Science projects
Your Science Exhibition Guide
Choose a project, build it, present it and answer the judges with confidence
Science project idea finder
1028 science project ideas, from class 1 to college.
Find a project by class, subject and type. Every idea explains the science it shows, what you need, how long it takes and how to stay safe, with free ebooks and ready-made kits if you need them. 929 ideas have numbered steps and viva questions on their own page.
Every idea by class: Class 1 to 5, Class 6 to 8, Class 9 and 10, Class 11 and 12, College and diploma.
Want a complete build with diagrams? 16 free detailed project guides
- Class 1 to 5Simple, safe models made with help at home.224 ideas
- Class 6 to 8Working models of the science you learn in class.485 ideas
- Class 9 and 10Energy, electricity, light and first robots.467 ideas
- Class 11 and 12Investigatory projects for the practical exam.331 ideas
- College and diplomaArduino, IoT and sensor projects.119 ideas
Idea finder
Find your project
Choose your class and what interests you, or search for a word such as magnet, solar, heart or robot. Open any card for a summary, or its title for the full page with the science, the steps and the viva questions.
EnvironmentMedium
Recharge pit model that refills a borewell tube from roof water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Roof rain can be led through a filter pit into the ground to raise the water table. The model shows how a recharge pit with gravel and sand layers refills a borewell.
You will need
- A large clear plastic bucket or box
- Gravel, coarse sand and fine sand
- A perforated plastic tube as the borewell
- A small tray roof with a downpipe made from a bottle
- A watering can for rain
- A ruler and marker
- A cup of dye for tracing
Safety: Cut plastic with an adult. Keep the model on a stable table over a tray, and wash hands after handling gravel and sand.
Take it further: Time how fast the water drains in the pit with different sand mixes.
PhysicsMedium
Gravity dam profile model: why the base is thick and the top thin
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water pressure grows with depth, so dams are thicker at the bottom. A model dam in a tray of water shows that a trapezoid profile resists the push of water better than a thin wall.
You will need
- A rectangular plastic tray or tank
- Clay or soft plasticine, or wet sand
- A thin cardboard wall to compare
- A spring balance or a small weight on a thread
- A ruler
- Water and food colour
Safety: Keep the tank on a table over a tray and wipe up spills. Do not stand on wet floors. Use only a small tank so the load is safe.
Take it further: Test a curved arch dam shape and compare with the straight dam.
EnvironmentMedium
Cutting pond evaporation with shade, floating balls and an oil film
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Open ponds and tanks lose a lot of water by evaporation in summer. Testing four covers on trays of water shows which method saves the most water.
You will need
- Five identical shallow trays or basins
- Foil or a cloth shade
- Table tennis balls or small floating balls
- A few drops of cooking oil
- A measuring cup or syringe
- A ruler to read water depth
- A sunny, safe spot
Safety: Do not pour oil into drains or natural waters. An adult must clean up oily water. Keep trays out of reach of small children and pets.
Take it further: Repeat on a windy and a calm day and see how wind changes the loss.
EnvironmentMedium
Litres per kilo of rice, wheat and vegetables: a virtual water table
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Growing food uses a lot of water. Collecting published figures and farm data for crops shows which foods use the most water and how a family’s diet affects its water footprint.
You will need
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- Water-use figures for crops from an agriculture book or an official agriculture website
- A weekly menu of a family meal
- A calculator
- Interviews with a local farmer or gardener (with an adult)
- Chart paper and colours
Safety: Visit a farm only with an adult and permission. Follow the farmer’s instructions near water channels and machines.
Take it further: Compare the virtual water in your meals with the water you use for washing and drinking.
Earth and spaceMedium
Equinox noon shadow: finding your latitude with a vertical stick
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
On an equinox the Sun is directly over the equator at noon. The angle of the Sun above the horizon at your place is then 90 degrees minus your latitude, so a shadow measurement gives your latitude within a degree or two.
You will need
- A straight stick or pipe about 1 m long
- A plumb line made of thread and a nut
- A spirit level or a transparent water-filled tube
- A tape measure
- Chalk
- A phone to check your latitude later
Safety: Do not look at the Sun. Work in sunlight with a hat and drinking water.
Take it further: Find your latitude on three different days and plot the Sun’s changing noon angle through the year.
PhysicsMedium
Two-lens refracting telescope from a pair of magnifying glasses
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A long-focus lens gathers light from a distant object and forms a small image. A second short-focus lens acts as a magnifier for that image, so far-away objects look larger and nearer.
You will need
- One magnifying lens of long focal length, about 40 cm (objective)
- One magnifying lens of short focal length, about 5 cm (eyepiece)
- Two cardboard tubes, one sliding inside the other
- Black paper and glue
- A metre ruler
- Tape and a wooden stand
Safety: Never point the telescope at the Sun, because it can burn your eye. An adult must handle glass lenses.
Take it further: Make the telescope with a third lens to turn the image upright and discuss why binoculars use prisms.
PhysicsMedium
Whirling ball orbit: how speed changes with string length
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A ball on a string moving in a circle needs a steady inward pull. This pull mimics gravity for a satellite. For the same pull, a longer string needs a faster ball, while real planets nearer the Sun move faster because gravity there is stronger.
You will need
- A smooth plastic or hollow glass-free tube of 15 cm length (a ball pen casing)
- A soft rubber ball or a rubber stopper on a thread, 1.5 m long
- A few washers or nuts as a hanging weight
- A stopwatch
- A ruler and marker pen
- A notebook
Safety: Whirl the ball slowly, in an open space, with others kept at a distance. Wear a cap and use a soft ball. An adult should supervise.
Take it further: Compare your findings with Kepler’s third law using real planet periods and radii.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Night-sky clock that tells time from the Saptarishi stars
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Saptarishi (Great Bear) pattern turns around the Pole Star once in about 24 hours, like a giant clock hand. A simple two-disc instrument called a nocturnal can use it to tell the time at night.
You will need
- Two cardboard or thick card discs, 15 cm and 10 cm wide
- A long thin strip of card for the pointer arm
- A paper fastener or screw
- A protractor and a pencil
- A phone compass and a clock for checking
- A torch with red cellophane
Safety: An adult must go with you at night, and keep your hands away from the sharp end of the fastener.
Take it further: Make a second version using the W of Cassiopeia and compare the readings.
Earth and spaceMedium
Measuring the Moon’s angular size with a coin and a metre ruler
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An object’s apparent size depends on its distance. A coin held at arm’s length that just covers the Moon gives the Moon’s angular size, about half a degree, and then its real diameter can be estimated.
You will need
- A one-rupee coin of known width, 2.5 cm
- A metre ruler or a long stick
- A friend to measure
- A notebook and calculator
- A reference for the Moon’s distance, about 384,000 km
Safety: Observe from a safe place at night with an adult, and do not walk backwards while looking up.
Take it further: Measure the Moon near the horizon and high in the sky to test the Moon illusion.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Eratosthenes’ method: estimating Earth’s size from two cities’ shadows
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two sticks in two cities, measured at noon on the same day, give different shadow angles. The difference, together with the distance between the cities, gives the circumference of Earth.
You will need
- A vertical stick, 1 m long, at each city (a partner school or friend can help)
- A plumb line and a tape
- A map or an app for the distance between the two places in km
- A calculator and protractor
- A phone to share the shadow lengths
Safety: Do not look at the Sun. Stay in shade between readings, and have an adult supervise.
Take it further: Use shadow data from a school in another continent through an online project to improve the result.
PhysicsChallenging
Doppler shift of a whirling buzzer, the idea behind galaxy redshift
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A sound source moving towards you sounds higher in pitch, and one moving away sounds lower. Astronomers use the same idea with light to find that distant galaxies are moving away from us.
You will need
- A small battery buzzer or a phone playing a steady tone inside a padded box
- A strong string 1 m long
- A second phone with a free tuner app
- A tape measure
- A stopwatch
- Soft padding and a cloth bag
Safety: Whirl only a light device in a soft padded bag, at a safe distance from people. An adult must supervise, wear a hat, and keep others far away.
Take it further: Use a spectrum app to record a passing train or bus horn and measure the shift.
PhysicsMedium
CD spectroscope that splits daylight, bulb and tube light
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A CD acts as a diffraction grating, splitting light into colours. Different sources give different patterns of colour, and astronomers use the same idea to find what stars are made of.
You will need
- A cardboard box with a lid, about 20 cm long
- A piece of an old CD with its silver layer on
- Two razor-blade-free straight edges, such as thick card, to make a narrow slit
- Black paper and tape
- A phone to take photographs
- A CFL tube light, an LED torch and a white card for daylight
Safety: An adult must cut the CD with scissors, and handle sharp CD edges. Never look at the Sun through the slit; use light from the sky or a sheet of white paper in sunlight.
Take it further: Mark a scale using a known source, and estimate the wavelength of the green line in a CFL.
BiologyMedium
Sleep diary and morning reaction time across a school week
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Reaction time is how quickly we respond to a signal. Comparing the hours slept with the ruler-drop reaction distance each morning tests a common belief about sleep and alertness with your own data.
You will need
- A 30 cm ruler
- A notebook for a daily sleep log
- A graph paper
- A friend to drop the ruler
- A clock
- A calculator
Safety: Keep to your normal bedtime; never stay up late for the project. This project does not give medical advice or sleep treatment.
Take it further: Compare morning and evening reaction times for the same person over a week.
ChemistryChallenging
Vitamin C in raw and boiled vegetables with iodine and starch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Vitamin C is destroyed by heat and dissolves in cooking water. A starch and iodine indicator that loses its blue colour when vitamin C is present lets you compare how much each sample contains.
You will need
- Chopped vegetables such as cabbage, tomato or capsicum
- A diluted iodine solution (tincture diluted with water)
- A teaspoon of starch cooked in a cup of water
- Droppers or a clean straw
- Test tubes or small glasses
- A pan and a small stove
- A pestle and a mortar or a grater
Safety: An adult must handle the stove and the iodine tincture, which is harmful if swallowed and stains skin. Wear gloves and eye protection and never taste anything used in a test. This is a classroom comparison, not a nutritional measurement.
Take it further: Compare steaming, pressure cooking and microwaving using the same vegetable.
BiologyMedium
Salt in snack packets: a bar chart from sodium on the labels
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Labels list sodium, not salt. Converting sodium in milligrams to salt in grams shows how quickly everyday snacks add up. This helps students read the label as a piece of data.
You will need
- Five empty snack packets or photos of labels
- A calculator
- Graph paper
- A kitchen scale and a spoon
- A teaspoon and salt
- A table for results
Safety: Use empty packets or photos only. Do not taste test salt amounts as a challenge. This is a data exercise, not dietary advice; follow your doctor’s guidance for any condition.
Take it further: Compare a ready snack with a homemade one made with a measured amount of salt.
PhysicsMedium
Launch angle and range with a spring catapult: is 45 degrees best?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The range of a projectile depends on the launch angle. On level ground and with little air drag, the greatest range occurs at 45 degrees, and complementary angles such as 30 and 60 degrees give the same range.
You will need
- A wooden ruler and a rubber band to make a catapult
- A stand with a protractor to set angles
- Small soft balls or crumpled paper balls
- A long measuring tape
- Chalk and a notebook
- A friend to mark the landing
Safety: Launch only soft balls, away from people and windows. All others must stand behind the catapult and an adult must supervise.
Take it further: Launch from a table and test whether the best angle goes below 45 degrees.
PhysicsMedium
Spinning paper-cup curve: the Magnus effect behind swing and spin bowling
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A spinning object moving through the air curves sideways. A paper cup launched with a rubber band shows a curved flight, as a spinning cricket or football does.
You will need
- Two paper cups of the same size taped open ends together
- A strong rubber band
- A long string for a ruler
- A tape measure
- A phone to film overhead or from the side
- A sheet of chalk marks on the floor
Safety: Launch in an open space away from people and put on eye protection. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Count the number of spins and relate it to the sideways drift.
PhysicsMedium
Playground swing as a pendulum: does the rider’s weight change the time?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The time of a swing depends on its length and not on how heavy the rider is. A small model pendulum and a real swing both give a period close to 2 times pi times the square root of length over g.
You will need
- A playground swing with two chains
- A stopwatch
- A measuring tape
- Sand-filled bags of 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg
- A helper or two
- A notebook and calculator
Safety: Use a safe swing, in good repair, with an adult in charge, and swing only small angles with a seated rider. Keep everyone else far from the swing’s path.
Take it further: Compare standing and sitting riders and explain the change in the effective length.
PhysicsMedium
Football air pressure and bounce height with a hand pump
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The more air pressure inside a ball, the harder it is and the higher it bounces. A ball that is too soft loses a lot of energy because it squashes more on impact.
You will need
- A football or volleyball with a valve
- A hand pump
- A pressure gauge for ball valves
- A tape fixed on a wall
- A phone for slow-motion video
- A notebook
Safety: Do not over-pump past the maker’s printed limit on the ball. An adult must handle the pump and gauge, and stay clear of the ball when bouncing.
Take it further: Compare the bounce at the same pressure when the ball is cold from a fridge and when it is warm.
Before you start
How to choose a good project
Six things to think about before you decide. A project you understand and finish well beats a big one you rush.
Start with a question
Good projects answer a question you are curious about: why does iron rust, which fabric keeps tea hottest, how does a robot follow a line? A question gives your project a purpose.
Check what is asked
Find out whether your teacher wants a working model, a still model or an investigatory project, the size limits, the topic or theme, the date, and whether ready-made models are allowed.
Match your time and class
Each idea here shows a class band, a difficulty and a rough time. Choose something you can finish properly with time to test it, rather than something huge you have to rush.
Pick science you can explain
Judges and examiners ask how it works. Choose an idea whose science you understand, or can learn from your textbook and the free ebooks, and practise explaining it.
List materials and costs
Write down everything you need before you start. Many models use things from home; motors, LEDs, sensors and boards are easy to buy as spare parts or in a kit.
Make it your own
Change one thing and measure what happens, add a chart of your readings, or show a real-life use. Even a well-known model becomes yours when you add your own observations.
Plan your time
A four-week project timeline
Work backwards from the date of your exhibition or submission. Short of time? Do the same steps faster, but never skip testing.
- 4 weeks before
Choose and get it approved
- Shortlist two or three ideas
- Write your aim or question in one sentence
- Show your teacher and agree the idea
- 3 weeks before
Read and collect materials
- Read the science in your textbook and a free ebook
- Sketch the design with measurements
- Collect or buy the materials and spare parts
- 2 weeks before
Build and test
- Build one part at a time and test each part
- For an investigation, repeat each reading at least three times
- Write every observation in a notebook with the date
- 1 week before
Write the report and chart
- Aim, materials, method, observations, result and conclusion
- A neat table or graph of your readings
- A chart or poster with a labelled diagram
- Last 2 days
Rehearse
- Practise a one-minute explanation out loud
- Prepare answers to the questions below
- Pack spares: cells, wires, tape and glue
On the day
Present it with confidence
You will usually have a minute or two to explain your project, then questions. Practise both out loud at home.
A one-minute explanation
- 1Name and question“My project is a … It answers the question …”
- 2What it showsOne sentence of science, in your own words.
- 3How it worksPoint to each part as you explain it.
- 4What you foundYour readings or result, and what they mean.
- 5Real lifeWhere the same science is used every day.
Questions judges often ask
- What does your project show, in one sentence?
- How does it work? Which law or idea of science is behind it?
- What did you change, and what did you measure?
- What went wrong while you were making it, and how did you fix it?
- Where is this idea used in real life?
- What would you improve if you made it again?
What your project file needs
- Title page with your name, class and school
- Aim or question
- Introduction: the science behind it
- Materials list
- Method, step by step, with a diagram
- Observations in a table
- Result and conclusion
- Precautions and safety
- Sources: books and websites you used
Projects and kits
Ready-made projects, kits and spare parts
Need a working model, a kit to build yourself, or a motor, LED, battery or sensor to finish your own? Every idea card links to the matching section of the store.
School Projects, Class 1 to 9
Ready-made working models for class 1 to 9: science, maths, physics, chemistry and biology.Browse
School Projects, Class 10 to 12
Working models and investigatory projects for class 10, 11 and 12.Browse
Best Out of Waste
Models made from bottles, cardboard and old parts, for waste-management themes.Browse
Robotics and Coding
Robot kits, Arduino projects, line followers, obstacle avoiders and smart projects.Browse
DIY Kits
Kits with every part and step-by-step instructions, to build the model yourself.Browse
Components and Spares
Motors, LEDs, batteries, switches, wires, sensors and breadboards to build or repair.Browse
Engineering Projects
Minor and major projects for diploma and BTech students.Browse
Cannot find what you need? Ask the head office on WhatsApp.
Free ebooks
Free books for making projects
Step-by-step project books for every class, plus guides to exhibitions, project files and viva questions. Free to download, read and print.
Science projects
Writing a Science Project File
How to write the report, from the cover page to the bibliography
Science projects
Viva Questions for Science Projects
How to answer examiner questions, with sample questions for popular projects
Science projects
Easy Science Projects for Class 1 to 5
Simple, safe projects young children can make with a little help
Science projects
Science Projects for Class 6 to 8
Working models matched to middle-school science topics
Science projects
Investigatory Projects for Class 11 and 12
Topics, method and report structure for physics, chemistry and biology
Stay safe
Safety rules for every project
Read these with a parent before you start. Ideas that need extra care carry their own safety note on the card.
Never use mains electricity
Power your models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Never connect anything home-made to a wall socket.
Adult help for sharp and hot tools
Cutters, blades, glue guns, soldering irons and drills need an adult beside you. Cut away from your body on a board.
Chemicals with care
Use only safe household materials at home. Acids, stains and other lab chemicals are for the school lab with your teacher. Wear goggles and never taste anything.
Flames only with an adult
Candles and burners only with an adult present and water nearby. Tie back long hair and keep paper away.
Look after batteries
Do not short-circuit a battery, mix old and new cells, or puncture or heat a lithium battery. Remove batteries when the model is stored.
Small parts away from little ones
Magnets, button cells and small parts can be swallowed. Keep them away from younger brothers and sisters, and wash your hands after making.
Questions about science projects
Still have a question?
Chat on WhatsAppWhat is the difference between a working model, a still model and an investigatory project?
A working model moves or works to show a principle, such as a windmill that lights an LED. A still model shows how something is built or arranged, such as the layers of the Earth. An investigatory project asks a question and answers it by experiment: you change one thing, measure the result and draw a conclusion from your readings.
Can I buy a ready-made project?
Check your school’s rules first: some competitions want models made by the student, and some allow ready-made ones. Either way, you must understand how it works and be able to explain it. A good approach is to build from a kit, or to add your own measurements and chart to a ready-made model.
How long does a school project take?
Each idea here shows a rough time for the making. Leave extra time for reading, testing, the report and practice: three to four weeks from choosing to presenting is comfortable for most school projects.
What should go in my project report or file?
A title page, your aim, the science behind it, the materials, the method with a diagram, your observations in a table, the result and conclusion, precautions, and the books and websites you used. The free ebook “Writing a Science Project File” explains each part.
What if my model stops working on the day?
Carry spare cells, wires and tape, and test everything when you arrive. Take a short video or photos of it working at home. If something still fails, explain calmly what should happen and what you would check: judges value understanding as much as a perfect model.
More help
Stuck on a project?
Read the student help pages, try the free calculators for circuits and units, or ask the head office on WhatsApp.