Physics and Physical Science Experiments for Kids

Learn about surface tension by dropping food coloring into milk and watch as the colors move when you add some soap.
Make a Rube Goldberg machine featuring a series of moving pieces that affect one another: marbles, dominoes, books, and most any surface.
Build a rocket balloon car using a Styrofoam tray, a balloon, and a straw; watch how air pressure moves it across the table.
Looking for hands-on science experiments? Ask your kids to do simple tasks with their hands, feet, and eyes (like grab a ball, stand on one foot, or wink) to see which side is dominant.
Test your reaction time by having a friend drop a ruler between two almost closed fingers. See how fast you can grab it.
Explore the scientific concept of density while taking a bath. Ivory soap boats do more than just float, they demonstrate density.

All ages can enjoy tower building.

Engineer a tall tower using red party cups and sheets of paper. How high can you go?
Fold a paper airplane and then bend a corner to see how that changes its flight path.
Find your blind spot by moving a card with a speck on it until you can no longer see the spot.
Build a miniature windmill using a few simple objects. Watch it spin faster or slower based on the direction of the "blades."
Bounce a ball on top of another to watch how the energy transfers to the top ball and leaves the bottom one "dead."
Demonstrate centripetal force by spinning a bucket of water on a rope in a vertical circle.