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.
PhysicsMedium
Whirling ball orbit: how speed changes with string length
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A ball on a string moving in a circle needs a steady inward pull. This pull mimics gravity for a satellite. For the same pull, a longer string needs a faster ball, while real planets nearer the Sun move faster because gravity there is stronger.
You will need
- A smooth plastic or hollow glass-free tube of 15 cm length (a ball pen casing)
- A soft rubber ball or a rubber stopper on a thread, 1.5 m long
- A few washers or nuts as a hanging weight
- A stopwatch
- A ruler and marker pen
- A notebook
Safety: Whirl the ball slowly, in an open space, with others kept at a distance. Wear a cap and use a soft ball. An adult should supervise.
Take it further: Compare your findings with Kepler’s third law using real planet periods and radii.
Earth and spaceMedium
Measuring the Moon’s angular size with a coin and a metre ruler
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An object’s apparent size depends on its distance. A coin held at arm’s length that just covers the Moon gives the Moon’s angular size, about half a degree, and then its real diameter can be estimated.
You will need
- A one-rupee coin of known width, 2.5 cm
- A metre ruler or a long stick
- A friend to measure
- A notebook and calculator
- A reference for the Moon’s distance, about 384,000 km
Safety: Observe from a safe place at night with an adult, and do not walk backwards while looking up.
Take it further: Measure the Moon near the horizon and high in the sky to test the Moon illusion.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Eratosthenes’ method: estimating Earth’s size from two cities’ shadows
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two sticks in two cities, measured at noon on the same day, give different shadow angles. The difference, together with the distance between the cities, gives the circumference of Earth.
You will need
- A vertical stick, 1 m long, at each city (a partner school or friend can help)
- A plumb line and a tape
- A map or an app for the distance between the two places in km
- A calculator and protractor
- A phone to share the shadow lengths
Safety: Do not look at the Sun. Stay in shade between readings, and have an adult supervise.
Take it further: Use shadow data from a school in another continent through an online project to improve the result.
PhysicsChallenging
Doppler shift of a whirling buzzer, the idea behind galaxy redshift
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A sound source moving towards you sounds higher in pitch, and one moving away sounds lower. Astronomers use the same idea with light to find that distant galaxies are moving away from us.
You will need
- A small battery buzzer or a phone playing a steady tone inside a padded box
- A strong string 1 m long
- A second phone with a free tuner app
- A tape measure
- A stopwatch
- Soft padding and a cloth bag
Safety: Whirl only a light device in a soft padded bag, at a safe distance from people. An adult must supervise, wear a hat, and keep others far away.
Take it further: Use a spectrum app to record a passing train or bus horn and measure the shift.
BiologyEasy
Thali balance survey: what food groups does a class eat at lunch?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A balanced meal has foods from several groups: cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruit, and milk products. A survey of lunch boxes shows which groups most students eat and which they miss.
You will need
- A printed survey sheet with food group columns
- Coloured pencils
- Chart paper for a pie chart
- A calculator
- A ruler and a protractor
- Permission from the teacher to ask classmates
Safety: Do not touch or taste anyone else’s food. Ask politely and keep names private; this project gives general information, not diet advice.
Take it further: Repeat the survey in another class and compare the two sets of results.
BiologyEasy
Pulse rate and recovery time after skipping, plotted on a graph
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The heart beats faster during exercise to supply more oxygen to muscles. After stopping, the pulse falls back to its resting rate, and the time it takes is a simple sign of how the body recovers.
You will need
- A stopwatch or a phone timer
- A skipping rope
- A notebook and graph paper
- A chair
- A friend to take readings
- A quiet place
Safety: Do this only if you feel well and a teacher or parent approves. Stop at once if you feel dizzy or unwell. This project is not a health test and gives no medical advice.
Take it further: Compare pulse recovery after walking, skipping and running the same distance.
BiologyEasy
Breaths per minute at rest, after stairs and after a short run
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Breathing rate increases with activity because the body needs to take in more oxygen and release more carbon dioxide. Counting breaths gives a simple measure of this change.
You will need
- A stopwatch
- A chart for recording data
- A staircase or a short track
- A pencil and graph paper
- A friend as an observer
- A glass of water
Safety: Only volunteers who are well should take part, and a teacher must be present. Stop anyone who feels dizzy. This project does not diagnose or treat anything.
Take it further: Compare students who play sport daily with students who do not, using the same activity.
BiologyMedium
School bag weight and standing posture: a photo and tape-measure survey
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Heavy bags can change the way a student stands, with the head and shoulders leaning forward. Measuring bag weight as a share of body weight and checking posture in side photos gives data to discuss a safe bag load.
You will need
- A bathroom scale or a kitchen scale
- A phone camera and a marker
- A plumb line made from thread and a nut
- Chart paper and a protractor
- Permission slips from parents
- A notebook
Safety: Take part only with permission of parents and teachers. Photographs must not show faces or names. This is not medical advice, and anyone with back pain should see a doctor.
Take it further: Compare a school bag with a rolling trolley bag and note the leaning angle.
BiologyMedium
Sleep diary and morning reaction time across a school week
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Reaction time is how quickly we respond to a signal. Comparing the hours slept with the ruler-drop reaction distance each morning tests a common belief about sleep and alertness with your own data.
You will need
- A 30 cm ruler
- A notebook for a daily sleep log
- A graph paper
- A friend to drop the ruler
- A clock
- A calculator
Safety: Keep to your normal bedtime; never stay up late for the project. This project does not give medical advice or sleep treatment.
Take it further: Compare morning and evening reaction times for the same person over a week.
BiologyMedium
Does washing longer remove more? A 5, 10 and 20 second hand-wash test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Soap helps to lift dirt and oily grime off the skin, and rubbing for longer removes more of it. A harmless coloured powder stands in for germs so that you can see how much is removed in a given time.
You will need
- Washable coloured powder such as turmeric or rangoli colour mixed with a little oil
- Bar or liquid soap
- A tap with clean water or a mug and bucket
- A stopwatch
- A white towel or kitchen paper
- A camera or phone
Safety: Use skin-safe powder only and keep it away from eyes, mouth and cuts. Wash off any leftover colour. An adult supervises. This shows cleanliness only and does not test for real germs.
Take it further: Compare washing with water only, with soap, and with an alcohol sanitiser on the same coating.
BiologyEasy
Reading food labels: comparing three biscuits per 100 g
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Packaged foods list energy, fat, sugar, protein and salt on the label. Comparing foods fairly means using the per 100 g column and not the per pack figure, which depends on pack size.
You will need
- Three empty biscuit packets or photos of labels
- A calculator
- Chart paper and coloured pens
- A ruler
- A notebook
- An adult to help find the labels
Safety: Use empty packets or photos only, and do not open and share food in class unless the school permits. This is a label-reading exercise, not diet advice.
Take it further: Compare a homemade snack with a packet snack by calculating its energy from ingredients.
ChemistryChallenging
Vitamin C in raw and boiled vegetables with iodine and starch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Vitamin C is destroyed by heat and dissolves in cooking water. A starch and iodine indicator that loses its blue colour when vitamin C is present lets you compare how much each sample contains.
You will need
- Chopped vegetables such as cabbage, tomato or capsicum
- A diluted iodine solution (tincture diluted with water)
- A teaspoon of starch cooked in a cup of water
- Droppers or a clean straw
- Test tubes or small glasses
- A pan and a small stove
- A pestle and a mortar or a grater
Safety: An adult must handle the stove and the iodine tincture, which is harmful if swallowed and stains skin. Wear gloves and eye protection and never taste anything used in a test. This is a classroom comparison, not a nutritional measurement.
Take it further: Compare steaming, pressure cooking and microwaving using the same vegetable.
BiologyEasy
Class water diary: how much do students drink on a hot school day?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water is lost through sweat, breath and urine, and has to be replaced by drinking and by the water in food. A diary of how much students drink shows the range between individuals and how heat affects it.
You will need
- Water bottles with measurement marks drawn on the side
- A diary table sheet
- A thermometer for classroom temperature
- Graph paper
- A calculator
- Teacher permission
Safety: Do not ask anyone to drink more or less than they wish. This project gives no health advice; persistent thirst or dehydration signs need a doctor.
Take it further: Compare the diary on a sports day with a normal day.
BiologyEasy
Eggshell tooth test: which drinks stain and soften it overnight?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An eggshell is made of calcium carbonate like tooth enamel is mostly calcium minerals. Soaking shells in different drinks shows which ones stain and which ones soften the shell, a model for why teeth need care.
You will need
- Five pieces of clean white eggshell, same size
- Five clear glasses or jars
- Water, cola, tea, lemon juice (diluted) and milk
- Labels and a marker
- A camera or phone
- A fork to lift pieces out
- A ruler to compare shell hardness gently
Safety: Do not drink any test liquids afterwards. Wash hands after handling eggshell, which can carry germs. An adult should boil the shells first. This is a model; it does not replace a dentist’s advice.
Take it further: Test how brushing the stained shell with toothpaste changes its look.
BiologyMedium
Salt in snack packets: a bar chart from sodium on the labels
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Labels list sodium, not salt. Converting sodium in milligrams to salt in grams shows how quickly everyday snacks add up. This helps students read the label as a piece of data.
You will need
- Five empty snack packets or photos of labels
- A calculator
- Graph paper
- A kitchen scale and a spoon
- A teaspoon and salt
- A table for results
Safety: Use empty packets or photos only. Do not taste test salt amounts as a challenge. This is a data exercise, not dietary advice; follow your doctor’s guidance for any condition.
Take it further: Compare a ready snack with a homemade one made with a measured amount of salt.
BiologyEasy
Pupil size in bright and dim light, measured with a mirror and ruler
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The pupil gets smaller in bright light and larger in dim light, an automatic reflex that protects the eye and helps it see. A mirror and a ruler let you measure this change without any special equipment.
You will need
- A small mirror
- A ruler marked in millimetres
- A room where lights can be dimmed
- A phone camera
- A friend
- A notebook
- A soft torch (not a laser)
Safety: Never shine a strong or direct light into anyone’s eyes. Use only ordinary room light, and an adult must be present. This is not an eye test.
Take it further: Time how long the pupil takes to adjust after a sudden change in room lighting.
PhysicsEasy
Bounce height of cricket, tennis and rubber balls on grass, concrete and sand
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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.
BiologyEasy
Sprouting moong and chana: a five-day length and weight log
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Soaked seeds wake up, absorb water and start to grow roots and shoots. Measuring weight and sprout length every day shows how quickly the seed changes, and why sprouts are a popular food.
You will need
- A handful each of whole moong and chana
- Two steel bowls or glass jars
- A thin cotton cloth
- A kitchen scale
- A ruler
- Water and a notebook
Safety: Wash hands before and after handling. Rinse sprouts well and an adult must decide if they are fit to eat; never eat sprouts that smell bad or look slimy.
Take it further: Grow sprouts in light and in a dark cupboard and compare their colour and length.
PhysicsEasy
Paper planes: dart, glider and wide-wing flight distance and time
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A paper plane flies by gliding: its wings make lift and the nose is pushed forward by the throw, while drag slows it. Different shapes trade speed for glide time.
You will need
- Ten sheets of A4 paper of the same type
- A measuring tape
- A stopwatch
- A paper clip for the nose weight
- A notebook
- An open hallway or a field
Safety: Throw only along an empty hall or field and never towards people’s faces.
Take it further: Bend the back edge of the wings up or down and explain how it changes the flight path.
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.
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.