What is Terrific Scientific DIY?
Terrific Scientific DIY is a new series of activities to encourage family groups – children, siblings, parents and guardians – to enjoy science together.
What should I look out for?
• Easy to follow films demonstrating how to do simple experiments using basic equipment – from bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to balloons and CDs.
• Famous families having fun with these experiments at home.
• The bottle rocket challenge: faces from across the BBC compete to build and launch bottle rockets. Whose will fly highest? Could you do better?
• As well as how-to films, all experiments are accompanied by full, clear written instructions to download.
• Join our national journey of scientific discovery!
How to build your own bottle rocket
Watch the film to find out how to defeat gravity with our bottle rocket. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions. It's not rocket science! But don't forget: this activity requires adult supervision.
Activity sheet
Fancy trying this at home? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
What makes a bottle rocket fly?
Terrific Scientific ambassador Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock explains how vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can combine to make rocket fuel and gives you some top tips to help your rocket hit new heights!
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
As part of Terrific scientific, stars across the BBC have been taking part in a bottle rocket challenge.
John Torode:
Bread sticks for legs, so it's a bit wonky.
Dan Walker:
My cones a bit too small. Ahh.
Louise Minchin:
[LAUGHS]
Dan Walker:
I'm gonna have to re-cone. Re-coning.
Trevor Sinclair:
That's looking like a proper space orientated vehicle.
John Torode:
Well that's easy enough to do, cause you just bite the end off.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
Some rockets have launched like the space shuttle, whilst others have been less successful. But why? The answer lies in the fuel and the stability of the rocket. The Soyuz's rockets that take astronauts like Tim Peak to the international space station are fuelled by liquid oxygen and kerosene. Now both of these are highly flammable, which is great, because that creates thrust as they burn, which forces the rocket up into space. But that's a bit dangerous for doing at home, so we'll be using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Vinegar is a weak acid, and when it comes into contact with bicarbonate of soda, a chemical reaction takes place, and carbon dioxide is released. When you put the two of them together in a bottle, with a cork in the top, the carbon-dioxide gas has nowhere to go. The pressure build up, until the cork pops out.
Matt Taylor:
Are you ready to launch these?
Carol Kirkwood:
Yeah. I'll grab the vinegar.
Matt Taylor:
Bicarbonate of soda for me. Alright, come on then, let's launch.
Carol Kirkwood:
Winner, winner!
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
When the bottle is the other way around, the downward force of the gas and liquid gushing out, causes the bottle to fly up. This is Newton's bird law of motion. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The other thing rockets need is stability on the launch pad.
Greg Wallace:
My rocket's got legs very much like Bambi. I don't think particularly the asparagus spears are strong enough to hold it.
Dan Walker:
Mine's going off at a slightly jaunty angle.
Louise Minchin:
Ooh, how about these?
Dan Walker:
I think mine's going to-- I got, I got visions of mine going off like this.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
Dan and Greg's rocket legs weren't strong enough
John Torode:
Bread sticks. Biodegradable and edible at the same time. Presently he's looking a little bit wonky, but I'm confident.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
Coffee stirrers and bread stick may have seemed a good idea at the time,but they couldn't support the weight of the rocket when it was fully loaded. If you're using a bottle of this size, then think straws should avoid mishaps. But, could they have made their rockets go any highly. Most of our rocket builders put cones on the tope of their rockets. This reduces resistance and helps the rocket cut through the air. However, I didn't think Greg's wafer cone would make much of a difference at that jaunty angle.
‘Duffy’ (Cathy Shipton):
What about a, a nose cone.
‘Charlie Fairhead’ (Derek Thompson):
No, I quite like the old fashioned Russian kind of sixties look.
‘Duffy’ (Cathy Shipton):
Sputnik look.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
If you want to make your rocket more aero-dynamic pop a cone on top and maybe a couple of fins at the side. This will make it more stable as it flies through the air.
Louise Minchin:
What do you reckon?
Dan Walker:
A bit. Where's your face? There you go. So you come up trumps there I think. Right, let battle commence.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
So, the perfect launch. Fine tune your fuel by getting the right combination of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to give your rocket the thrust it requires.
Male dressed in all blackOnce that goes, that's not coming back.
Trevor Sinclair:
Combinations the key.
Louise Minchin:
Dan, is that enough exposure space? No, I don't think so.
Dan Walker:
I, I've got no idea. [LAUGHS]
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
Make sure it stands upright on the launch pad, because if it falls over, your rocket will end up skimming across the ground.
Dan Walker:
[LAUGHS]
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
Make it go higher, further and faster by stream lining it.
Greg Wallace:
Ten out of ten for trying, but I think that leaves a lot to be desired.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock:
But, most of all enjoy. But, launch safely. For full instructions on this, and other Terrific Scientific investigations, go to bbc.co.uk/terrificscientific.
The bottle rocket challenge - BBC Breakfast
Lousie Minchin and Dan Walker battle it out over the breakfast table to see whose rocket has the most early morning get-up-and-go.
Louise Minchin:
Hello, a very good morning.
Dan Walker:
Good morning.
Louise Minchin:
Now if you've got children in the house and you've tried to bake a cake recently. Have you done that?
Dan Walker:
Yes.
Louise Minchin:
Yep, well you may have found that you're missing a key ingredient, baking soda.
Dan Walker:
Yeah, or even worse than that there's no vinegar for your fish and chips. Well, fret not the mystery is solved, it could just be your kids turning food into fuel for the BBC's terrific scientific Bottle Rocket Challenge. And it's just not the kids, all the big BBC shows are getting in on the act.
Dan Walker:
Bottles at the ready. There we go bottles at the ready.
Louise Minchin:
You've got bottles, you've got vinegar.
Dan Walker:
We've got bits, we've got a nosecone.
Louise Minchin:
We've got breakfast things. What do you think of my nosecone?
Dan Walker:
By the way we have not brought these in ourselves, I don't go around carrying little pictures of me self.
Louise Minchin:
Dan, this is sticky back plastic.
Dan Walker:
Oh it's like being on Blue Peter, where's a dog? My cone's a bit too small, ah I'm gonna have re-cone. I'm re-coning.
Dan Walker:
It's much easier getting the Prime Minister to do this. [LAUGHS]
Louise Minchin:
To be honest it really is, isn't it? What do you think about the toothbrushes?
Dan Walker:
The only thing I'm thinking about the toothbrushes…
Louise Minchin:
Is weight.
Dan Walker:
Weight. Yeah, I've got visions of mine going off like this.
Louise Minchin:
I think honestly if it goes anywhere it's gonna be good.
Louise Minchin:
Right okay, I bought this.
Dan Walker:
Oh hello.
Louise Minchin:
What do you think?
Dan Walker:
I didn't realise you'd raced for Great Britain.
Louise Minchin:
Unfortunately for me, I thought my head was smaller than it is. [LAUGHS]
Dan Walker:
Use that. Mine, I've named mine.
Louise Minchin:
What's it called?
Dan Walker:
The Rocket of Justice.
Louise Minchin:
Brilliant. Yours is quite minimalist, isn't it?
Dan Walker:
That's my way, I'm very much the…
Louise Minchin:
Understated.
Dan Walker:
Sort of Swedish, a Swedish design. [LAUGHS]
Louise Minchin:
What do you reckon?
Dan Walker:
Happy. Where's your face? There you go, so you come up trumps there I think. Right let battle commence.
Dan Walker:
And this is our little platform where we're gonna launch from.
Louise Minchin:
Well, it looks really sophisticated doesn't it?
Dan Walker:
Do you think we should have put fins on it? I know it's too late now.
Louise Minchin:
I think there's quite a lot of stuff we could have done.
Dan Walker:
Okay, alright.
Louise Minchin:
What I'm aiming for. Well it's about to get about that high and if it gets any further than that to hit the studio.
Dan Walker:
Okay. I wanna…
Louise Minchin:
What do you want to do, to get as high as that?
Dan Walker:
Well, essentially I just wanna get higher than you. [LAUGHS]
Louise Minchin:
Well… [LAUGHS].
Louise Minchin:
So what's gonna happen is the vinegar and the bicarb are gonna react together, aren't they?
Dan Walker:
Yes.
Louise Minchin:
And they're gonna basically fizz which makes gas.
Dan Walker:
So it's like a chemistry lesson with Mrs Minchin.
Louise Minchin:
And then we're gonna put the cork in the bottle so that it builds up the pressure.
Dan Walker:
Builds the pressure, and that gas then pulls the cork out.
Louise Minchin:
And it will hit you know the stratosphere won't it?
Dan Walker:
Yeah.
Louise Minchin:
I need my bicarb now, well I'm gonna sort of measure what I think is about a teaspoon.
Dan Walker:
Okay.
Louise Minchin:
Do you think goggles and bobble hat is a good look?
Dan Walker:
Okay, we're fully goggled. Stand well back everybody.
Louise Minchin:
Stand by, stand by.
Dan Walker:
This is your ten second warning.
Louise Minchin:
Rocket explosion.
Dan Walker:
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, look out! Four, three, two. Oh no! One, it's happening.
Dan Walker:
Hang on.
Louise Minchin:
It looks good from here. What do you think?
Dan Walker:
I'm gonna pull the cork out.
Louise Minchin:
Are you kidding, are you?
Dan Walker:
Yeah, it's not gonna kill me is it?
Louise Minchin:
Are you sure?
Dan Walker:
Yeah.
Louise Minchin:
Ah! [LAUGHS]
Dan Walker:
I've got a rather wet hand.
Louise Minchin:
I didn't even see it, it went really high!
Dan Walker:
And you've got some good height there.
Louise Minchin:
Did you see that?
Dan Walker:
You got some hang time.
Louise Minchin:
The trouble is I didn't even see where it went.
Dan Walker:
I would say, what's that ten metres?
Louise Minchin:
Oh my gosh!
Dan Walker:
Oh it smells [LAUGHS].
Louise Minchin:
Thank you very much.
Dan Walker:
Smell my vinegar hands.
Louise Minchin:
Mm!
Louise Minchin:
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five. Nice.
Dan Walker:
Come on, son.
Louise Minchin:
Four, three, two, one.
Dan Walker:
I might have to go and remove the cork again.
Louise Minchin:
Wait, wait, wait, give it a bit of time. Oh!
Dan Walker:
Or rest, oh [LAUGHS]
Dan Walker:
Hold on let me just get this measured.
Dan Walker:
How long?
Dan Walker:
Yeah, that's at least 50 centimetres.
Dan Walker:
Sad, sad times for the Rocket of Justice, I had high hopes. When it comes science, yet again just like school I have failed.
Louise Minchin:
I really enjoyed that, I didn't know that science could be such fun.
Dan Walker:
It's been great and try it yourself, but stand well back particularly if you've got one that could go anywhere, like this one.
The bottle rocket challenge - BBC Weather
Carol Kirkwood and Matt Taylor forecast vinegary showers and explosive reactions as the two meteorologists send their rockets soaring towards the stratosphere.
Carol Kirkwood:
Hello. Kitchen cupboards have been raided, wind direction's been checked and all eyes are on the skies. Yes, the Terrific Scientific Bottle Rocket Challenge is go. Dan launches from BBC Breakfast mean a soggy start in the North-West. Watch out for scattered vinegar showers later as a zone of high pressure moves in with Football Focus. Cardiff, a clear night meant stars were visible, Casualty's Charlie and Duffy to be precise. However, their homemade rockets mean the long term outlook is unpredictable, and expect temperatures to rise in London as MasterChef judges John Torode and Greg Wallace go head to head, the prospect of sudden storms here. And you know…
Matt:
A pen. Thanks Carol.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oye Matt, leave some of that bicarbonate of soda for me!
Matt:
Come on then Carol, let's begin. Shall we do this?
Carol Kirkwood:
I see that you've got one that you prepared earlier, Matt.
Matt:
I like to get ahead of you.
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS]
Matt:
You know that, no rivalry here.
Carol Kirkwood:
I did some stuff with Blue Peter which ended up as a complete disaster, glitter everywhere including in the camera lens.
Matt:
And it says you've got to be about two centimetres off the ground.
Carol Kirkwood:
Do you think we should put the legs on first? Actually that probably makes more sense.
Matt:
I'm gonna go for thunder so it takes off like lightening.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh Matt that's no joke.
Matt:
Right, I've lost the end of this skin.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh no! Do you see what I said about the glitter? [LAUGHS]
Matt:
Oh don't tell the boss.
Carol Kirkwood:
No, it didn't happen, it wasn't us.
Matt:
I'm gonna stick a picture of my girls.
Carol Kirkwood:
Your beautiful girls.
Matt:
They have loved space since Tim Peake went into orbit.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh look at… [LAUGHS]
Matt:
[LAUGHS] It's in the bag. Now one I have learnt is apparently the reaction is better when it's warm, so you don't want the vinegar to get too cold.
Carol Kirkwood:
Have you seen the weather outside when we go out to launch these?
Matt:
You did the forecast this morning. [LAUGHS]
Carol Kirkwood:
And I know what it's like.
Matt:
There you go, there's storms in the tropics so that's not likely to be cold.
Carol Kirkwood:
So we've put showers, we've put and we've got clouds. Did you pass your Art at school?
Matt:
I don't think you did, did you?
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS] You're so cheeky.
Matt:
If it does really well that could attract aliens back to earth. Who's she?
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS]
Matt:
Right, are you ready to launch these?
Carol Kirkwood:
Yep, I'll grab the vinegar.
Matt:
The bicarbonate of soda for me. Alright, come on then let's launch.
Carol Kirkwood:
Winner, winner.
Carol Kirkwood:
Right, so we've got to put vinegar haven't we first?
Matt:
Yeah.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh Matt!
Matt:
That's you, it's the cold, shaky hands. Don't squirt it all over me.
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS] This is going terribly well.
Matt:
They're gonna love me on the tube home.
Carol Kirkwood:
The next thing we need is the bicarbonate of soda.
Matt:
So, how much?
Carol Kirkwood:
Just about a dessert spoon. [LAUGHS]
Matt:
And a bucket.
Carol Kirkwood:
Well, it's leaking.
Matt:
Is it? You've pierced it.
Carol Kirkwood:
Look we've gotta do this quickly. Oh my goodness it's all coming out. Stand back.
Matt:
Stand back.
Matt:
That's not gonna go, is it?
Carol Kirkwood:
Come on. I'm gonna go and see if it can … [SCREAMS] It did it! [LAUGHS]
Matt:
It wasn't very high though, was it?
Carol Kirkwood:
That was brilliant, what are you talking about?
Carol Kirkwood:
Come on you little beauty. Okay Matt.
Matt:
I'm feeling the pressure now.
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS]
Matt:
A build up of pressure maybe.
Carol Kirkwood:
So is this.
Matt:
I'm just gonna stick the rest of this in.
Carol Kirkwood:
Do you think you want to check and see how much you've got in there?
Matt:
No, come on.
Carol Kirkwood:
I am so impressed Matt.
Matt:
Oh no, no. This is a challenge Carol, I've got to try and beat you somehow. That's about enough, isn't it?
Carol Kirkwood:
Yeah, that's plenty.
Matt:
Okay.
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh you're so tidy. Look at that, that is very nice and neat. Good luck.
Matt:
Stand back.
Matt:
Fingers crossed.
Carol Kirkwood:
No, it's not gonna work.
Matt:
The carbon dioxide's building in there.
Carol Kirkwood:
It is, I can feel it.
Matt:
Do you want to get a coffee?
Carol Kirkwood:
[LAUGHS] Go tickle your cork.
Carol Kirkwood:
[SCREAMS] Well done. Hey, high five.
Matt:
I wouldn't do that…
Carol Kirkwood:
Oh no, certainly not. [LAUGHS]
Matt:
Right, I think that was a success.
Carol Kirkwood:
And so do I, so do I.
Matt:
I still reckon mine went higher than yours.
Carol Kirkwood:
In your dreams, I think mine went higher than yours.
Matt:
A draw?
Carol Kirkwood:
A draw.
Matt:
Go on then.
Carol Kirkwood:
Well done.
Matt:
Congratulations.
The bottle rocket challenge - MasterChef
The oven gloves are off as John Torode and Gregg Wallace turn the MasterChef kitchen into a science lab.
Narrator:
Today, the oven gloves are off. It's the Masterchef judges turn to be judged. Gregg Wallace and John Torode are shooting for the stars, and there's not a Michelin guide in sight.
Gregg Wallace:
I don't consider myself to be a scientist in, in any way.
John Torode:
I like science because it's about food. You know what, you cook food, there is something scientific about it. I like reactions, and I like playing the kid.
Narrator:
Which judge will prove themselves master of the terrific scientific bottle rocket challenge?
Narrator:
Gregg and John have just 20 minutes to make a rocket using every day kitchen ingredients. Whose will fly highest? Gregg's plan seems stuck on the launch pad.
Gregg Wallace:
Fill a bottle. I haven't got a bottle.
John Torode:
Inside your drawer.
Narrator:
John is rustling up a gourmet rocket, complete with edible breadstick legs.
John Torode:
I'm hoping this will work.
Gregg Wallace:
Fill the bottle a quarter or the third the way with vinegar. Putting simple things like vinegar and bicarb together, and it apparently is gonna make a rocket launch absolutely terrifies me.
John Torode:
Breadsticks for legs, although a bit wonky. Well, that's easy enough to do cause you just bite the end off.
Narrator:
Ex-grocer, Gregg, hopes healthy vegetables will help his rocket reach even greater heights.
Gregg Wallace:
My rocket's got legs very much like Bambi.
John Torode:
Is your rocket not working?
Narrator:
Asparagus is off the menu for Gregg, while John's rocket is taking shape, complete with tortilla nose cone, and he's brought along a secret ingredient.
John Torode:
A bicycle pump. I'm gonna add extra air inside the little thing and hope that it will increase the reaction. It could go terribly wrong.
Narrator:
With time running out, has Gregg bitten off more than he can chew?
Gregg Wallace:
[LAUGHS]
Narrator:
The countdown has begun, which means final checks from the notoriously hard to please judges.
Gregg Wallace:
Ten out of ten for trying, but I think that leaves a lot to be desired.
John Torode:
They look a little bit challenging to me.
Gregg Wallace:
Do you know what I'd like on here? Rocket. Right. Bag of truffles for the winner. Lift off.
Narrator:
Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, the raw ingredients of bottle rocket science. Who has the recipe for success? The moment of truth has arrived.
Gregg Wallace:
Do you mind if I step back out the way? You're scaring me.
John Torode:
You go ahead. Here we go. Okay. Now, hopefully the bicarb will start to release very soon. Here we go. Whoa! [LAUGHS]
Gregg Wallace:
Not bad, son. Not bad.
John Torode:
That's brilliant. Right Mr Wallace, all yours. Over to you.
Narrator:
Highest rocket wins, and Gregg has gone back to the drawing board to make last minute adjustments to his rocket legs.
John Torode:
That's–, where'd you get that from?
Gregg Wallace:
Well–. Oh! I just got bicarb all over my head. [LAUGHS]
John Torode:
Where's the carrots and the asparagus gone?
Gregg Wallace:
My asparagus kept breaking, the carrots broke, so–.
John Torode:
So you got somebody else to make it.
Gregg Wallace:
So I got some pencils.
John Torode:
Yeah.
Narrator:
Gregg has to get his bicarb vinegar rocket fuel mix right. The two combine to form water and the gas, carbon dioxide. The gas pressure will build up, pop the cork, and propel the rocket up into the sky.
Gregg Wallace:
Cork. Whoa!
John Torode:
[LAUGHS]
Gregg Wallace:
It blew up while I was holding it.
John Torode:
Do you want another go?
Gregg Wallace:
Well, I suppose I'll have to.
John Torode:
Come on then, you go again.
Gregg Wallace:
Googles!
John Torode:
Maybe it's the pencils.
Gregg Wallace:
[CHEERS] I think it's back to the day jobs, isn't it?
John Torode:
Okay, let's go.
Gregg Wallace:
Well, I suppose you won, did you?
John Torode:
I suppose so.
Gregg Wallace:
Yeah. But I mean, you know, you can't really take any glory from it.
John Torode:
Why can't I take glory from it?
Gregg Wallace:
Well, when you turned up with a bicycle pump, which was like cheating. I mean, if they said I could've had a bicycle pump–.
John Torode:
You could've had a bicycle pump.
The bottle rocket challenge - Casualty
Charlie (Derek Thompson) and Duffy (Cathy Shipton) swap stitches and bandages for vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Whose rocket soars and whose heads for trauma?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
I'll need some bicarb and vinegar standing by and lots of it.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
How are you doing love?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Not good. Have you got the scissors?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Yeah, there you go.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
I'm way out of my comfort zone here Duffy.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
It's okay Charlie, you can do this.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Sticky tape.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
There you are.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Oh no! No, I've lost him.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
No, no you haven't. Look! There he is, underneath the glitter.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Yeah. Yes, you're right. Oh look, isn't that wonderful?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Yeah, it's not bad. But if you think that shambles can beat my rocket, you've got another think coming sunshine.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Really?
Narrator:
Actors Derek Thompson and Cathy Shipton, better known as Charlie and Duffy from 'Casualty' have seen pretty much everything in their time at Holby City Hospital. But in 30 years, there's never been a bottle rocket storyline.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
I think that's sort of the trajectory.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Chemical reaction.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Shall we do a 'Casualty' theme?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
First Aid kit.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Ah, good thinking.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Yes.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
You've got your thinking cap on. There's a picture here. That's how they've done it, with pencils.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Well, I'll use these then. Spatulas.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Alright.
Narrator:
Cathy and Derek are used to working under pressure as a team.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Look. Look how fast we got that done with the two of us.
Narrator:
But each will have to be ruthless if they want their own rocket to win the challenge.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Why don't you do three?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
You might be nobbling me there.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Play it safe. Why would I be nobbling you?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
I wonder?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Don't start that caper.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Right. Alright, I'll go for three.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Don't.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
I've been challenged now. I will do three.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Right.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
This reminds me of when I was doing this for my daughter, because she had all the instructions. They'd done it in school and, you know, when you mix bicarb and vinegar, I mean, they're just things you've got in the cupboard, in the kitchen, and…
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Yeah, but they're…
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
…you know, you, you make an explosion.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
A powerful reaction, yeah.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
So, did it cost a lot to redecorate the kitchen after that?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Well, we did it just before we were gonna have the kitchen redecorated, yeah. What about a nosecone? Are you gonna have nosecone?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
No. I quite like the old fashioned kind of Russian kind of '60s look.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
The Sputnik look? I'm going to put a nice bandage around. The thing is, I'm putting so much on mine that it's gonna be quite weighty isn't it?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
We don't know what the absolute science of that is, do we?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
No.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
It might just give it stability.
Narrator:
The all-important rocket fuel, otherwise known as vinegar, goes in first.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Now that sounds like a 'Casualty' procedure.
Narrator:
No 'Casualty' rocket would be complete without some blood. Fake, of course!
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Oh look! Okey-dokey!
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Alright. The proof is in the launching.
Narrator:
Two 'Casualty' bottle rockets, patched up and ready for action. Who is heading for victory and who is heading for trauma?
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Out with the cork, in with the bicarb as quickly as you can. In with your cork. Pop it down like that.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Stand back!
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
And the reaction. Houston, we are looking good. Look at that!
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
That was brilliant.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Go on, top that?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
That was really good.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Wasn't it? Yeah.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Yeah.
Narrator:
Derek is the pacemaker. Does Cathy's blood powered bottle rocket have more get up and haemogobin?
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Put that in. Not too far. And stand back.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Now I'm really frightened.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Go, go rocket!
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Wow! That was spectacular.
Narrator:
Time for the final diagnosis. Derek's rocket has a clean bill of health, but Cathy's is a little under the weather.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Ha ha, that was brilliant.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Ah, that was spectacular. Blood all over the place.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
I know. I have to say, I think yours was the best.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Yeah. The, the size worked better on it.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
Yeah, it clattered straight up and off.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
That was just, that was just pure luck, yeah.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
That was fantastic being a kid for the day.
Charlie (Derek Thompson):
Let's go and make a bigger one.
Duffy (Cathy Shipton):
[LAUGHS]
The bottle rocket challenge - Football Focus
Former footballers turned presenters Kevin Kilbane and Trevor Sinclair turn a football pitch into a launch pad. Whose rocket will be over the moon and who will be sick as a parrot?
Dan:
Hello everybody. It's that time of year when we turn our attention to the terrific scientific bottle rocket challenge, and what a tournament it has been so far. [Charlie FC] just shaded the Cardiff derby at the [Holby] Stadium, where they were, thankfully, no injuries. After a messy draw at the BBC Weather HQ, expectations were high for the Masterchef clash, butdespite having all the right ingredients, the match failed to take off. And the early kick off [glamour] fixture at MediaCity, there was a, a giant killing, really, for the unfancied[Minchon FC] against bottle rocket colossal, Athletico Walker. I'm not sure there was anything in it really, but maybe, uh, the video replay tells you a–a slightly different story. So, ontotoday's big match, two untested minnows with everything to prove.
Trevor Sinclair:
Competition.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah, right then.
Trevor Sinclair:
May the best man win .
Kevin Kilbane:
All the best, good luck.
Trevor Sinclair:
Skill level, medium. You could be struggling.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yes. Yeah. I think we'll make the bra–, the base out of these straws then, do we? Got a bit of tape here.
Trevor Sinclair:
I would've loved this at school, making rockets.
Kevin Kilbane:
What about that? Talking of teachers, geography teacher, Dan Walker [LAUGHS].
Trevor Sinclair:
Don't be nicking them straws.
Kevin Kilbane:
Is this actually gonna take off with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda? Surely, we've gotta get the right balance then.
Trevor Sinclair:
I'm not sure what that balance is, and if I did know, I wouldn't tell you anyway.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah, alright, alright. [LAUGHTER]
Trevor Sinclair:
Gravity comes into play, obviously.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah.
Trevor Sinclair:
And the heavier it is, the more difficult it is to get it off the ground.
Kevin Kilbane:
If you were carrying a weight than [UNSURE OF WORD] you know.
Trevor Sinclair:
Absolutely. So the reason I'm putting this nose cone on is like what we see aeroplanes, they get aerodynamic, so it goes through the air a little bit easier, less friction.
Kevin Kilbane:
That doesn't make any sense to me, what you've just said, but I'll–I'll–, again, I'll take your word for it, mate.
Trevor Sinclair:
That's looking like a proper space orientated vehicle.
Kevin Kilbane:
This is a hard one to stick on there. I'm struggling with my top here. That just isn't working for me.
Trevor Sinclair:
What is that?
Kevin Kilbane:
It's perfect, mate. Happy with that. I think the weight behind it'll help that fly. Once that goes, that's not coming back [LAUGHS].
Trevor Sinclair:
Combination's key.
Kevin Kilbane:
Right, shall we see how these babies fly?
Trevor Sinclair:
Let's go.
Kevin Kilbane:
Come on, let's do it. All the best.
Kevin Kilbane:
Heads or tails?
Trevor Sinclair:
Tails. You're first.
Kevin Kilbane:
Heads it is.
Trevor Sinclair:
Good luck.
Kevin Kilbane:
Right, you're gonna have to give me a hand here, I think.
Trevor Sinclair:
Are you happy with that?
Kevin Kilbane:
Maybe a bit more actually.
Trevor Sinclair:
[LAUGHS]
Kevin Kilbane:
Let's see.
Trevor Sinclair:
I think it's enough.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah, alright. We'll go with that. Bicarbonate of soda, here we go. Let's see how we go here, mate.
Trevor Sinclair:
Something's happening.
Kevin Kilbane:
I might not have put enough vinegar in. I'm gonna have to go back, I think, aren't I?
Trevor Sinclair:
Whoa! [LAUGHS]
Kevin Kilbane:
Vinegar all over my hands. [LAUGHS]
Kevin Kilbane:
I didn't expect it to fly so high, I've gotta say that. But, it's just a little tweak, Trevor, that's all it takes sometimes, a little tweak.
Kevin Kilbane:
Happy?
Trevor Sinclair:
Yeah, a bit more. I'm nervous now, that was a great reaction.
Kevin Kilbane:
You have put a lot in there. Y–you expecting that to fly a lot higher than mine then? Is that what you're–, is that what you're–?
Trevor Sinclair:
Not that I'm competitive or anything. Just gotta get this right now, not too loose, not too tight. Right, step back, Kev.
Kevin Kilbane:
Right.
Trevor Sinclair:
Whoa! [LAUGHS] Aerodynamics, my friend.
Kevin Kilbane:
There you go, well done. [LAUGHS]
Kevin Kilbane:
Both flew, but I think mine did actually go higher.
Trevor Sinclair:
I'm not so sure, but the fact that you're covered in vinegar, I think that has to give it to me. But, remember this, Dan, we both beat you.
Dan:
Trevor, no need for that. Gloating is very unattractive. Uh, one of the champs, Kevin Kilbane is here. Have you got some advice for Mark Lawrenson and–and his rocket, 'cause I think I'm gonna take a step back.
Mark Lawrenson:
Hold on, he's never been a champ in his life. [LAUGHTER]
Kevin Kilbane:
Clearly hasn't got a clue.
Mark Lawrenson:
You can have that. What is this?
Kevin Kilbane:
The vin–, vinegar's the key, Dan. Vinegar is the key.
Dan:
That's where I made my mistake I think.
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah, that's it.
Mark Lawrenson:
Coffee cup, bowl.
Kevin Kilbane:
There you go. On top, on top of that.
Dan:
Listen to the master.
Kevin Kilbane:
Aerodynamic, there you go. There you go, that makes it fly. Yeah.
Mark Lawrenson:
Is that it?
Kevin Kilbane:
And then, in you go.
Dan:
You're onto a winner.
Mark Lawrenson:
Pardon?
Kevin Kilbane:
Yeah.
Bottle rocket challenge - Health: Truth or Scare
Angela Rippon and Kevin Duala shake things up with bicarbonate and vinegar. Launch is approaching: whose rocket will soar, and whose will plummet?
Marshmallow catapult
Watch the film to find out how you can engineer your own marshmallow catapult. Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Famous families DIY: Marshmallow catapult
Find out how our famous families got on making a marshmallow catapult. Could you do any better? Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Nanna Val:
This is really good because we're actually doing it rather than watching it, you know. We're actually going to try and do these things. It will be very interesting.
Tia:
I always think, well I think that mum is very good at science, but maybe she'll make a couple of mistakes that will ruin the experiment.
The Campbells:
Terrific scientific. [LAUGHS]
Cherry:
Now, we're going to be making a marshmallow catapult. What we're going to be needing is five marshmallows. So, we can–
Aidan:
Seven skewers.
Nina:
Okay, I can do that.
Darcey:
One plastic spoon.
Aidan:
One rubber band. Do, do, do.
Cherry:
Two bag ties.
David:
Two bag ties. Okay, got that.
Cherry:
And tape, so we've got tape.
David:
[INAUDIBLE]
Aidan:
Okay, now how? Lay three skewers out to make a triangle. This will be the base.
Jill:
Like this?
Aidan:
Attach marshmallows to two of the corners.
Nanna Val:
You'll have to angle it so that it meets there, like that.
Cherry:
And, use a bag tie to join the third corner.
Nina:
Push your third marshmallow onto the tied end and make a mark on this marshmallow. And, make a mark on it. Put an X on it.
Tia:
I'm not going to eat that marshmallow. [LAUGHS]
Cherry:
Use three more skewers to make a pyramid.
David:
Oh, we'd better do one each.
Darcey:
Okay, so I've got three more skewers and more marshmallow.
Aidan:
When the three skewers meet at the top, use a bag tie to tie all three skewers together close to their ends.
Tia:
Oh, I get it.
David:
There we are. Look at, oh look at that. Need another marshmallow.
Nanna Val:
Excellent.
Cherry:
Tape the plastic spoon securely to the remaining skewer.
Ruby:
So, just put the tape around that, like that.
Aidan:
Loop the rubber band over the marshmallow at the top of the pyramid.
Cherry:
And, insert the skewer with the spoon attached to it, so it passes through the loop.
Nanna Val:
Do you think it needs to go–
Darcey:
You have to poke it through that one. Yeah.
Nanna Val:
And, into the marshmallow.
Ruby:
Next, put another marshmallow into the spoon. Pull the spoon down, stretching your rubber band, and release. Your marshmallow should fly.
Nina:
This is the science-y bit. As the spoon is pulled down, the rubber band stretches storing energy called potential energy. And, when you release it, the stored energy quickly forces the band up. Way, yeah. [LAUGHS]
Jill:
Yay.
David:
Whoa.
Nanna Val:
Woo.
Darcey:
Woo.
Nanna Val:
Well, that was good.
Sticky rice
Watch the film to find out how you can harness the power of friction to lift a bottle of rice using only a blunt knife.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below
Terrific Scientific
A number of famous faces and their families investigate the science of friction by having a go at our sticky rice activity.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
David:
I think Jill's going to be good at doing the experiment,s we see quite a lot of that, quite often, and certain things going, mishaps and going wrong.
Ruby:
Science is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and I don't think that people should think, oh only my teachers and my parents and scientists can do sciencec, I'm just a kid, I can't really do that.
The Wadias:
Terrific Scientific! Woo!
Aidan:
Okay, we're going to do sticky rice.
Ruby:
Here's what we need.
Cherry:
Plastic drinks bottles, which we have.
David:
Right, I've got four of them here.
Aidan:
Enough long grain rice to fill container.
Nina:
Yep.
Cherry:
And a blunt bladed knife.
Aidan:
Now this is how you do it.
Ruby:
So we need to take rice from in here, and pour it into here.
Nanna Val:
Are you using the funnel?
Ruby:
Yes.
Ruby:
Definitely.
Nanna Val:
Yes.
Nina:
Off you go. You pour it and I say stop, okay?
Ruby:
[LAUGHS]
Nanna Val:
Oh we're alright, we're fine.
Ruby:
Oh, this is so cool.
Nina:
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. [LAUGHS]
Aidan:
Do you think we're ready for step two?
Cherry:
Hold the container firmly with one hand.
Aidan:
And with other push knife straight down into the rice.
Nina:
Okay, let's do it.
Ruby:
Pull out and push back in slowly, never fully removing it from the container.
Nina:
We take it up a bit, and then push it back down.
Ruby:
You should be able to have it in the rice and lift the whole thing up.
Nina:
Anmd we take it up a bit slowly, we push it back down.
David:
Oh it's starting to get a bit sticky.
Ruby:
I think you have to keep going.
Nanna Val:
Oh.
Cherry:
Continue to pull knife out and push it back in, until you notice resistance and…
David:
Oh look, look, look.
Tia:
Ah!
Nina:
Oh well done Tia, that's brilliant.
Nanna Val:
It's getting harder.
Ruby:
It's definitely getting harder.
Darcey:
Oh!
Nanna Val:
Oh, oh my goodness me.
David:
Yay! [LAUGHS]
Darcey:
It's like stuck.
Cherry:
Why does this happen, is you don't need to apply much pressure the first time you push the knife into the rice, as the grains sit loosely in the jar.
Aidan:
Every time we push the knife in and remove it again, the grains move.
Ruby:
Falling into the spaces and lining up.
Cherry:
Each time the handle is pushed into the rice, the friction increases, opposing the force of gravity.
Ruby:
Rice is slightly elastic and so eventually when the blade is pushed in, the compact grains will bend tightly against it, allowing you to lift the jar using only the handle of the knife.
Cherry:
So I didn't know that. So I just learned something there.
Nina:
It's not a competition. This was mine anyway. [LAUGHS]
Make a rainbow
Watch the film to find out how you can use simple science to make a rainbow in a plastic bottle.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Monti Willingham:
I think Mummy and Daddy are probably gonna be pretty good at science but we never know until we try, really.
Nanna Val:
I think Ruby will see the fun side. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Ruby Barnhill:
You'll see the kind of [UNSURE OF WORD] side of them.
Nanna Val:
So it's going to be fun.
The Malleson-Allens:
Terrific Scientific!
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Now we're going to make, make a rainbow.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Really? How?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
We, we need honey.
Darcey Barnhill:
Golden syrup.
Monti Willingham:
Washing up liquid
Nelly Willingham:
Water.
Monti Willingham:
Cooking oil.
Darcey Barnhill:
Baby oil.
Monti Willingham:
Food dye.
Darcey Barnhill:
Tall glass.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS] Right, let's start then.
Ruby Barnhill:
We're going to use the food colouring and mix them in these separate containers.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I'm gonna mix up some different colours. [NOISE] Could you pass me all of them.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Sarah Willingham:
Maybe do like, the water red [INTERRUPTION] and then, when we come to do the baby oil, then we can make that blue.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
What's the heaviest out of all these liquids?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Honey [NOISE].
Darcey Barnhill:
Okay, [INTERRUPTION] I think that's enough.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Oh I love, I love this.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
See honey's really, really heavy isn't it?
Sarah Willingham:
[TALKING OVER EACH OTHER] Now add the golden syrup.
Ruby Barnhill:
And look, it doesn't even sink in, it stays [INTERRUPTION] right on the surface.
Nanna Val:
Lovely.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Shall we put a different kind of density [NOISE], like an oil?
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yes, let me do washing up liquid.
Ruby Barnhill:
Okay, keep going.
Nanna Val:
Ooh.
Darcey Barnhill:
Stop.
Nanna Val:
Oh. Yup.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Aah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Ah, look, look, look, look, look.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Oh look, it goes down and then it kind of poofs [INTERRUPTION] back up.
Nanna Val:
We can see three colours, yes.
Darcey Barnhill:
One, two three. Okay.
Ruby Barnhill:
So far. Nana would you like to pour in this water?
Nanna Val:
Oh yes please.
Ruby Barnhill:
[Yaaah] [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Sarah Willingham:
We're gonna wait, wait, wait, let it separate. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Look at this, look at this, look.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
I love that one. [LAUGHTER]
Michael Willingham:
Let's wait until it's, [INTERRUPTION] the colours se-settle.
Ruby Barnhill:
Next we add the cooking oil.
Darcey Barnhill:
Cooking oil, in you go.
Sarah Willingham:
Oh, look at our beautiful rainbow forming.
Michael Willingham:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Just go like that. That.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Then go like that.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS] What are you doing?
Sarah Willingham:
That is so cool. [INTERRUPTION] It is actually working even [INTERRUPTION] though we put it in afterwards. It's very cool.
Nelly Willingham:
That is [NOISE] so cool.
Sarah Willingham:
Almost.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Why is this happening then?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Each layer has a different density and, and the golden syrup is the most dense.
Monti Willingham:
And the baby oil, least dense.
Ruby Barnhill:
So each layer floats on top of each other.
Nanna Val:
Oh.
Sarah Willingham:
I'm actually really happy with the result.
Ruby Barnhill:
I would call this…
Darcey Barnhill:
The rainbow lamp.
Ruby Barnhill:
The green hemisphere.
Famous families DIY: Make a rainbow
Watch our Terrific Scientific famous families as they see out if they can create a rainbow inside a bottle using the power of science. Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Monti Willingham:
I think Mummy and Daddy are probably gonna be pretty good at science but we never know until we try, really.
Nanna Val:
I think Ruby will see the fun side. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Ruby Barnhill:
You'll see the kind of [UNSURE OF WORD] side of them.
Nanna Val:
So it's going to be fun.
The Malleson-Allens:
Terrific Scientific!
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Now we're going to make, make a rainbow.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Really? How?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
We, we need honey.
Darcey Barnhill:
Golden syrup.
Monti Willingham:
Washing up liquid
Nelly Willingham:
Water.
Monti Willingham:
Cooking oil.
Darcey Barnhill:
Baby oil.
Monti Willingham:
Food dye.
Darcey Barnhill:
Tall glass.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS] Right, let's start then.
Ruby Barnhill:
We're going to use the food colouring and mix them in these separate containers.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I'm gonna mix up some different colours. [NOISE] Could you pass me all of them.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Sarah Willingham:
Maybe do like, the water red [INTERRUPTION] and then, when we come to do the baby oil, then we can make that blue.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
What's the heaviest out of all these liquids?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Honey [NOISE].
Darcey Barnhill:
Okay, [INTERRUPTION] I think that's enough.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Oh I love, I love this.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
See honey's really, really heavy isn't it?
Sarah Willingham:
[TALKING OVER EACH OTHER] Now add the golden syrup.
Ruby Barnhill:
And look, it doesn't even sink in, it stays [INTERRUPTION] right on the surface.
Nanna Val:
Lovely.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Shall we put a different kind of density [NOISE], like an oil?
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yes, let me do washing up liquid.
Ruby Barnhill:
Okay, keep going.
Nanna Val:
Ooh.
Darcey Barnhill:
Stop.
Nanna Val:
Oh. Yup.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Aah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Ah, look, look, look, look, look.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Oh look, it goes down and then it kind of poofs [INTERRUPTION] back up.
Nanna Val:
We can see three colours, yes.
Darcey Barnhill:
One, two three. Okay.
Ruby Barnhill:
So far. Nana would you like to pour in this water?
Nanna Val:
Oh yes please.
Ruby Barnhill:
[Yaaah] [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Sarah Willingham:
We're gonna wait, wait, wait, let it separate. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Look at this, look at this, look.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
I love that one. [LAUGHTER]
Michael Willingham:
Let's wait until it's, [INTERRUPTION] the colours se-settle.
Ruby Barnhill:
Next we add the cooking oil.
Darcey Barnhill:
Cooking oil, in you go.
Sarah Willingham:
Oh, look at our beautiful rainbow forming.
Michael Willingham:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Just go like that. That.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Then go like that.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS] What are you doing?
Sarah Willingham:
That is so cool. [INTERRUPTION] It is actually working even [INTERRUPTION] though we put it in afterwards. It's very cool.
Nelly Willingham:
That is [NOISE] so cool.
Sarah Willingham:
Almost.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Why is this happening then?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Each layer has a different density and, and the golden syrup is the most dense.
Monti Willingham:
And the baby oil, least dense.
Ruby Barnhill:
So each layer floats on top of each other.
Nanna Val:
Oh.
Sarah Willingham:
I'm actually really happy with the result.
Ruby Barnhill:
I would call this…
Darcey Barnhill:
The rainbow lamp.
Ruby Barnhill:
The green hemisphere.
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Bendy water
Watch the film to find out how you can you use simple science to bend water.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Watch with wonder: Bendy water!
Watch a family bend water using the power of electrons - it's mesmerising and you can do that too!
Famous families DIY: Bendy water
Watch our Terrific Scientific famous families as they find out if they can bend water using nothing but the power of balloons and static electricity.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Tia:
I just find it really interesting when if I don't understand something and then my teacher explains to me I love when it clicks.
Cherry:
I think mum, I'm sorry but I don't think you'll be as good at science because you just don't like mess.
The Barnhills:
Terrific Scientific.
Nanna Val:
Yay.
Cherry:
[GASPS]
Ruby:
Nanna would you mind tying this for me.
Nanna Val:
Okay.
Cherry:
Open the cold water tap and leave it running with a very thin line of water.
Ruby:
Next Darcey why don't we go rub this on our heads.
Nanna Val:
[LAUGHS] Amazing.
Nina:
My hair is going to go everywhere. [LAUGHS]
David:
[LAUGHS]
Nina:
[LAUGHS]
David:
Well that's magic.
Aidan:
Don't put the balloon down or let it touch anything.
Ruby:
Well, now our balloons are static.
Aidan:
See how the stream of water moves towards the balloon.
Cherry:
Whoa.
Nina:
Oh my word. Tia look at this.
Ruby:
It's bending towards me can you see it?
Nanna Val:
Yes, I can see.
Nina:
That's amazing.
David:
Look at that.
Cherry:
That's crazy.
Ruby:
Darcey let's see what was happening there. When you rubbed the balloon on your hair a few electrons are transferred from the hair to the balloon.
Cherry:
If you repeat it several times more will get transferred. You now have tiny amount of static electricity on your ballon.
Aidan:
The electrons in the static electricity give the balloon a negative charge.
Ruby:
The water starts of neutral with the same amount of positive and negative charges.
Cherry:
The negative charge on the ballon or comb attracts a positive charge in the water so pulling the water closer.
Aidan:
It's a bit like a magnet being [STUTTERS] attracted to a metal.
Cherry:
So what do you think?
David:
Good experiment.
Cherry:
Yeah.
Hovercraft
Watch the film to find out how you can make a mini hovercraft from a balloon and CD.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Famous families DIY: Hovercraft
Watch our Terrific Scientific famous families as they see if they can turn an old CD into a hovercraft using nothing but science and a balloon.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Tamzin:
Favourite thing are English. PE and Art but I do like I do like Science as well yeah.
Sarah:
I didn't really study Science very late at school so I want the kids to do more.
Nina:
Terrific Scientific whoa. Asperger’s
Nina:
Okay, what, oh that looks really weird what are we doing?
Tia:
It's a hovercraft.
Nina:
Hovercraft, cool.
Teddie-Rose:
We need a sports bottle lid.
Tamzin:
We've got.
Teddie-Rose:
With a pop up cap, not a screw top one.
Tia:
A large balloon.
Teddie-Rose:
CD. We need glue.
Minnie:
Use a pin to poke three to four holes around the centre of a closed bottle cap.
Tia:
The holes need to go all the way through the plastic of the cap.
Nina:
Oh that's going quite easily.
Keith:
Glue the cap to the CD.
Tamzin:
Like that.
Minnie:
Blow up the balloon so it's about the size of your head and twist it to the neck to keep the air in.
Tamzin:
This big? Is that the size of my head?
Keith:
Yeah.
Monti:
[LAUGHS]
Tia:
Now twist the neck to keep in the air.
Nina:
Okay, do that, good girl.
Keith:
This is very exciting.
Sarah:
Stretch the balloons opening completely over the bottle cap. Ready?
Nina:
That's it. Got it.
Tia:
Put your hovercraft on a flat service. Carefully let go of the balloons and give the CD a little push.
Sarah:
Yay.
Keith:
[LAUGHS] Hovercraft-sh. Yes [LAUGHTER]
Nina:
Oh [LAUGHS].
Monti:
Is it supposed to do that?
Michael:
It's a hovercraft, yes. It's a hovercraft.
Tamzin:
Yes.
Keith:
Hovercraft.
Tamzin:
Look at that.
Keith:
Hovercraft.
Nina:
Yay[CLAPS HANDS] I love that.
Sarah:
That is the hovercraft. We did it. Whoop. [LAUGHS]
Nina:
As air escapes from the balloon it is pushed through the holes you make in the bottle cap and the CD in all directions because of the shapes, smoothness and weight distribution of the hovercraft the escaping air creates a thin cushion between the CD and the surface. The cushion of air dramatically reduces the friction between the CD and the surface and allows yourhovercraft to move freely over the surfaces. I win. [LAUGHS]
Lava art
Impress your family and friends by showing them the cool lava art you can create by putting oil and salt in water.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Famous families DIY: Lava art
Watch as a number of famous faces and their families have a go at creating some spellbinding lava art. Why not try it for yourself?
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Nelly:
Maybe I'm most looking cool with him, and the colours and it's beige. Haww! [LAUGHS]
Teddie-Rose:
Dad will be terrible at science.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I'll have you know that I have a doctorate in science.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
…and a white coat.
The Barnhills:
Terrific scientific! Aye!
Ruby Barnhill:
This one is called lava.
Minnie:
Have you got all these ingredients? 100ml of water.
Nelly:
Yes.
Monti:
Yes.
Teddie-Rose:
15ml oil.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Teddie-Rose:
50g salt.
Ruby Barnhill:
A 200ml glass.
Minnie:
And food dye.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
How are we going to make art out of all of this?
Ruby Barnhill:
Fill the glass three quarters fill with water…
Minnie:
And add a drop of food dye.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Drop! That's…
Keith Malleson-Allen:
That is a drop.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
That's a pour.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
That's a drop.
Michael WillinghamWaaah, tip it over. Okay, perfect.
Teddie-Rose:
Werrr.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Oh that's good.
Minnie:
Then slowly pour the oil into the glass.
Ruby Barnhill:
And your [UNSURE OF WORD] should fit.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Oh wow.
Monti:
Wow.
Nelly:
Wow.
Sarah Willingham:
That's actually really cool.
Teddie-Rose:
Whoa Mums is the pretty.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I'll add more.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
And then, and then what?
Minnie:
Now we need to sprinkle the salt on top of the oil.
Ruby Barnhill:
And then watch as blobs move up and down your glass.
Nelly:
Enough?
Sarah Willingham:
Oh look!
Ruby Barnhill:
Ha-ah, wow!
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Look, look!
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Oh.
Teddie-Rose:
Oh look!
Keith Malleson-Allen:
[LAUGHS]
Darcey Barnhill:
That's a lot Ru.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
It's rising.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yes, so it goes down and then up again.
Darcey Barnhill:
That is awesome.
Monti:
Whow!
Sarah Willingham:
Look at that.
Monti:
[UNSURE OF WORD]
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Why does that happen though?
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Is it because the salt is heavy?
Ruby Barnhill:
Let's find out what actually happened guys.
Minnie:
So, the oil sits on top of the water as the oil is lighter than water.
Ruby Barnhill:
And then salt is heavier than the oil, so it's going to just make it sink down.
Teddie-Rose:
And, it takes some of the oil with it, which makes it, the lava blob and go up and down.
Minnie:
But then the salt dissolves in to the water, and so the oil goes back up, creating the lava effect.
Michael Willingham:
Ah ha-ah!
Sarah Willingham:
Now that is actually so clever. It's really good.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Oh look, there it goes.
Nelly:
[UNSURE OF WORD]
Sarah Willingham:
Look, quick, quick, quick.
Nelly:
We need more dada.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Oh that looks good that one.
Nelly:
[LAUGHS]
Ruby Barnhill:
We present lava art.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
See, science can be beautiful.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yeah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Yes.
Hoop glider
Watch the film to find out how you can you use simple science to make a glider.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Famous families DIY: Hoop glider
Watch as some famous faces and their families have a go at making a hoop glider.Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Cherry:
Doing experiments and stuff. Blowing up and things like that, I enjoy that.
Teddie-Rose:
My favourite things are English, PE and art. But-- I do like science as well, yeah.
The Barnhills:
Terrific Scientific. Hurrah.
Ruby:
Okay, guys. So, next we're going to be making the hoop glider, which I am so excited about because this sounds really fun.
Cherry:
What we're going to be needing is thick A4 paper, which we have here.
Ruby:
Pencil.
Keith:
Straw, ruler.
Tamzin:
Ruler.
Ruby:
Tape.
Nanna Val:
Yeah.
Cherry:
And, scissors, which we have as well.
David:
Scissors, be careful.
Keith:
Cut two strips out of your piece of card.
Ruby:
One the entire length of the long side of the card and 2.5 cm wide. The other approximately 10 cm long by 2.5 cm wide.
Keith:
It says approximately.
Tamzin:
No, I think we're being exact.
Keith:
Yeah, I'm going to–
Tamzin:
It's an exact science.
Ruby:
Curl each piece of paper to make a hoop and fix it with a piece of tape.
Cherry:
You should then have two hoops, one larger than the other.
Ruby:
Attach the big hoop to one end, and the small hoop to the other.
Keith:
With the open sides parallel with each other.
Jill:
Yeah, but yours are in two different directions.
David:
Oh. Just testing.
Ruby:
To launch, hold the hoop glider in the middle with the smaller hoop at the front and gently throw it.
David:
Now, who would like to fly in an aeroplane that looks like this?
Keith:
One, two, three.
Ruby:
Are you ready everybody? Three, two, one.
Nanna Val:
Wow.
The Campbells:
Terrific Scientific.
Parachute
Watch the film to find out how you can use air resistance to make a toy soldier a parachute out of a bin liner.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Famous families DIY: Parachute
Watch our Terrific Scientific famous families make parachutes for toy soldiers using bin liners and string and see whose works best when it comes to testing them out.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Minnie:
Mummy's very good at cooking, uh which is also quite science-y. And Daddy's good at like, knowing like facts. [LAUGHTER] So I think they're both gonna-- I think they're both gonna be very good.
Keith:
Teddie and science, I, I would not say are um, tremendously uh, happy bedfellows. Only because I don't think Ted does a lot of science at school, so you? She loves it when I talk. [LAUGHS]
David:
[WITH FAMILY] Terrific Scientific.
David:
What are we going to do this time, Cherry?
Cherry:
It's called Parachutes.
Tamzin:
What do we need?
Teddie:
We need a bin liner.
David:
I've got lots of bin liners, OK.
Cherry:
String, which Mum has over there.
Teddie:
Sticky tape. Scissors.
Monti:
And uh, people who are gonna be flying.
Teddie:
Cut 30 centimetre square out of your bin liner.
Tamzin:
How much is 30 centimetres?
Keith:
A foot.
Tamzin:
Is that a foot. My foot or your foot?
Cherry:
Next we're going to cut four lengths of string, each 30 centimetres long.
Tamzin:
That's Dad's concentrating face. [LAUGHS] The tongue is Dad's concentrating.
David:
Ooh, nice. Oh, lovely.
Keith:
That's your four holes.
Tamzin:
Great.
David:
[LAUGHTER] [UNSURE OF WORD] tape them to the parachute, otherwise it won't fly. It's Super Dad.
Cherry:
Oh no. [LAUGHTER] Why, the science-y bit. When an object falls there are two main forces acting on the falling object.
Monti:
Gravity, downwards, and air resistance upward. Also referred to as drag.
Cherry:
Without the parachute, gravity is much greater than air resistance.
Monti:
When the parachute opens, the air resistance is now more than gravity. This slows down the parachute, and the person can land safely on the ground.
David:
Look at this. So when it comes down, it's all gonna go [MAKES SOUND EFFECT].
Sarah:
So what we're doing here is exactly the same as the people that you see jumping out of a plane.
Michael:
This guy's a stunt guy.
Tamzin:
Yeah, shall we take it outside and launch it.
David:
Are we ready.
Keith:
Ted, parachute time. And do you know what, I don't care if I win today. OK, we go, who's is this?
Teddie:
Mine and mum's.
Keith:
Oh yeah, it works. It works. [CHEERING] It works.
Tamzin:
Yeah. Well done Teddie.
Robbie:
I'll go first. [EXCLAMATIONS]
Jill:
Too bad.
David:
Your go. [APPLAUSE]
Jill:
Ooh well done.
Keith:
Dad's-- Oh look-- oh no, it's caught in a tree.
David:
Right, who won.
Cherry:
Cause that time has to be wrong.
Robbie:
I'm the master of gravity and drag. [CHEERING]
Ice cream
Watch the film and find out how you can use science to make ice cream the fun and easy way!
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Famous families DIY: Ice cream
Watch as a number of famous families have a go at making ice cream the fun and easy way.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
David:
I think, uh Cherry's going to be good at doing the experiments. We, we see quite a lot of that, uh quite often certain things going-- mishaps and going wrong.
Nelly:
The thing I'm most looking forward to is um, the colours and uh explosions Pow. [LAUGHTER]
Nina:
[FAMILY ALTOGETHER] Terrific Scientific. Wooo.
Tia:
What are we doing.
Aidan:
Uh, instant ice cream.
Tia:
Your favourite.
Sarah:
I'm quite excited about this.
Cherry:
And what we're gonna be needing is a bag of ice cubes, full fat milk which we have here.
David:
Full fat milk.
Aidan:
Table salt.
Nina:
Salt and ice cream? Are you sure?
Cherry:
Sugar.
Sarah:
A tiny bit of vanilla extract.
Cherry:
One large Ziploc bag.
Aidan:
One small Ziploc bag.
Nina:
Oooh.
Sarah:
And your favourite ice cream topping. I think that means we're actually gonna eat it.
Cherry:
Half fill the large zip bag with ice cubes.
Nina:
That's it, that's it.
Sarah:
I can't believe this is gonna to turn into ice cream.
Aidan:
Generously sprinkle between 50 and 100 grams of salt over the ice cubes.
David:
There we are.
Sarah:
If it's icy outside our front door, so that you don't slip over I put alt outside, so that it defrosts the snow. So how's this gonna turn into ice cream?
Nina:
Woah–
Cherry:
Into the small zip bag add approximately 60 mils of full-fat milk.
Nina:
Well you're gonna pour it into this, aren't you. There we go.
Cherry:
A tablespoon of sugar.
Michael:
A little bit more sugar, a little bit more sugar.
David:
Nice and tasty.
Aidan:
Several drops of vanilla extract.
Sarah:
Tiny drops. [ Aye up]
Cherry:
Just love vanilla, it's my favourite flavour ever.
Nina:
There we go. Vanilla extract.
Tia:
Oh smells nice.
Sarah:
Seal the bag tightly, Nelly.
Michael:
If you seal the bag.
Cherry:
Insert the small zip bag with your mixture into the large zip bag, filled with ice cubes.
Nina:
OK.
Aidan:
Keep shaking the ice bag for five to ten minutes.
David:
Shake it baby.
Michael:
Marnie, your turn.
Cherry:
[UNSURE OF WORD] reference.
Jill:
Giving your all.
Marty:
It's cold.
David:
I think it's turning into ice cream.
Michael:
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake–
Sarah:
Stop when you are happy with the consistency.
Nina:
Guys, this is actually very good ice cream.
Michael:
Oh–
David:
That looks yummy.
Nina:
Are we ready? That is actually vanilla ice cream.
Robbie:
Does [UNSURE OF WORD] look. That's very nice.
Nelly:
Does it taste like ice cream?
Monti:
It tastes fine.
Cherry:
Why the science-y bit. When you add salt to the ice it lowers the freezing point so that ice starts to melt. But in order to melt it the ice needs heat which it takes from your milk mixture. The ice cubes get so cold that they freeze the milk mixture.
Sarah:
And means it turns the milk into ice cream.
Nina:
Right, we're never buying ice cream again.
Aidan:
Yeah.
Nina:
Yes.
Lemon volcano
Watch the film to find out how you can make a lemon bubble like a volcano!
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.
Famous families DIY: Lemon volcano
Watch as a number of famous faces and their families have a go at making lemons bubble like a volcano!
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
Nina Wadia:
I loved science. I loved all the experiments, to be honest. Any time I had to put a lab coat and [LAUGHS] put the glasses on, put a Bunsen burner on, I was in heaven.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I'm scientifically orientated.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
You're not.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I am. Could argue.
The Willinghams:
Terrific Scientific!
Nelly Willingham:
We are about to make a lemon volcano.
Aidan Wadia:
We need a lemon.
Nelly Willingham:
Bicarbonate of soda, washing up liquid.
Tia Wadia:
Food dye.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Right, what colour do you want.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Red. Okay, cool.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
No, green.
Nelly Willingham:
Knife and spoon, and how to make it.
Aidan Wadia:
Do the investigation on a plate to catch any juice that spills out.
Nelly Willingham:
Take a lemon and slice the bottom off so it stands flat.
Nina Wadia:
Oh, it's gonna get messy.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Hang on. Do we need to take off the top as well?
Keith Malleson-Allen:
I think you do.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Yeah, you do.
Nelly Willingham:
Use the handle of your spoon to mash the centre of the lemon.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Get all the…
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Just keep going.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
…juice out.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Get the juice, yeah.
Aidan Wadia:
Place a few drops of food dye into your lemon.
Sarah Willingham:
Hands up who might want to come as lava. Yeah. [LAUGHS]
Aidan Wadia:
Tiniest bit. That's it.
Nelly Willingham:
Now, what we do is…
Aidan Wadia:
…add a good squeeze of washing up liquid.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
That's a lot.
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
I know.
Michael Willingham:
That's it, I think
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
We need a good spoonful of bicarbonate of soda.
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
It's starting to react. What's happening with yours?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
It's not doing anything.
Sarah Willingham:
He's having an eruption.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Not all experiments work. Mine's doing nothing now. [LAUGHS]
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
No, look. It is.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Is it?
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yeah, yeah.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Oh yeah. Look.
Nina Wadia:
Oh my goodness! It's really coming up now.
Aidan Wadia:
Erupt, erupting!
Keith Malleson-Allen:
So why has this happened then, Ted?
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen:
Lemon contains citric acid and it's when it's mixed with the bicarbonate of soda, it explodes. [LAUGHS]
Marly WillinghamEverybody look at mine.
Nina Wadia:
Tia, look. That's amazing.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Oh, look at that. Look!
Tamzin Malleson-Allen:
Yeah, look. Dad's is really frothing now.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Look, look at that. [LAUGHS] Look.
Nina Wadia:
Mine looks like a lemon sorbet.
Monti WillinghamWhoa! Mine's actually coming out inside.
Keith Malleson-Allen:
Look. There you go. Dad wins the volcano experiment and I just want to show the whole of the world, the whole of the world.
How to make plastic milk
Watch the film to find out how you can you use simple science to turn milk into plastic.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Famous families DIY: Plastic milk
Watch as a number of famous faces and their families have a go at making 'plastic' by reacting milk with vinegar!
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
Cherry:
Doing experiments and stuff blowing up and things like that. I enjoy that.
Teddie:
Dad will be terrible at science.
Keith:
I'll have you know that I have a Doctorate in science. [LAUGHTER] And a white coat.
Sarah:
[WITH FAMILY] Terrific Science, yippee.
Minnie:
We're gonna make plastic milk this time.
Cherry:
What we're gonna need is 568 mils of full-fat milk.
David:
There we are, big carton of milk.
Teddie:
Strainer.
Tamzin:
Yep.
Minnie:
Four teaspoons of white vinegar.
Cherry:
We're gonna be using green food dye.
Minnie:
So get a grown-up to heat up the milk in a pan or in the microwave. It should be hot but not boiling.
Michael:
OK.
Cherry:
Then pour the milk into a bowl and add the vinegar and food dye.
Tamzin:
Pouring in.
Keith:
Without splashing. Oh, god, so messy [LAUGHTER]
David:
Hey–
Tamzin:
So how many of these? Four?
David:
One.
Minnie:
Two.
Tamzin:
Three-- ooh, something weird's happening.
Monti:
Four.
Michael:
And then some food colouring.
David:
Oh that's gone nice and green.
Sarah:
And then do we mix it?
Michael:
Yes.
David:
It's going lumpy.
Keith:
Wow that looks amazing.
Tamzin:
[TALKING OVER EACH OTHER] Oh look what's happening.
David:
Look at that-- ugh.
Michael:
Who wants some milk.
Nelly:
No, not me.
Sarah:
Marly, would you like a glass of milk?
Marly:
Yes please.
Tamzin:
Let's start-- whoa, look at that. Now it's witches' sick.
Keith:
Yes, right. Let's strain it into this.
David:
Nice-- oh. Oh that is actually horrible [LAUGHS].
Minnie:
There should be a mass of lumpy blobs left in the strainer.
Teddie:
Rinse them of water and squeeze them together.
Sarah:
Ooh it's quite tactile, actually.
Tamzin:
Why did the milk react that way to the vinegar?
Minnie:
You have just made your first batch of cheese, sort of.
Teddie:
When the protein in the milk meets the acid in the vinegar–
Cherry:
You've actually created casein, which is Latin for cheese. The casein in the milk does not mix with the acid in the vinegar, so it forms blobs.
Michael:
That's brilliant. We have just made cheesy–
Sarah:
Slimy–
Monti:
Gloop.
Tamzin:
You've made like a kind of modelling dough.
David:
Can we see the giraffe. Oh, way-- [LAUGHS]
Teddie:
Yeah.
Keith:
It's a cat. It's a scary cat cheese.
Michael:
After a couple of days, that [UNSURE OF WORD] will be a hard material.
Sarah:
Like plastic. That is so cool.
Keith:
Let's put the witches' cat in the t-- green slimy swamp. If it floats, it's a witch. If it sinks, it's a witch.
Tamzin:
If it separates–
Keith:
It's a witch [LAUGHTER].
Tornado in a bottle
Watch the film to find out how you can make tornado in a bottle using glitter, water and some washing up liquid.
We recommend using biodegradable glitter.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Famous families DIY: Tornado in a bottle
Watch as some famous faces have a go at making a tornado in a bottle.
We recommend using biodegradable glitter for this activity.Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
Sarah Willingham:
I didn't really study science very late at school so I want the kids to do more.
Cherry Campbell:
Science is really good because you can learn about it and you can enjoy it, if it's something fun.
The Wadias:
Terrific Scientific. [Wooooooo] [LAUGHTER]
Nina Wadia:
Alright, what are we doing?
Tia Wadia:
It says "a tornado in a bottle".
Nina Wadia:
[GASPS]
Nelly Willingham:
What we need is water, a clear plastic bottle with a cap.
Tia Wadia:
Do we have glitter?
Nina Wadia:
Lots.
David Campbell:
Robbie, have you got the glitter there?
Robbie Campbell:
I've got the glitter. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER] Yeah actually, yeah.
David Campbell:
What co, what colours? Have we got lots of different. [INTERRUPTION] Wide, wide variety? Good.
Robbie Campbell:
Yeah.
Sarah Willingham:
You fill the plastic bottle three quarters full with water and a few drops of [INTERRUPTION] washing-up liquid.
Tia Wadia:
A few pinches of glitter. This will make your tornado easier to see.
David Campbell:
We're gonna put a tiny wee drop of gold in [tapping] and a wee bit of red to get rose gold.
Monti Willingham:
So glittery.
Sarah Willingham:
It is. Oh I love it actually already. I don't even need to see a tornado, I'm excited.
Nina Wadia:
Oh, Aidan[LAUGHS].
Aidan Wadia:
Oh, I'm glitter-man.
Robbie Campbell:
[TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
Jill Campbell:
My goodness.
David Campbell:
Right, [INTERRUPTION] do you put the lids back on now?
Cherry Campbell:
Yeah, okay, okay.
Tia Wadia:
Turn the bottle upside down and hold it by the neck
Nina Wadia:
Okay. Top on tightly, make sure it's [totally tightened].
Aidan Wadia:
[UNSURE OF WORD]
Nina Wadia:
That's it.
Sarah Willingham:
So quickly spin the bottle in a circular motion [BANG] for a few seconds.
Nina Wadia:
[Sssshhhhh], spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin.
David Campbell:
Right, Cherry, is this, it's spinning enough?
Cherry Campbell:
Yeah.
David Campbell:
Are you sure?
Cherry Campbell:
Yeah.
Nelly Willingham:
[GRUNTS]
David Campbell:
Oh, look at that one. Oh look.
Nina Wadia:
One, two, three, put [TAP] it down. [LAUGHS] That is amazing.
Cherry Campbell:
Oh. Yes.
David Campbell:
It's a twister.
Cherry Campbell:
Yes. [TALKING OVER EACH OTHER]
David Campbell:
It's a twister. [LAUGHTER]
Tia Wadia:
Why? The [sciency] bit. Spinning the bottle makes the water inside spin like a whirlpool. [INTERRUPTION] It makes a long, thing v-shape in the middle down into the cap. This is called…
Nelly Willingham:
the water vortex that looks like a mini tornado.
Tia Wadia:
The water spinning around is trying to escape. The bottle is pushing back.
Michael Willingham:
This is 1-0 to Daddy's team. [LAUGHTER]
Minnie Willingham:
Yes.
The Campbells:
[Ooooh]
Nina Wadia:
Oh, [INTERRUPTION] look at yours. Ain't that the most perfect tornado?
Bouncing eggs
Watch the film to find out how you can use simple science to make an egg bouncy.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Breathless balloons
Watch our video below that shows you how to make a self-inflating balloon.Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Fancy having a go yourself?
For full written instructions on how to make your own self-inflating balloon, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Balloon rockets
Watch our video that shows you how to make balloon rockets.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to make your own balloon rockets, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Balloon car
Watch our video that explains the science behind balloon powered cars.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Greg:
Three…
Naomi:
Ready.
Greg:
…two, one. Go for it!
Naomi:
Yeah!
Greg:
[LAUGHS]
Naomi:
And it moves the car forward. That's incredible. So what force is happening there Greg: ?
Greg:
Well, let's have a look. Let's…let me grab it. So what we're doing is we're applying a push force to the car. So the air rushes out of the balloon…
Naomi:
Yeah.
Greg:
…and it pushes against all the air that's around the balloon here. And you get an equal and opposite force pushing the car forwards.
Greg:
So as you can, we've got two identical cars. They are all ready to go. One car has one balloon. The other car has two. Now what we're gonna do is we're gonna race these cars against each other and see if my car gets to the finish line before Naomi's. Are you all set?
Naomi:
Let's see. Yeah, I'm ready.
Greg:
Alright, so…
Naomi:
Here we go.
Greg:
I've got two corks. Ah!
Naomi:
Engines ready.
Greg:
Three, two, one. Go!
Naomi:
Check!
Naomi:
Oh! [LAUGHS] So well done Greg. Your car clearly went faster…
Greg:
It did, yes.
Naomi:
…altogether. And that's because your car had more balloons on it.
Greg:
Yeah, exactly. So let's have a look. Let's compare these balloons. So I had, uh, two balloons on my car. And it gave a bigger push. So your prediction has been proven.
Naomi:
Very good.
Greg:
But, and this is a very big but, we've only done this test once. And not very scientifically. So that means to make sure that it's a fair test and the results are accurate, you need to repeat it several, several times. And to make sure, you need to make sure you're carefully measuring a few things. You only ever want to change one variable. So here the variable that were changing is how many balloons we had on the car. You need to keep all the other variables the same. So the distance the car can travel. You need to make sure the cars are the same size and weight. Or you could actually use the same cars themselves. Also you wanna use the same type of balloon for each test.
Activity sheet
Fancy having a go yourself? For full written instructions on how to do this activity, follow the link below.Download our activity sheet
Spooky oobleck
Make spooky oobleck using only simple household ingredients in our fun Halloween spooky science experiment.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision!
Everyone knows that there are three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. Right? Well actually no! Oobleck is a type of material known as a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning that it is neither a liquid nor a solid, and most definitely not a gas. Unlike water, for example, which changes state due to changes in temperature, oobleck reacts to changes in pressure. If you quickly apply pressure to the oobleck by hitting or tapping it, it will feel like a solid, but if you scoop it up in your hands it will behave just like a liquid and run through your fingers. How spooky is that?
Fake blood
Watch our video to find out how you can make frightening fake blood using only simple cupboard ingredients.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
Static electricity spectres
Help your children make static electricity spectres using only simple everyday items in our fun Halloween spooky science experiment.
Please note - this activity will require adult supervision.
Magnets
Click on the image below to discover fun and easy marvellous magnetic projects that you can make at home.
Please note - all these activities will require adult supervision!
Green-fingered projects
Four quick and easy green-fingered projects
Has our Grow investigation given you green fingers? Fancy more plant and garden-based fun?
Click on the image to discover some more fun and easy projects that you can do at home.Please note - all these activities will require adult supervision!
