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.
PhysicsEasy
How tall must a mirror be to see your whole body?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsEasy
The spoon that rings like a bell: sound through string
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Vibrations pass much better through a solid string than through air. A steel spoon hung from a string and tapped on a table sounds faint, but when you press the string to your ear it rings like a deep bell.
You will need
- A steel spoon or large fork
- A 1 metre piece of cotton string or wool
- A table
- A second spoon
- Another piece of string for comparison
- A friend
- A notebook
Safety: Do not hit the table hard or swing the spoon wildly, as it could hit the face. Keep the spoon away from your ear at all times, and only the string touches your ear.
Take it further: Make a tin can telephone and compare string types and string lengths.
PhysicsEasy
Ruler twang: how overhang length changes pitch
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A ruler pressed on a table and plucked gives a higher note when less of it hangs over the edge. By counting vibrations per second for each overhang length, you find how length controls frequency.
You will need
- A flat steel or plastic ruler
- A table with a straight edge
- A phone with a slow motion video or a tuner app
- A metre rule
- A notebook
- A friend to count
- A graph paper
Safety: Keep faces away from the free end of the ruler and avoid hitting hands. Do not use a ruler with sharp edges.
Take it further: Compare a steel ruler with a plastic one at the same overhang and explain the difference.
PhysicsEasy
How many sheets of paper can a fridge magnet still hold?
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The pull of a magnet gets weaker as the gap between it and the steel grows. By stacking sheets between a magnet and a steel surface, you measure how quickly magnetic force falls with distance.
You will need
- 3 fridge magnets of different strengths
- A steel surface such as an almirah door or a steel plate
- Sheets of plain paper
- A thread and a small bag
- Paper clips or coins as weights
- A kitchen scale
- A notebook
Safety: Keep magnets away from phones, credit cards and anyone with a pacemaker. Do not swallow magnets and keep small ones from small children.
Take it further: Use cloth or cardboard instead of paper and see if the thickness explains the results.
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.
PhysicsEasy
The stuck jar lid: why warm water loosens a metal cap
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Metals expand when heated, and a thin metal lid heats faster than the glass jar below it. A tight cap that will not turn becomes loose after a short dip in warm water, which shows thermal expansion at work.
You will need
- 3 glass jars with tight metal lids, such as jam or pickle jars
- A bowl of warm tap water at about 45 C (adult checks)
- A bowl of cold water and ice
- A thermometer
- A cloth for gripping
- A stopwatch
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must prepare the warm water and keep it below 50 C. Do not use boiling water on glass because it can crack. Grip jars with a cloth and keep them over a table, not a hard floor.
Take it further: Measure the length change of a thin metal wire when heated, using a pointer made from a straw.
MathsEasy
Best buy at the kirana shop: unit price of five everyday items
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The cheapest looking pack is not always the best buy. Dividing the price by the weight or volume gives the unit price, which lets you compare packs of different sizes fairly.
You will need
- A notebook or sheet with a table
- A calculator
- Prices and pack sizes of five items such as rice, dal, oil, biscuits and soap
- Small and big pack of each, noted from a shop or from home
- A pencil
- Graph paper
- A kitchen scale for checking weights
Safety: Go to the shop with an adult and do not touch things without permission. Note prices only and do not collect personal information.
Take it further: Compute the yearly saving for your home if it buys the best buy of each of ten items.
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.
MathsEasy
The discount puzzle: 20 percent off then 10 percent off
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Two successive discounts do not add up to one big discount. A 20 percent off followed by 10 percent off is worth 28 percent, not 30. You test this with real prices from a sale and learn to calculate discounts correctly.
You will need
- A notebook and a pencil
- A calculator
- Price tags or newspaper advertisements of five items
- A ruler
- Graph paper
- Play money or coins
- A friend to check your work
Safety: No special safety needed. Work with real prices only from advertisements, and never share personal details.
Take it further: Find out what a Rs 500 item costs with GST added before and after a discount, and say which is cheaper.
MathsEasy
Scaling a recipe: ratios, fractions and measuring cups
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A recipe is a set of ratios, so halving or doubling it means multiplying every amount by the same number. You rewrite a simple recipe for 2, 4 and 10 people and practise fractions and unit conversion.
You will need
- A simple recipe, such as poha or lemonade, for 4 people
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A notebook
- A kitchen scale
- A pencil
- A calculator
- An adult to supervise any cooking
Safety: An adult must handle the stove and knives. Children measure, calculate and write only. Check for food allergies in your family.
Take it further: Find the cost of the recipe per person using the prices of ingredients.
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.
MathsEasy
How many tiles for the floor? Area, wastage and cost by newspaper model
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The number of tiles needed depends on the area of the room divided by the area of a tile, plus some extra for cutting. You model a room with newspaper sheets as tiles and then work out the count and cost for a real room.
You will need
- Old newspapers
- A measuring tape or a ruler
- Scissors (adult helps)
- Sticky tape
- A calculator
- A notebook
- A tile price from a shop or a leaflet
Safety: An adult must handle scissors and help with measuring in the room. Do not climb on furniture to measure.
Take it further: Find the number of tiles for an L-shaped room by splitting it into two rectangles.
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.
PhysicsEasy
Which surface colour heats up fastest in the sun? Four can test
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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 dryer cabinet against open-air drying of chilli and fruit
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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.
PhysicsMedium
How many clear layers does a solar heater plate need? Glazing test
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A clear cover over a black plate lets sunlight in and slows heat from escaping. Testing zero, one and two layers shows the benefit and the point where extra layers stop helping.
You will need
- Three identical shallow cardboard trays
- Black paper and foil for lining
- Clear plastic sheets or a transparent file cover
- Three thermometers
- Water and a measuring cup
- Tape and a wooden board
Safety: Handle cut plastic edges carefully. An adult must supervise testing near a roof edge or a hot surface. Do not leave water in a sealed container; let air escape.
Take it further: Place a layer of foil under the black paper and see if the extra insulation helps.
PhysicsMedium
Two, three, four or six blades: which rotor turns a dynamo best?
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The number and angle of blades change how much electricity a small wind rotor makes. Measuring voltage for each design under the same fan shows the best design for a fixed wind speed.
You will need
- A small DC motor to act as a generator
- A plastic hub or bottle cap
- Stiff card or plastic blades
- A multimeter or LED
- A table fan with three speeds
- A stand made from a ruler and clay
Safety: Keep fingers and hair away from the fan and spinning blades. An adult must supervise cutting. Test indoors with a battery-powered fan if possible.
Take it further: Test blade shape: flat strips against slightly curved ones from cut plastic bottle.
EnvironmentMedium
Paper and sawdust briquettes: how long do they burn compared with wood?
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Waste paper, sawdust and crop leaves can be pressed into fuel blocks. Burning equal masses under adult supervision and timing a water boil shows the energy in each fuel.
You will need
- Old newspaper torn into bits
- Sawdust or dry crop leaves
- A bucket of water and a cloth to squeeze
- A tin can with holes as a mould
- A kitchen scale
- A small steel pot of water and a thermometer
- A safe metal tray
Safety: An adult must do all burning, outdoors, in a metal tray with a bucket of water and sand nearby. Never use plastic or glossy paper. Do not burn briquettes indoors, and keep hair and clothes away.
Take it further: Try different ratios of paper to sawdust and decide which gives the longest burn.
BiologyMedium
Balloon biogas digesters: kitchen waste against cow dung slurry
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Microbes break down organic waste without air and release biogas, mostly methane and carbon dioxide. Measuring balloon size over days compares how much gas different feedstocks give.
You will need
- Three 500 ml plastic bottles with caps
- Three balloons
- Fresh cow dung or buffalo dung slurry
- Chopped vegetable peels and cooked rice
- Warm water and a measuring cup
- A tape measure and a notebook
- A warm shaded shelf
Safety: Wear gloves and wash hands after handling dung or waste. Keep the bottles outdoors or in a ventilated area, away from flames, because biogas is flammable. Never light the gas, and an adult must dispose of the contents.
Take it further: Keep one bottle in a warm place and another in a cool place to see the effect of temperature.
EnvironmentMedium
Classroom lighting audit: lux readings and how much LEDs would save
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Measuring light levels and counting lamp hours shows where electricity is wasted. Comparing old tube lights with LED tubes on paper gives the units and rupees saved per year.
You will need
- A phone lux-meter app or a light meter
- A notebook and a floor plan sketch
- Wattage labels read from the lamps
- A calculator or spreadsheet
- The school’s electricity bill (ask the office)
- A ruler and a tape measure
Safety: Do not touch lamps or fittings; an adult must climb any ladder and switch off at the board before reading labels. Never open a lamp or fitting.
Take it further: Repeat for the whole school and suggest three changes with their payback time.
PhysicsMedium
Small solar cells in series and in parallel, with one cell shaded
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Joining cells in series adds voltage, while joining them in parallel adds current. Shading one cell shows why a single shaded cell can cut the power of a whole panel.
You will need
- Three small solar cells (0.5 V to 2 V, from solar garden lights or a kit)
- A multimeter
- Alligator clips or wires
- A small DC motor or an LED
- Cardboard to shade a cell
- A protractor and a wooden board
Safety: Do not use mains-connected panels. An adult must supervise soldering. Use only low voltage cells, and do not stare at glare from the cells.
Take it further: Plot the current against the shaded fraction of one cell for the series arrangement.
BiologyMedium
Compost heap temperature log: heat from living microbes
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Microbes breaking down garden waste release heat, so a compost heap warms up. A daily log of temperature shows the stages of composting and the effect of turning and moisture.
You will need
- A bucket or drum with holes for air
- Dry leaves and green kitchen waste
- A long stem thermometer (0 to 110 C)
- A trowel
- Water in a spray bottle
- A notebook for daily readings
Safety: Wear gloves and a mask when turning compost, and wash hands afterwards. Keep the bin away from food, and do not use meat, dairy or oily food scraps.
Take it further: Add finely chopped waste to one bin and coarse pieces to another to see which heats faster.
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.