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.
BiologyMedium
Dough rise measured with a rubber band: sugar and salt effects
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Yeast in dough eats sugar and gives out carbon dioxide gas, which stretches the sticky gluten and raises the dough. By marking the height in glasses you measure how sugar and salt change the speed of rising.
You will need
- Plain flour (maida) or atta, 4 cups
- Instant dry yeast, 1 small packet
- Sugar and salt
- Four identical tall glasses or cups
- Rubber bands to mark height
- Warm water at about 35 C, tested on the wrist
- A ruler and a stopwatch
Safety: Wash hands before and after handling dough. Do not eat raw dough because flour can carry germs. Use warm, not hot, water, which an adult checks.
Take it further: Compare dough at 10 C in the fridge, room temperature and a warm place to find the best rising temperature.
BiologyMedium
Salt and sugar as preservatives: pickling cut vegetables
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High concentrations of salt or sugar draw water out of microbes by osmosis, so they cannot grow and food keeps longer. You compare how well cut carrot or raw mango keeps with salt, sugar, both or nothing over two weeks.
You will need
- 3 carrots or 2 raw mangoes, cut into cubes by an adult
- Common salt, 4 spoons
- Sugar, 4 spoons
- Four clean, dry glass jars with lids
- A kitchen scale or a spoon measure
- Labels, marker and a notebook
Safety: An adult must cut the vegetables. Never taste jars that smell sour or show mould or fuzz, and do not open mouldy jars close to the face. Wash all jars with hot water beforehand.
Take it further: Add oil or a spoon of lemon juice to jars and find out whether acid and oil improve the keeping time.
BiologyMedium
At what milk temperature does curd set best?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Curd forms when lactic acid bacteria grow in warm milk and turn lactose into lactic acid, which sets the milk proteins. You test milk at different temperatures to find the range in which the bacteria work best.
You will need
- 1 litre of boiled milk, cooled in steps
- 4 spoons of fresh curd as starter
- Six small steel or glass bowls
- A kitchen thermometer
- A stopwatch or clock
- pH paper or turmeric strips, optional
- A warm box or a cloth to cover
Safety: An adult must boil the milk and pour it into bowls. Check the temperature before use and do not taste curd that smells bad or tastes bitter.
Take it further: Compare setting time for different amounts of starter, from half a spoon to four spoons.
BiologyMedium
How fast does milk sour: fridge, shade, sun and boiled
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Milk sours because bacteria grow and make lactic acid, and their speed depends on temperature and whether the milk was boiled. Smell, pH strips and curdling on heating show how quickly each sample spoils.
You will need
- 1 litre of fresh packet milk
- Six identical clean glasses or jars with lids
- A fridge shelf
- A shaded shelf and a sunny window
- Turmeric or pH paper strips
- A thermometer
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must boil the milk. Do not taste any sample. Dispose of soured milk down the drain with water and wash hands after sniffing from a distance only.
Take it further: Test how an added pinch of baking soda delays souring and find out why it is not a good idea to use it.
PhysicsMedium
Popcorn: does soaking the kernels change how many pop?
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Each popcorn kernel holds a tiny drop of water. When heated, the water turns to steam and builds pressure until the hard shell bursts. You test dry, lightly soaked and over-soaked kernels and count the percentage that pop.
You will need
- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- Water
- Three small bowls
- A deep pan with a lid (adult only)
- A kitchen scale or measuring spoon
- A stove (adult only)
- Paper plates and a notebook
Safety: An adult must do all the heating, because hot oil and flying popcorn can burn. Keep the lid on the pan, and children must stay back until it stops popping. Do not give popcorn to very young children.
Take it further: Weigh kernels before and after popping to measure the mass of steam lost.
PhysicsMedium
Cooking time against size: potato cubes in boiling water
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Heat moves into a potato from the outside by conduction, so a bigger piece takes much longer to cook through. By boiling cubes of different sides and noting when a fork goes in, you find the link between size and cooking time.
You will need
- 2 potatoes of the same kind
- A pan with boiling water (adult only)
- A stopwatch
- A fork or toothpick
- A ruler
- A slotted spoon
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must cut the potato, handle the boiling pan and lift the cubes out with a slotted spoon. Children only time and record. Keep the handle of the pan turned inward.
Take it further: Try the same test with carrot, which has different water content, and compare the graphs.
ChemistryMedium
Why fresh pineapple stops jelly from setting
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Jelly sets because gelatin proteins link into a net, but fresh pineapple contains an enzyme, bromelain, that cuts proteins and stops the net forming. Heated or tinned pineapple has lost the enzyme, so the jelly sets normally.
You will need
- 1 packet of gelatin jelly crystals
- Fresh pineapple pieces
- Boiled or tinned pineapple pieces
- Hot water and cold water
- Six small identical cups
- A fridge
- A spoon and sticky labels
Safety: An adult must pour the hot water and cut the pineapple. Fresh pineapple can irritate the mouth, so do not eat the test cups, and check for allergy.
Take it further: Use papaya in a jelly cup and compare its power with pineapple.
PhysicsMedium
Sugar in fruit juice from the density of a floating egg
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The more sugar a liquid holds, the denser it is. By making a density scale from sugar water and then floating a small object in juice samples, you estimate how much sugar is in the juice compared with a cola or squash.
You will need
- Sugar and water for a scale
- Several samples of juice, squash and cola
- A tall glass for each sample
- A kitchen scale and measuring cup
- A small grape or a ball of clay as a float
- A ruler
- A notebook
Safety: Do not drink samples that have been handled with the test objects. Wash everything afterwards and do not share glasses.
Take it further: Draw a calibration graph of density against sugar and use it to read off an unknown sample.
PhysicsMedium
Honey and oil flow: a marble drop viscosity test
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Viscosity is how much a liquid resists flowing, and it falls quickly as the liquid warms. Timing a marble falling through honey or oil at different temperatures lets you measure this.
You will need
- A tall clear glass bottle or jar
- Honey, cooking oil and shampoo, one jar each
- A marble or steel ball bearing
- A stopwatch
- A ruler and a marker
- A bowl of warm water at 50 C and a bowl of ice (adult prepares)
- A thermometer
Safety: An adult must prepare the hot water. Do not use microwave heating on glass jars, and wash up carefully because honey and oil make floors slippery.
Take it further: Use two marble sizes and find how the speed depends on the marble radius.
PhysicsMedium
Boiling water at room temperature in a syringe: the pressure cooker idea
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water boils when its vapour pressure matches the pressure around it. Pulling the plunger of a sealed syringe lowers the pressure and makes warm water bubble, which is the same relationship that makes a pressure cooker cook faster when the pressure is raised instead.
You will need
- A 20 ml or 50 ml plastic syringe without needle
- Warm tap water of about 50 C, measured with a thermometer (adult prepares)
- A cap or a finger tip to seal the nozzle
- A thermometer
- A bowl
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must heat the water and keep it at or below 50 C, and no real pressure cooker may be opened or experimented with by a child. Never push or pull so hard that the syringe breaks. Wear eye protection because plastic can pop off.
Take it further: Look up the boiling point of water at your city altitude and compare it with Shimla and Leh.
PhysicsMedium
Sticky tape strength: how overlap length changes the load it holds
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The holding force of an adhesive tape is proportional to the area stuck down, so doubling the overlap should double the load it takes before peeling. You test the idea with strips and small weights and plot a graph.
You will need
- A roll of transparent sticky tape
- Two flat plastic or steel rulers, or card pieces
- A small plastic bag as a hanger
- Marbles or coins as weights
- A kitchen scale
- A ruler
- Graph paper
Safety: Weights must hang low so they do not fall on feet. Keep scissors in the care of an adult.
Take it further: Test the load for peeling at an angle compared with pulling along the strip.
ChemistryMedium
Hard water scale: which kitchen acid dissolves it best?
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Hard water leaves chalky scale of calcium carbonate that dissolves in acids and gives off carbon dioxide. You compare vinegar, lemon juice and citric acid solution on chalk as a model of scale and measure the mass lost.
You will need
- Pieces of blackboard chalk of equal weight
- Vinegar, lemon juice and citric acid solution
- Plain water
- Four small glasses
- A kitchen scale (to 0.1 g if possible)
- A stopwatch
- A spoon and tissue
Safety: Use only mild kitchen acids. An adult must supervise, and the used liquids should be washed away with plenty of water. Keep the liquids away from the eyes, and wear gloves if the skin is sensitive.
Take it further: Test the effect of warming the acid to 50 C (adult only) on the rate.
PhysicsMedium
Cooling curves of hot water: lid, no lid, wide and narrow pots
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A hot liquid cools by evaporation, convection and radiation, and a lid or a narrow shape cuts the losses. You record temperature every five minutes and plot cooling curves for four setups.
You will need
- Two steel or glass vessels of the same volume: a wide bowl and a tall glass
- A lid or plate for each
- A thermometer to 100 C
- Hot water from a kettle (adult pours)
- A stopwatch
- Graph paper
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must heat and pour the water, limited to around 70 C. Keep the vessels away from the edge of the table and do not hold hot vessels without a cloth.
Take it further: Plot the logarithm of the temperature difference against time and check whether it forms a straight line.
PhysicsEasy
How tall must a mirror be to see your whole body?
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To see your whole body in a flat mirror, the mirror need be only half as tall as you, and it does not depend on how far you stand. You test this with a small mirror, a tape and a friend.
You will need
- A flat mirror about 15 cm wide
- Masking tape
- A tape measure and a metre ruler
- A wall
- A partner to measure
- A marker pen
- A notebook
Safety: Fix the mirror so it does not fall, and an adult must handle any glass mirror. Do not place a mirror in the sun where it could reflect light into eyes.
Take it further: Find the minimum mirror height for someone shorter or taller than you and check the rule.
ChemistryEasy
Are all steel utensils magnetic? Testing a kitchen full of metals
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Plain iron and some kinds of steel are attracted by a magnet, but many stainless steels with nickel are not, or only slightly. By testing kitchen items you learn why steel types differ and how to sort the metals around you.
You will need
- A small strong magnet
- Steel and aluminium utensils: spoons, plates, tumblers and pressure cooker lid
- Iron tawa or knife, copper and brass items, coins
- A kitchen scale
- A notebook
- A table with columns
Safety: Never test with items from a pressure cooker that is hot, and an adult must handle sharp knives. Keep the magnet away from phones and cards.
Take it further: Find out why only magnetic pans work on an induction cooker, and test your pans with the magnet.
PhysicsMedium
Water siphon from a kitchen tube: height difference and flow rate
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A siphon moves water up and over a barrier without a pump, because the longer falling column of water pulls the liquid along. You measure how the height difference between two buckets changes the flow rate.
You will need
- A clear plastic tube about 1 metre long (garden or aquarium tube)
- Two buckets or large containers
- A stack of books to raise one bucket
- A measuring jug
- A stopwatch
- A ruler
- Water
Safety: Do not suck on the tube to start the siphon; fill it with water by dipping instead. Mop up spills so the floor is not slippery.
Take it further: Try tubes of different widths and see how the diameter affects the rate.
MathsMedium
Decoding the home electricity bill: units, slabs and appliance costs
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A bill is calculated from units used, in kilowatt hours, at slab rates plus fixed charges. By computing the energy of each appliance and checking it against the bill, you apply percentages, multiplication and a piecewise function.
You will need
- A recent electricity bill (copy the numbers, not the account details)
- The power rating labels of home appliances
- A notebook and a calculator
- A clock for timing use
- Graph paper
- A spreadsheet if available
Safety: Read ratings from labels only and do not open any appliance or touch wiring or the meter. An adult must handle everything electrical.
Take it further: Compare an LED bulb with an old filament bulb for yearly cost, including purchase price.
MathsMedium
Piggy bank mathematics: simple against compound interest
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Money in a deposit can earn simple interest, only on the original amount, or compound interest, on the growing total. Tables and graphs for Rs 1,000 over ten years show how the two grow apart.
You will need
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- A calculator
- Graph paper in two colours
- A deposit rate from a bank notice, such as 6 percent per year
- A pencil
- A ruler
- A piggy bank for a drawing
Safety: No real money is invested for this project, and no personal bank details are shared. Do not give financial advice; this is for learning maths only.
Take it further: Work out the compound amount for interest added half-yearly and monthly and compare.
EnvironmentMedium
How many litres does your family use in a day? A water audit
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You measure how much water each daily activity uses by counting buckets, mugs and tap flows, and then work out litres per person per day. The result helps find where water can be saved.
You will need
- A 1 litre bottle or a measuring jug
- A bucket with litre marks
- A stopwatch
- A notebook with a table
- A calculator
- A bar chart sheet
- A family member to help
Safety: Do the measurements with an adult, and wipe up spills so no one slips. Never measure water from a tank or well alone.
Take it further: Estimate how many litres a leaking tap wastes in a month by timing the drips into a measuring jug.
MathsMedium
Is a 1 kg packet really 1 kg? Sampling and averages with a kitchen scale
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No two packets weigh exactly the same, so averages, ranges and standard deviation describe how close the packets are to the printed weight. You weigh sample packets and decide whether the pack is accurate.
You will need
- 10 to 20 packets of sugar, rice or salt, of the same brand
- A kitchen scale with 1 g accuracy
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- A calculator
- Graph paper
- A pencil
- A bag to carry the packets
Safety: Do not open the packets and take them back to the shelf or the shop. Ask the shopkeeper’s permission before weighing, and do not accuse any shop of cheating.
Take it further: Compare two brands of the same item and find which has the more consistent weight.
EnvironmentEasy
Foil panel solar cooker that warms a pot of water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A panel cooker uses flat foil-covered reflectors to bounce extra sunlight onto a dark pot sealed in a clear bag. It shows that sunlight can heat water without any fuel.
You will need
- Two cardboard sheets about 50 cm square
- Aluminium foil and glue
- A small black steel or aluminium pot with lid
- A clear oven bag or large transparent plastic bag
- A thermometer (0 to 110 C)
- Two bricks or books to prop the panels
Safety: Never look at the bright reflected beam; wear sunglasses. An adult must handle the hot pot. Keep the water only warm to hot, not boiling, and never leave the cooker unattended.
Take it further: Change the panel angle in steps of 15 degrees and find the angle that gives the highest temperature.
PhysicsEasy
Which surface colour heats up fastest in the sun? Four can test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Dark and dull surfaces absorb more sunlight than light and shiny ones. The temperature rise of equal cans of water under the same sun shows which colour is best for a solar heater and which suits a roof.
You will need
- Four identical empty tin cans or small steel bowls
- Black, white, silver foil and red paper or paint
- Four thermometers
- Water at room temperature
- A measuring cup
- A watch and a notebook
Safety: Tin can edges are sharp, so an adult must smooth them with tape. Do not look at the foil glare, and keep thermometers away from the edge of the table.
Take it further: Test matt black against glossy black paint and decide which finish a heater plate should use.
EnvironmentMedium
Solar still in a basin that separates fresh water from salty water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Sunlight evaporates water from salty or muddy water, and the vapour condenses on a cool plastic sheet as clean water. It models how sea or borewell water could be made drinkable with free heat.
You will need
- A wide steel or plastic basin
- A small glass or steel cup
- A clear plastic sheet or cling film
- A rubber band or string
- A small pebble
- Salt and tap water
- Black paper or cloth
Safety: Do not drink the collected water unless an adult has had it checked. Keep the still out of reach of small children and handle the warm basin with a cloth.
Take it further: Compare yield with and without the black paper, and with a steeper plastic sheet.
EnvironmentMedium
Solar dryer cabinet against open-air drying of chilli and fruit
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A covered, ventilated box dries food faster and cleaner than open-air drying. Weighing equal slices each day shows how quickly water leaves in each method.
You will need
- A cardboard or wooden box about 40 cm by 30 cm
- Clear plastic sheet for the lid
- Black paper for the floor
- Thin net or mesh trays
- Banana, mango or chilli slices
- A kitchen scale (0.1 g if possible)
- A few small holes for air
Safety: An adult must slice the food with a knife and handle chillies; wear gloves and do not touch eyes. Do not eat food dried in an experiment with other materials; use clean food only for a separate batch.
Take it further: Add a second black metal sheet as an absorber and see if the drying time drops further.
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.