Science projects
Your Science Exhibition Guide
Choose a project, build it, present it and answer the judges with confidence
Science project idea finder
1029 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. 930 ideas have numbered steps and viva questions on their own page.
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.332 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
How fast does milk sour: fridge, shade, sun and boiled
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
MathsEasy
How much does rice swell? Water ratio and volume maths
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Rice soaks up water and swells, and the amount of cooked rice depends on the ratio of rice to water. By measuring in cups you practise ratio and volume and see how much bigger the rice becomes.
You will need
- 2 cups of rice
- Water
- A steel measuring cup
- Three small pots (adult only)
- A kitchen scale if available
- A stove (adult only)
- Notebook with a table
Safety: An adult must cook the rice and drain the pots, because steam can burn. Children read and write the measurements only.
Take it further: Try basmati and everyday rice and compare how much each swells.
BiologyEasy
How much water do chana and rajma soak up in a night?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Dry seeds take up water through their seed coat by imbibition, swelling and gaining weight. By weighing dry and soaked pulses at fixed times you plot how fast and how much they absorb, and why soaking helps cooking and sprouting.
You will need
- A handful each of chana, rajma and moong
- Three bowls
- Plain water
- A kitchen scale (to 1 g) or letter balance
- A tea strainer
- A notebook with a table
- A cloth for blotting
Safety: Wash hands after handling the pulses and do not eat raw soaked rajma, which must be boiled well by an adult.
Take it further: Soak seeds in warm water and in cold water and compare how fast they absorb.
PhysicsMedium
Cooking time against size: potato cubes in boiling water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
ChemistryEasy
Hot water against cold water: how fast tea colour spreads
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Particles move faster in hot water, so colour from a tea bag spreads, or diffuses, much faster there than in cold water. Measuring the time to colour a glass shows how temperature affects diffusion and dissolving.
You will need
- 3 identical tea bags
- 3 clear glasses
- Cold water, tap water and warm water, around 60 C (adult mixes)
- A stopwatch
- A white paper to put behind the glasses
- A thermometer
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must heat the water and pour it. Warm water above 50 C can scald, so children should not pour it.
Take it further: Repeat with a drop of ink or food colour and a spoon of sugar, and compare dissolving rates.
ChemistryEasy
Candy colour race: hidden dyes in coated sweets
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Coloured sweets often use a mix of dyes, and water carrying them up paper moves different dyes at different speeds. You split the colours of several sweets and learn how to separate a mixture without any chemicals.
You will need
- Colourful sugar-coated sweets (gems or candy balls), 5 colours
- Coffee filter or blotting paper, 4 strips
- A shallow dish and a plate
- Water and a pinch of salt
- A pencil and a ruler
- A dropper
- Tape to fix the strip
Safety: Do not eat the sweets used in the test and wash your hands. If anyone is allergic to food dyes, an adult handles the sweets.
Take it further: Compare a green sweet to a mix of blue and yellow and see whether they match.
ChemistryMedium
Why fresh pineapple stops jelly from setting
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
ChemistryEasy
Which liquid removes turmeric and tea stains from cotton?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Different stains need different cleaners: tea stains respond to mild acids and detergents, while turmeric responds to sunlight and detergent. You test cleaning liquids on identical stains and score the result.
You will need
- Old white cotton cloth cut into 12 squares
- Turmeric paste and strong tea
- Detergent solution, lemon juice, vinegar, plain water
- Small bowls and a spoon
- Rubber gloves
- A clock and a clothesline
- A marker for labelling squares
Safety: Wear gloves because detergent can irritate skin, and do not mix any two cleaners together. An adult must supervise, and keep the liquids away from the face.
Take it further: Repeat with ink, curry oil and chocolate stains, and make a stain removal guide for your family.
ChemistryEasy
Longer-lasting soap bubbles with glycerine or sugar
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A soap bubble is a thin film of water held between two layers of soap. Adding glycerine or sugar slows the evaporation of the water, so the bubbles live longer. You time bubble lifetimes for different recipes.
You will need
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Glycerine from a chemist, or sugar
- Straw or a wire loop
- Four cups
- A stopwatch
- A tray or plate for catching bubbles
Safety: Do not drink the bubble mixture and keep it away from the eyes. Wipe up spills because soapy floors are slippery.
Take it further: Test bubbles in humid monsoon air and in dry winter air and explain the difference.
PhysicsEasy
The pepper that runs away from soap: surface tension
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The surface of water acts like a thin stretched skin that holds light grains of pepper on top. A touch of soap breaks this skin in one place, and the pepper rushes away from it.
You will need
- A wide steel plate or shallow dish
- Water
- Black pepper powder or talcum powder
- A cotton bud or a toothpick
- Dishwashing liquid
- A second cotton bud for plain tests
- A paper towel
Safety: Do not taste the water. Keep pepper away from the eyes and nose, and wash hands after using soap.
Take it further: Float a paper boat with a notch of soap at the back and see it travel.
ChemistryEasy
Which fabric soaks up the most water: cotton, nylon, wool or polyester?
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Cotton and wool fibres absorb a lot of water, while nylon and polyester absorb little. By weighing identical fabric squares before and after soaking, you find which fabric is best for towels and which for raincoats.
You will need
- 10 cm squares of cotton, towel cloth, nylon, polyester and wool from old clothes
- A bowl of water
- A kitchen scale (to 1 g) or letter balance
- A clip or tongs
- A cloth for drying hands
- A notebook
- A pencil
Safety: Use old, clean cloth only. Wipe up spills so no one slips, and wash hands after handling the wet cloth.
Take it further: Measure how long a drop of water takes to soak into each fabric.
PhysicsEasy
What dries clothes fastest: sun, shade, wind or folding?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water leaves wet cloth by evaporation, which speeds up with heat, wind and open surface area. You hang identical wet cloths in different conditions and weigh them each hour to find which dries fastest.
You will need
- 6 identical cotton handkerchiefs
- A bucket of water
- A kitchen scale
- A clothesline and clips
- A fan or a windy spot
- A shaded place and a sunny place
- A notebook
Safety: Make sure the floor stays dry. An adult must set up the fan so cables are off the ground and fingers stay away from the blades.
Take it further: Measure the humidity with a wet and dry bulb thermometer and relate it to the drying rate.
PhysicsEasy
How strong is paper? Folds, tubes and a stack of books
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A flat sheet of paper is weak, but when it is folded into a tube, a fan or a triangle it can carry heavy books. You test different shapes of paper to see which holds the most.
You will need
- 10 sheets of A4 paper
- Sticky tape
- Six or more small books of equal weight
- A table
- A ruler
- Notebook
- Scissors
Safety: Keep fingers clear when stacking books and place books slowly so they do not fall on feet. An adult must help with the scissors if needed.
Take it further: Make tubes with different widths and see how diameter changes strength.
MathsEasy
Which paper towel or tissue soaks up the most? A fair test with maths
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
You compare tissue papers or paper towels for absorbency and cost by measuring grams of water held per sheet and per rupee. It is a practice in fair testing, averaging and unit costs.
You will need
- Three or four brands of paper towel or tissue
- A kitchen scale (to 1 g)
- A bowl of water and a measuring cup
- A clip or tongs
- A calculator
- A notebook
- A pencil
Safety: Wipe up the water so the floor is not slippery. Use clean tissue only.
Take it further: Test the strength when wet by hanging coins on each sheet until it tears.
ChemistryMedium
Flour paste, rice paste and school glue: which sticks hardest?
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Glues stick by filling the tiny gaps in the surfaces and hardening, and starch paste from the kitchen works for paper. You compare the strength of flour paste, rice paste and school glue by hanging load from glued strips.
You will need
- Flour (maida) and cooked rice
- School glue stick or liquid glue
- Water and a small pan (adult only)
- Strips of card or paper, 2 cm wide
- A small bag or cup to hang weights
- Coins or marbles as weights
- A ruler and notebook
Safety: An adult must cook the paste, because hot starch burns. Keep glue away from mouth and eyes and wash hands afterward.
Take it further: Test how the joint area changes the holding load by changing the overlap from 1 cm to 5 cm.
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.
PhysicsEasy
Wrap an ice cube: foil, wool, newspaper or cloth?
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Insulators slow the flow of heat into an ice cube, so it melts more slowly. By wrapping equal cubes in different household materials and weighing the meltwater, you find which ones insulate best.
You will need
- 5 equal ice cubes from one tray
- Aluminium foil, woollen cloth, newspaper and cotton cloth
- Five small cups or bowls
- A measuring spoon or a small cup for meltwater
- A clock or timer
- Rubber bands
- A marker
Safety: Do not eat the ice. Wipe up water to prevent slips, and wash hands after handling the wraps.
Take it further: Test a double wrap of newspaper and a loose wrap to see how trapped air changes things.
PhysicsMedium
Cooling curves of hot water: lid, no lid, wide and narrow pots
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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
Shadow size against torch distance: similar triangles at home
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Light travels in straight lines, so the shadow of an object grows larger as the torch moves closer. Measuring several distances and comparing ratios shows that the shadow follows similar triangles.
You will need
- A torch or phone light
- A small steel tumbler or a cardboard figure 10 cm tall
- A plain wall
- A metre ruler or a measuring tape
- Chalk or masking tape
- A notebook
- A calculator
Safety: Do the activity in a dim room with no stumbling hazards. Do not shine the light into anyone’s eyes.
Take it further: Use the method to find the height of a tall pole from its shadow length and a metre stick.
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.