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.
PhysicsEasy
Bounce height of cricket, tennis and rubber balls on grass, concrete and sand
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
How high a ball bounces depends on both the ball and the surface. Some of the ball’s energy is lost as sound, heat and a dent in the surface at each bounce, which explains why pitches matter in cricket.
You will need
- A cricket ball, a tennis ball and a rubber ball
- A metre ruler or a tape fixed on a wall
- A camera to film the bounce in slow motion
- Patches of concrete, grass and dry sand
- A notebook
- A friend to read the height
Safety: Throw balls gently and keep faces clear of a hard cricket ball. An adult should supervise play on the ground.
Take it further: Drop from three heights and check that the ratio stays about the same for the same ball and surface.
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
Flat sole, studs and spikes: friction on a muddy tray
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Friction is the force that stops a shoe from slipping. On wet mud, the grip depends on the sole pattern, because studs and spikes dig in and rubber flat soles slide on a film of water.
You will need
- Three old shoes or sandals with different soles, or cut pieces of sole fixed to wooden blocks
- A spring balance (0 to 10 N) or a kitchen scale
- A shallow tray of damp soil and one of dry soil
- A string and a small hook
- Weights for adding load
- A notebook
Safety: Wash hands after handling soil. An adult must cut shoe soles or nails for studs, and no one should wear spiked shoes indoors.
Take it further: Measure friction against the number of studs, such as 0, 4, 8 and 12.
PhysicsEasy
Ruler-drop reaction time: dominant hand, other hand and a warning sound
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The distance a ruler falls before you catch it tells how fast you react. Comparing hands and signals shows what can speed up or slow down a response, which is important in cricket and sprint starts.
You will need
- A 30 cm ruler
- A friend to drop it
- A table with an edge
- A bell or clapper for the sound signal
- A notebook
- A calculator
Safety: Keep to a calm activity and take care that no one is hit by the ruler. This is a fun measure, not a medical test.
Take it further: Make a reaction time scale from the formula, marking each centimetre with the time in milliseconds.
BiologyEasy
One-leg balance time with eyes open, eyes closed and a moving floor
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Balance uses signals from the eyes, the inner ear, and the muscles and joints. Taking away the vision signal makes balancing much harder, which shows how the senses work together.
You will need
- A stopwatch
- A flat floor with a mat
- A folded towel or a cushion as the unsteady surface
- A notebook
- A friend near for safety
- A wall to hold if needed
Safety: Stand next to a wall or have a spotter ready to catch you, and keep the floor clear of objects. An adult supervises. This is not a medical test for balance.
Take it further: Train for two weeks, five minutes daily, and plot your balance time every day.
PhysicsMedium
Kite flying physics: tail length, string angle and wind speed
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A kite stays up because the wind pushes on it at an angle. The forces of wind, weight and string tension balance. A longer tail steadies the kite, and a higher wind speed raises the string angle.
You will need
- A paper or plastic kite with a bamboo frame
- Cotton thread (never sharp manja) on a reel
- Strips of cloth for tails
- A protractor and a plumb line made with a thread and a nut
- A phone with a wind speed app
- A measuring tape
Safety: Never use glass-coated or metal manja thread, and stay away from roads, trees and power lines. An adult must supervise, and fly only on an open field.
Take it further: Compare two kite shapes, diamond and a box kite, in the same wind.
PhysicsEasy
Balance point of a cricket bat, a hockey stick and a bicycle pump
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Every object has a balance point, the centre of gravity, where its weight seems to act. In sports equipment it is not at the middle, and where it lies changes how the object feels in the hand.
You will need
- A cricket bat or a wooden stick
- A hockey stick or a long broom handle
- Two smooth pencils or a sharp-edged ruler
- A thread and a nut for a plumb line
- A metre ruler and chalk
- A notebook
Safety: Rest equipment on a table and keep your fingers clear when sliding it. Do not swing bats indoors.
Take it further: Tape a small weight near the handle and then near the tip, and see how the balance point moves.
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.
PhysicsEasy
Standing long jump: does an arm swing add distance?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The distance of a jump depends on the take-off speed and angle. Swinging the arms adds to the speed of the body’s launch, which is why athletes use them.
You will need
- A soft sand pit or a mat
- A measuring tape
- Chalk for a take-off line
- A notebook
- A helper to measure
- A camera for slow-motion footage
Safety: Jump onto a soft surface only after warm-up with a teacher present. Stop if you feel any pain; do not compete to break records. This project is not training advice.
Take it further: Compare the standing jump with a running jump, and discuss why athletes use a run-up.
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.
PhysicsEasy
30 metre sprint speeds of a class timed with a pair of stopwatches
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Average speed equals distance divided by time. Timing a short run shows differences in speed in a class, and also how reaction time of the timekeeper can add error.
You will need
- A flat track of 30 m marked with chalk
- Two stopwatches or phones
- A starter flag or a whistle
- A notebook
- A calculator
- Cones to mark the lines
Safety: Warm up first, run on a clear track and wear shoes. A teacher must supervise. Do not push for the fastest time; this is a speed study, not a fitness test.
Take it further: Time 10 m splits to find where in a run the speed is highest.
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.
PhysicsEasy
Playground seesaw: where must two children sit to balance?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A seesaw balances when the turning effect (moment) on one side equals that on the other. A lighter child must sit farther from the pivot to balance a heavier child.
You will need
- A wooden plank 1.5 m long
- A brick or a round log as the pivot
- Two bags of sand of 2 kg and 4 kg, to stand for the children
- A metre ruler
- A notebook
- A kitchen scale to check weights
Safety: Use sandbags and not real children for the measurements, and place the model on level ground with an adult to watch. Keep fingers clear of the plank pivot.
Take it further: Use three bags to balance on one side and find the combined moment.
PhysicsEasy
Carrom striker slide: how powder changes friction and stopping distance
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Carrom players sprinkle fine powder on the board to make the striker glide. Measuring how far a striker slides with and without powder shows how a thin layer lowers friction.
You will need
- A carrom board and a striker
- Boric-free carrom powder or fine talcum
- A measuring tape along the board edge
- A small ramp made of a book
- A cloth to wipe the board
- A notebook
Safety: Do not breathe in the powder or put it near eyes; an adult should handle and clean it, and hands should be washed after use.
Take it further: Estimate the coefficient of friction from the sliding distance and the release speed.
BiologyMedium
Lung capacity measured by water displacement in a marked bottle
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
One deep breath out pushes an equal volume of water out of an upside-down bottle, so the volume of water displaced is the lung capacity of that breath. It shows that capacity varies with height, age and fitness.
You will need
- A clean 2 litre plastic bottle
- A large basin or bucket of water
- About 60 cm of clean plastic tube
- A measuring jug with ml marks
- A marker pen
- A fresh tube piece or straw for each person
- A notebook
Safety: Each child must use a fresh tube end or a washed one, and nobody should blow if they feel dizzy or have breathing trouble. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Compare swimmers or sports players with those who do not play sport, with permission, and see whether the average differs.
BiologyMedium
Phone camera drop lens: stomata on a leaf and life in pond water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A water drop or a clear gel bead stuck on a phone camera lens turns the phone into a microscope, enough to photograph stomata on a leaf peel and tiny organisms in pond water. It shows the pores that let a leaf breathe and the unseen life of a pond.
You will need
- A smartphone with a camera
- A small clear drop of water or a bead of clear glue held in a punched card ring
- A thin card with a 3 mm hole
- Clear nail polish, if available, for a leaf impression
- Clear sticky tape
- A glass slide or a clear plastic slip
- A jar of pond water with some green scum
Safety: Wash your hands after touching pond water and do not drink or taste it. An adult must supervise near ponds and use only the shallow edge. Do not use the nail polish in a closed room.
Take it further: Measure the stomata density on leaves in sunny and shady places and compare the average count per field.
BiologyEasy
Bile model: how liver juice breaks oil into tiny droplets
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Oil and water do not mix, but a drop of detergent makes oil spread into tiny droplets. Bile salts in the small intestine do the same job to fat, so that enzymes can work on it faster.
You will need
- Two clear glass jars or test tubes
- Water
- Cooking oil
- A few drops of liquid dishwashing soap
- A dropper
- A spoon
- Food colouring or turmeric powder to colour the oil
- A ruler and a stopwatch
Safety: Do not taste anything. Keep the soap away from the eyes and wash hands after the work. An adult must supervise the use of food colouring.
Take it further: Repeat with different amounts of soap and plot the time for separation against the number of drops.
ChemistryMedium
Steel wool in a jar: how much of the air is oxygen?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Steel wool rusts by using up the oxygen in a closed jar, so water rises in the jar to take the place of the oxygen. The water rises by about one fifth of the air column, showing that air is about 21 percent oxygen.
You will need
- A tall clear glass or bottle with a straight side, cut-off 1 litre bottle is fine
- A bowl or tray of water
- A pad of plain steel wool, about 5 g
- White vinegar, about 100 ml
- A ruler
- A marker pen
- A small plate or tape
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle and handle the steel wool, which has sharp fibres: wear gloves. Rinse and dry hands afterwards. Do not use soapy steel wool pads.
Take it further: Repeat the test with a sealed jar that has a drop of salt water on the wool and see whether it rusts faster.
ChemistryMedium
Homemade cold pack: temperature drop when citric acid meets baking soda
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When citric acid and baking soda dissolve and react in water, the mixture gets colder, which shows an endothermic change that takes heat from the surroundings. It is the opposite of burning, which gives heat out.
You will need
- Citric acid powder (nimbu ka sat), about 20 g
- Baking soda, about 20 g
- Three plastic cups
- A thermometer reading 0 to 100 °C
- Water at room temperature, 100 ml
- A spoon and a teaspoon
- A kitchen scale or measuring spoons
- A notebook
Safety: Citric acid powder irritates eyes, so an adult must supervise and the child must wear glasses. Do not taste, and wash hands after. Never use a closed bottle for the reaction.
Take it further: Find the mass ratio of acid to soda that gives the largest temperature fall.
ChemistryChallenging
Solubility against temperature: kitchen salt compared with alum
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The amount of a solid that dissolves in 100 ml of water changes with temperature, but differently for each solid. Alum dissolves several times more at 60 °C than at room temperature, while salt barely changes.
You will need
- Common salt, about 100 g
- Alum (fitkari) powder, about 50 g
- A steel pan with water for a hot water bath
- Three glass jars or steel cups
- A thermometer up to 100 °C
- A kitchen scale with 1 g steps or a measuring spoon
- A stirring stick
- Graph paper
Safety: An adult must heat the water and pour the hot water. Use tongs or cloth to hold hot containers, and keep children away from the stove. Do not taste alum and keep it out of the eyes.
Take it further: Add a third substance such as baking soda and plot all three on one graph.
ChemistryMedium
Limewater from chuna: is there more carbon dioxide in the breath we blow out?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Limewater turns milky when carbon dioxide passes through it, because insoluble calcium carbonate forms. Breath blown out turns it milky faster than ordinary air does, which shows that exhaled air has more carbon dioxide.
You will need
- Edible slaked lime (chuna), a pinch, about 2 g
- A clean jar of 500 ml water
- Two clear glasses
- Two straws
- A small bicycle pump or a plastic syringe with a tube
- A paper coffee filter
- A funnel
- Safety glasses
Safety: Slaked lime irritates the skin and eyes. An adult must prepare the limewater, and everybody must wear safety glasses. Blow out only through the straw and never suck the liquid in. Wash hands well.
Take it further: Compare breath after rest and after two minutes of jogging by counting breaths needed for milkiness.
ChemistryMedium
Bringing back tarnished silver with aluminium foil and baking soda
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Black tarnish on silver is silver sulphide, and it can be turned back to shiny silver without scrubbing, using aluminium foil, baking soda and hot water. It is a small electrochemical cell in which aluminium is more reactive than silver.
You will need
- A tarnished silver coin, ring or spoon (or a clean cheap silver-plated item)
- Aluminium foil
- Baking soda, 2 spoons
- A steel or glass bowl
- Hot water, about 300 ml
- Tongs
- A soft cloth
- Gloves
Safety: An adult must heat and pour the hot water. Use tongs to remove the item. Work in a ventilated room because a mild egg smell of hydrogen sulphide can form. Do not use valuable family jewellery or jewellery with stones.
Take it further: Time how long a standard tarnished piece needs to turn clean at 50 °C, 60 °C and 70 °C.
ChemistryMedium
Yeast as a catalyst: foam height from 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down very slowly on its own but very fast when yeast is present. Yeast contains the enzyme catalase, a catalyst, and the oxygen released makes a tall foam with a little dish soap.
You will need
- 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from a pharmacy, 200 ml
- Dry yeast, 2 teaspoons
- Warm water, 50 ml
- Liquid dish soap
- A tall narrow bottle or measuring cylinder of 250 ml
- A tray to catch the foam
- A ruler
- Safety glasses and gloves
Safety: Wear safety glasses and gloves. Use only 3 percent peroxide and never a stronger hair-bleach grade. An adult must supervise. Do not close the bottle, because oxygen is released. Wash the foam down the sink with plenty of water.
Take it further: Test whether boiled yeast works and explain what happens to the enzyme when it is heated.
ChemistryEasy
Tyndall torch beam: telling solutions from colloids and suspensions
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A torch beam is invisible in clear salt water but shows up as a bright path in dilute milk or starch water. The particles of a colloid are big enough to scatter light, and those of a true solution are not.
You will need
- A bright torch or phone light
- Five clear glasses
- Salt, sugar, milk, starch (cornflour), chalk powder or mud
- Water
- A cardboard sheet with a small hole
- A dark room
- A notebook
Safety: Do not shine the torch into anyone’s eyes. Do not taste the mixtures. Wipe up spills.
Take it further: Add a few drops of lemon juice to the milk water and see what happens to the beam as the proteins clump.
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.