always liked that one. Of course, I'm easily entertained.

Nice one. I thought that one was with Taco Bell hot sauce though. I'll have to try the ketchup approach.

[Tenbatsuzen]

For some reason, I think TJ and my wife should open up a school.

They'd be great teachers.

[PapaBear]

A quick simple one that freaked out my kids is when you press the back of your wrist against a wall for about 10 seconds, then relax your arm to your side, and your arm magically lifts on it's own.

Or you can be super cool dad and get a hold of some dry ice and break a rubber ball (obviously one that requires safety standards, but it's not any more dangerous than a train.)

[Slumbag]

You could show him how ketchup cleans the corrosion off a penny. I always liked that one. Of course, I'm easily entertained.

Nice one. I thought that one was with Taco Bell hot sauce though. I'll have to try the ketchup approach.

I thought it was lemon juice?

[Tall_James]

Or you can be super cool dad and get a hold of some dry ice and break a rubber ball (obviously one that requires safety standards, but it's not any more dangerous than a train.)

Do you know where I can get my hands on some liquid nitrogen?

[PapaBear]

Nice one. I thought that one was with Taco Bell hot sauce though. I'll have to try the ketchup approach.
I always did the taco bell sauce too, but I think it probably works with any vinegar based condiment.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Do you know where I can get my hands on some liquid nitrogen?

Weapons grade plutonium, yes. Liquid nitrogen, not so much.

[PapaBear]

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[Fez4PrezN2008]

Yesterday I showed my 4.5 year old son what happens when you put a penny on the railroad track.

Penny? What's wrong with the youth of America, I my day we put .22 bullets on the train tracks. Ka-pow!

[ahhdurr]

The old baking soda volcano (http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/buildavolcano.htm) I remember this one. It's similar to the mentos one though... maybe you make the volcano together and then do the mentos in it?

Foley artist stuff looks pretty neat too... I ran across this book (http://www.windworld.com/products/funnynoise.htm#soundsamples)a few months back and put it on the back burner for when my son is yours' age (or thereabouts).

[ahhdurr]

Penny? What's wrong with the youth of America, I my day we put .22 bullets on the train tracks. Ka-pow!

Where ya calling from Fez4Prez?

[donnie_darko]

show em this!

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/blindspot1.html

ithought it was cool that if you hold an egg in the palm of your hand, you can't squeeze it and break it (without using your fingertips to apply pressure of course)

and if you're really an alcoholic get a can of saporro and let him stand on it, that impressed me :drunk:

[PapaBear]

Drown a fly, then put salt on it and watch it magically come back to life.

[Slumbag]

Drown a fly, then put salt on it and watch it magically come back to life.

Or put a Junebug in the freezer, and it looks dead. When you blow hot air onto it, it starts flying again. My old teachers used to tie a string to their legs, and have it look like it was on a leash. But, that was ruled inhumane, and they had to stop.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

Where ya calling from Fez4Prez?

From where you least expect it ! Sue Bender's cunt flaps.
http://www.jonco48.com/blog/possum_small.jpg

[ahhdurr]

From where you least expect it ! Sue Bender's cunt flaps.
http://www.jonco48.com/blog/possum_small.jpg

She had that installed after the 13th child I believe. That's funnier.

[A.J.]

Show the lad how methane is flammable.

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[biggestmexi]

they had a guest in a while back that talked about a book he made of this stuff.


the dangerous book for boys or something like that. I see it all the time at my local bookstore. its a great big red cover.

[SatCam]

build your own large hadron collider

[Thebazile78]

In addition to The Dangerous Book for Boys, there are tons of kitchen science experiment books.

I saw one on an episode of Unwrapped on Food Network ... but can't for the life of me remember its title.

Incidentally, one of my favorite experiments from grade school is dissolving an egg's shell using distilled vinegar. (It takes a couple of days. And you need to use a really fresh egg.)

It's one of the experiments that made me think of my "middle school" science teacher when I read an article about how the sugar crystals in fudge behave similarly to rock crystals in lava...so you can look at "lava" under a microscope without having to have a high-tech safety setup. (Article: "Visual Lesson on Lava Spares No Calories (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/science/07fudge.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=lesson%20on%20lava%20spares%20no%20calories&st=cse&oref=slogin)" from the NY Times, March 2006)

If you Google "kitchen science" you get a TON of sites.

And getting liquid nitrogen is pretty easy. You just order it on the internet.

[red_red_red]

here's an oldie but goody, making rock candy:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/recipe-rockcandy.html

[Thebazile78]

here's an oldie but goody, making rock candy:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/recipe-rockcandy.html

You know what?

You're supposed to be able to do that "crystal garden" thing with 2 charcoal briquets and a solution of baking soda ... it never worked for me. But, then again, we had hard water.

EDIT: I just googled this project and they messed up!!! You have to have a solution that's much more toxic than baking soda!

I remember us getting the rock candy thing to work, though.

[red_red_red]

You know what?

You're supposed to be able to do that "crystal garden" thing with 2 charcoal briquets and a solution of baking soda ... it never worked for me. But, then again, we had hard water.

EDIT: I just googled this project and they messed up!!! You have to have a solution that's much more toxic than baking soda!

I remember us getting the rock candy thing to work, though.
LOL @ toxic candy for school aged kids, ahh the good old days :tongue:. i remember doing the rock candy for a science project cuz it was easy and i was lazy. i'm trying to rack my brain for more ideas, maybe after a few cups of joe i'll have some more.

[joethebartender]

You're supposed to be able to do that "crystal garden" thing with 2 charcoal briquets and a solution of baking soda ... it never worked for me. But, then again, we had hard water.

I've done that too, but usually it involves cooking a lot of pseudo ephedrine out of some cough syrup first. (I don't remember the charcoal.):wacko:

[DarkHippie]

you can make crystals using footpowder dissolved in water

[Thebazile78]

I've done that too, but usually it involves cooking a lot of pseudo ephedrine out of some cough syrup first. (I don't remember the charcoal.):wacko:

There was an episode of one of the police procedurals (I've forgotten whether it's L&O:SVU or CSI) about that ... and how it's not only toxic but it's also HIGHLY unstable.

[DarkHippie]

There was an episode of one of the police procedurals (I've forgotten whether it's L&O:SVU or CSI) about that ... and how it's not only toxic but it's also HIGHLY unstable.

so are the people on it

[Thebazile78]

so are the people on it

So are most of the posters here at RF.net, but I don't judge.

[KatPw]

How about dissolving away the calcium of an egg shell/chicken bone with vinegar?
I came across this site, seems like they have a lot of suggestions http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/

[Tenbatsuzen]

There was an episode of one of the police procedurals (I've forgotten whether it's L&O:SVU or CSI) about that ... and how it's not only toxic but it's also HIGHLY unstable.

SVU. It was the young punk cop looking for the baby with Ice-T.

[ozzie]

He might not be ready for the dry ice bomb yet at only 4.5... but it is irresponsible and fun as hell.

As a reward for getting some parts shipped out on time last year, I let some of the boys in the shop set one off in the truck well at the end of the day. There was much rejoicing.

Some kids never grow up.

[Tall_James]

All of these sound awesome, thanks guys.

I googled the "dry ice bomb" since I was previously unaware of it. I definitely have to try that....not with the kids though.

[ozzie]

All of these sound awesome, thanks guys.

I googled the "dry ice bomb" since I was previously unaware of it. I definitely have to try that....not with the kids though.

I've snuck that one into home or neighborhood fireworks displays on July 4th before. Neighbors are less startled by sounds of explosions on that day. Either that, or you'll need a very remote location.

(Depending on the size of the bottle you use, the amount of ice, and the water to air ratio, it can get pretty loud!)

[ANC]

I remember doing this one as a kid. You put an egg in vinegar and it makes the shell soften to rubber. Here's a link: http://www.kidzone.ws/science/egg.htm

[ozzie]

A safer version of the dry ice bomb can be made from vinegar and baking soda.

http://dangerouslyfun.com/images/drawings/vinegargrenade.gif

A. Bottle of vinegar
B. Film canister
C. Plastic bottle cap
D. Baking soda

Make sure that the bottle cap you have will slide into the film canister. It should slide down freely, but be large enough that it can not flip over sideways while inside the film can. Fill the film canister about 1/4 full with vinegar. Fill the bottle cap with baking soda. Keeping the open end of the cap facing upwards, insert it into the film canister and let it float on the vinegar. The purpose of the bottle cap is to keep the vinegar and baking soda seperate until you’re ready to throw the grenade. Carefully close the film canister so the vinegar doesn’t splash around. (It may be easiest to set it on a flat surface.) Give the grenade a solid toss. As the grenade tumbles, the vinegar will slosh around and mix with the baking soda, quickly creating enough carbon dioxide gas to pop open the film can.

No real explosion, just a nice "pop" for the kiddies.

[hurlmon]

Here's some...

Here (http://parent-child-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/simple_science_experiments)

And there is a search engine for projects here (http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/)

[ozzie]

"The Gaussian Gun"

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You can get order neodymium magnets online HERE (http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D83)... 90¢ each, or10 for $8.50.

Lots of cool stuff you can do with magnets anyway. These are super strong!

[ozzie]

A safer version of the dry ice bomb can be made from vinegar and baking soda.

Found a video...

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As long as you can keep finding the cannister and caps, you can be ready for the innevitable "DO IT AGAIN DADDY! DO IT AGAIN!"... and repeat as often as needed with a little more vinegar and baking soda each time.

(I've been there. Mine are 9 and 10 now)

[RhinoinMN]

Gasoline and Styrofoam = Napalm. When bottled with a rag for a wick, lots of fun will ensue.

Ammonia and Bleach = Chlorine gas. I haven't had a use for this one.


Take a plastic pop bottle and fill it 1/3 full with tiny balls of aluminum foil. Then fill the bottle until it covers the balls with "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. Then you can do one of two things.

1. Cap, shake and run. The bottle will build with Hydrogen gas and pop.

2. Put a balloon over the bottle opening and let it fill with the Hydrogen gas. Then insert a wick in the balloon and tie a knot. Light and run away quickly. Result is a mini-Hindenburg.

[drjoek]

here (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=65474)

[Bob Impact]

I don't remember what it was called, but when i was a child my father (who's a chemist) bought me a "toy" that was essentially a plug in box with coils, transformers, capacitors, etc. on the top of it. You could plug in jumper wires and perform different experiments with it. I eventually learned that by using all of the capacitors I could give my sister a nasty shock.

[Enabler]

A quick simple one that freaked out my kids is when you press the back of your wrist against a wall for about 10 seconds, then relax your arm to your side, and your arm magically lifts on it's own.



Huh?:huh:

[TooLowBrow]

I don't remember what it was called, but when i was a child my father (who's a chemist) bought me a "toy" that was essentially a plug in box with coils, transformers, capacitors, etc. on the top of it. You could plug in jumper wires and perform different experiments with it. I eventually learned that by using all of the capacitors I could give my sister a nasty shock.
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s302/JigsOldSaws/6973_1.jpg

[PapaBear]

Originally Posted by PapaBear http://www.ronfez.net/forums/images/skins/rf_blue/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1867825#post1867825)
A quick simple one that freaked out my kids is when you press the back of your wrist against a wall for about 10 seconds, then relax your arm to your side, and your arm magically lifts on it's own.


Huh?:huh:

It's really simple. Hold your arm down to your side. Turn your fist inward toward your body. Press the back of your wrist against a hard surface for about 10 seconds. When you relax your arm again, your arm will slowly raise to the side as if someone is pulling it.

[Enabler]

Huh?:huh:

It's really simple. Hold your arm down to your side. Turn your fist inward toward your body. Press the back of your wrist against a hard surface for about 10 seconds. When you relax your arm again, your arm will slowly raise to the side as if someone is pulling it.

Maybe I forgot...but I never saw that before. I actually just tried it in my apartment and it works out. Gimme a cotton candy and a balloon.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

"The Gaussian Gun"


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&nbsp
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You can get order neodymium magnets online HERE (http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D83)... 90¢ each, or10 for $8.50.

Lots of cool stuff you can do with magnets anyway. These are super strong!

I see you a gaussian gun and raise you a potato gun (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/762284/how_to_build_a_potato_cannon_very_powerful.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/762284/how_to_build_a_potato_cannon_very_powerful/">How To Build A Potato Cannon! Very Powerful!</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">The most amazing bloopers are here</a></font>)

coolest thing ever...except the really cool ones use hairspray and a lantern igniter.

[Willmore]

Do you know where I can get my hands on some liquid nitrogen?

My chemistry teacher in high school had a cool trick. He'd bring in liquid nitrogen, and start showing cool things - freezing stuff, etc. etc. Ofcourse doing it all in rubber globes to protect himself, at one point he puts his finger in the liquid nitrogen(in the glove), his finger freezes, he takes out a hammer and smashes it. Turns out it he had a sausage in the glove. Pretty freaky and with great effect.

[oldladyfacepuncher]

It's really simple. Hold your arm down to your side. Turn your fist inward toward your body. Press the back of your wrist against a hard surface for about 10 seconds. When you relax your arm again, your arm will slowly raise to the side as if someone is pulling it.

We discovered that stoned one day in highschool. We were doing it in a doorway. Stand in a doorway and try to raise your arms as hard as you can, then step out.

[Thebazile78]

How about dissolving away the calcium of an egg shell/chicken bone with vinegar?
I came across this site, seems like they have a lot of suggestions http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/

I already mentioned the vinegar + eggshell ... which is one of my favorites. My 6th, 7th and 8th grade science teacher Mrs. Spinavaria did that one for our 7th grade bio class. She's one of the reasons I'm still fascinated by science!

I'd forgotten about the chicken bone ... is that the one where you dissolve enough of the calcium, it gets rubbery? We did that, too. It's very cool!