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
Which ball bounces highest? Drop height and floor surface test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A ball stores energy when it is squashed and gives most of it back as it bounces. Different balls and surfaces return different fractions of the energy, so the bounce height changes.
You will need
- A rubber ball, a tennis ball, a ping pong ball and a cricket ball or a wooden ball
- A metre ruler fixed upright on a wall with tape
- A phone to take slow motion video
- Different floor surfaces: cement, carpet, wooden board, sand tray
- A notebook
- A calculator
- A friend
Safety: Do the drops away from windows and glass, and keep the ball low so that it does not hit anyone.
Take it further: Record the heights of three bounces in a row for the best ball and see whether the ratio stays the same.
PhysicsMedium
Cardboard gear train: how gears change speed and direction
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Gears pass motion from one shaft to the next. A small gear driving a large one turns it more slowly but with more turning force, and neighbouring gears turn in opposite directions.
You will need
- Thick corrugated cardboard, 3 sheets
- Compass cutter or a pair of scissors
- A ruler and a protractor
- Wooden skewers or pencils as axles, 4 pieces
- Bottle caps for bearings
- A cardboard base, 30 cm by 30 cm
- Glue
- Coloured stickers
Safety: An adult must supervise cutting of the gear teeth and the skewers, and cover the pointed ends with clay.
Take it further: Make a gear train that lifts a small weight with a thread and see how the gear ratio changes the force needed.
PhysicsEasy
Pepper runs from soap: surface tension and a soap-powered boat
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The surface of water behaves like a thin stretched skin. Soap weakens this skin where it touches, so the stronger pull from the surrounding water drags the floating pepper outwards.
You will need
- A wide, shallow plate or tray
- Water to fill it to 1 cm depth
- Ground black pepper
- A toothpick
- Liquid soap or dishwashing liquid
- A thin piece of plastic foam or card, cut as a boat
- A paper clip
Safety: Wash hands after the experiment. Do not put soap near the eyes or mouth.
Take it further: Compare the time a boat runs with soap, with lemon juice and with cooking oil and find which one drives it best.
PhysicsMedium
Rolled newspaper tube bridge: how much can it carry?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A flat sheet of paper bends easily, but the same paper rolled into a tube becomes strong. The bridge shows how shape, not material, decides strength.
You will need
- About 20 sheets of old newspaper
- Masking tape or flour paste
- Two stacks of books as piers
- A small bucket and a bag of pebbles as load
- A kitchen scale or the printed weight of the pebbles
- A ruler
Safety: Keep fingers clear when loads are added. An adult should be present if heavy loads are used.
Take it further: Make tubes of different thickness and plot the failure load against tube diameter.
PhysicsChallenging
Ice-cream stick truss bridge that spans 40 cm
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A truss turns a downward load into pulling in some sticks and pushing in others. Triangular patterns share the load, so a light bridge can carry many times its own weight.
You will need
- About 80 ice-cream sticks
- White glue or fevicol
- A cutting board and a ruler
- Paper clips and clothes pegs for holding joints
- A small bucket, string and pebbles
- Two tables or stacks of books
Safety: An adult must cut any stick. Use glue away from the eyes and work on newspaper.
Take it further: Redesign with a different pattern and compare which gives a higher ratio.
PhysicsEasy
Arch bridge versus beam bridge from cardboard strips
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An arch pushes sideways on its supports and carries a load by compression. A flat beam of the same material sags because the bottom is stretched.
You will need
- Cardboard strips 5 cm wide and 40 cm long (old boxes)
- Two stacks of books as supports
- Small coins or pebbles as load
- A small cup
- Tape and a ruler
- Two heavy books to stop spreading
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard with a knife.
Take it further: Try a pointed arch and a semicircular arch and see which holds more.
PhysicsEasy
CD and balloon hovercraft that glides on a cushion of air
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A thin layer of air under the disc removes most friction, so the hovercraft slides a long way with a tiny push. It shows how reducing friction changes motion.
You will need
- An old CD or DVD
- A pop-up cap from a sports bottle
- A balloon
- Hot glue or strong adhesive
- A smooth table or tile floor
Safety: An adult must use the hot glue. Do not blow into a balloon that someone else has used.
Take it further: Measure the glide distance on three surfaces and plot it as a chart.
PhysicsEasy
CD and paper Newton colour disc that turns white when spun
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
White light is a mixture of the seven spectrum colours. When a disc painted in rainbow sectors spins fast, the eye blends the colours and sees a pale white or grey.
You will need
- An old CD or a cardboard circle 12 cm wide
- Seven coloured pencils or paints
- A pencil or a marble
- A paper circle to cover the CD
- A glue stick
- A ruler and a protractor
Safety: An adult must trim the paper with scissors if the CD is to be cut. Keep the spinning disc away from the eyes.
Take it further: Change the width of the colour sectors and see how the blended colour shifts.
PhysicsMedium
Shoebox spectroscope using a piece of CD as a grating
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A CD has fine tracks that spread light into colours by diffraction. The spectroscope shows that different bulbs and tubes have different colour patterns.
You will need
- A shoebox or a long cardboard tube
- A piece of an old CD, about 3 cm square
- A razor blade or two blades as a slit (adult only)
- Black paper and tape
- A CFL or LED tube, a filament bulb and daylight (not the Sun directly)
- A mobile phone camera or just your eye
Safety: An adult must cut the CD and use the blade. Never look at the Sun through the device.
Take it further: Photograph each spectrum with your phone and compare the colour order along the strip.
PhysicsEasy
Tin-can telephone: does a tight string carry sound better?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Sound travels along a taut string as vibrations. A loose string cannot carry the vibration well, so the voice becomes faint.
You will need
- Two clean empty tin cans or paper cups
- About 5 metres of strong string or fishing line
- A nail to make holes (adult only)
- Two buttons
- Tape
- A measuring tape
Safety: An adult must make the holes and cover the sharp edges of the cans with tape.
Take it further: Try wire, wool thread and cotton string and compare how loud the voice sounds.
PhysicsEasy
Drinking straw pan pipes: tube length and pitch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A shorter air column vibrates faster and gives a higher pitch. Seven straws of different lengths make a simple scale.
You will need
- Seven plastic drinking straws
- Scissors (adult help)
- Tape and a strip of card
- A ruler
- A pen to mark
- A tuner app on a phone (optional)
Safety: Wash the straws before blowing. Do not share the pan pipes without cleaning.
Take it further: Fill bottles with different water levels and compare the pitch trend with the straws.
PhysicsMedium
Syringe-powered hydraulic arm from cardboard and ice-cream sticks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Pushing a liquid in a closed system passes the force along without loss, so a small push at one syringe moves the arm at another. It is the idea behind brakes and JCBs.
You will need
- Four 10 ml syringes (without needles, from a medical shop)
- Two metres of clear tube
- Water with a drop of food colour
- Cardboard and ice-cream sticks
- Hot glue or fevicol
- Split pins and a base board
Safety: Use syringes without needles. An adult must use the glue gun and cut the cardboard.
Take it further: Measure the load lifted using a 10 ml syringe versus a 20 ml one.
PhysicsMedium
Cardboard model houses with different roofs: which stays cooler?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A roof of insulating material like thermocol slows the passage of heat into the house, so the inside stays cooler. The test compares four roof types.
You will need
- Four identical shoeboxes or cardboard boxes
- Roof materials: plain cardboard, thermocol sheet, aluminium foil, tin sheet piece
- Four thermometers or one thermometer used four times
- A sunny spot
- Tape and a notebook
- A clock
Safety: Handle tin sheet with care; an adult must trim it and cover sharp edges. Do not leave thermometers where they can fall.
Take it further: Paint one roof white and another black and compare them.
PhysicsMedium
Rubber-band powered cardboard car on CD wheels
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A twisted rubber band stores elastic energy that turns the axle and moves the car. Winding it more stores more energy and the car goes farther.
You will need
- Four old CDs or bottle caps for wheels
- Two bamboo skewers for axles
- A cardboard chassis 20 cm by 8 cm
- Two straws to hold the axles
- A strong rubber band
- Tape and a hook of wire
- A tape measure
Safety: An adult must cut the skewers and cardboard. Keep fingers away from the stretched band.
Take it further: Change wheel size and see which gives a longer run.
PhysicsEasy
Paddle-wheel boat from a bottle and a rubber band
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The wheel pushes water backwards and the water pushes the boat forward, as in Newton’s third law. The twisted rubber band supplies the energy.
You will need
- A 500 ml plastic bottle for the hull
- Two ice-cream sticks for the paddle frame
- Four bottle caps or card pieces as paddles
- A thick rubber band
- A skewer for the axle
- Tape and a tub of water
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Use the boat only in a tub or a shallow pool with an adult nearby.
Take it further: Try two bottles as a catamaran and see if it travels straighter.
PhysicsMedium
Archimedes screw water lifter from a bottle and a plastic tube
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Turning a spiral of tube lifts water uphill without a pump. The device is a screw that lifts water in a few turns, used for thousands of years.
You will need
- A 1 litre plastic bottle or a thick PVC pipe
- About 3 metres of transparent soft tube
- A bamboo stick or a long pencil
- Strong tape
- Two buckets
- A handle made of a cardboard disc
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Work over a tray and wipe up spills to avoid slipping.
Take it further: Use a different number of turns and plot the water lifted per minute.
PhysicsMedium
Savonius wind turbine from two halves of a plastic bottle
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A vertical turbine with curved cups catches the wind from any direction. It shows how kinetic energy of the wind is turned into rotation.
You will need
- One 2 litre plastic bottle
- A bamboo skewer or a long nail as the axle
- Two circular discs of cardboard
- A bottle cap base or a bearing made of a bead
- Wire or tape
- A small hand fan to make wind
- A ruler and a stopwatch
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Smooth edges with tape and keep fingers away from the turning blades.
Take it further: Connect a small motor to the axle and see if an LED glows.
PhysicsEasy
Pot-in-pot clay cooler: how evaporation keeps food cool
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water evaporating from wet sand between two clay pots takes heat from the inner pot. The test shows a temperature drop with no electricity.
You will need
- Two clay pots, one smaller to fit inside the other
- Sand
- Water
- A wet cloth
- Two thermometers
- A notebook
Safety: Handle clay pots carefully because they can break and have sharp edges.
Take it further: Compare the cooling on a dry day and a rainy day.
PhysicsEasy
Pinhole camera from a chips tube that shows an upside-down world
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Light travels in straight lines, so light from the top of an object goes to the bottom of the screen through a tiny hole. The image on the screen is upside down.
You will need
- A cardboard tube such as a chips tube
- Black paper or black paint
- Butter paper or tracing paper
- A pin and aluminium foil
- Tape and scissors
- A bright object like a window or a candle behind glass (not near a flame)
Safety: An adult must cut the tube and use the pin. Never look at the Sun through the camera.
Take it further: Make the tube longer and measure how image height changes with distance.
PhysicsEasy
Milk carton periscope that lets you see round corners
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two mirrors set at 45 degrees reflect light twice and bring the view from a higher point to your eye. It shows the laws of reflection.
You will need
- A clean 1 litre milk carton or a long cardboard box
- Two small plane mirrors
- Tape and glue
- Scissors (adult help)
- A protractor
- Black paper
Safety: An adult must cut the carton and handle the mirrors. Cover the mirror edges with tape.
Take it further: Make a longer periscope and see if the image becomes dimmer.
PhysicsMedium
Cardboard gear train with a cap handle and a measured speed ratio
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Gears change speed and turning force. A small gear driven by a large one spins faster but with less force, and the speed ratio equals the ratio of teeth.
You will need
- Corrugated cardboard
- Four bottle caps or round lids with teeth cut in them
- Cardboard teeth glued around the discs
- Skewers as axles
- A base board
- Paper strips marked with a colour
- A stopwatch
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard and skewers. Mind the sharp tips of skewers and cover them with clay.
Take it further: Add an idler gear and see the direction and ratio stay the same.
PhysicsEasy
Ice-cream stick tilt maze: guiding a marble by gravity
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A marble always rolls downhill. Tilting the board changes its direction and speed, so the player has to plan the slopes.
You will need
- A shallow cardboard box lid
- Ice-cream sticks
- Fevicol or glue
- A marble
- Coloured paper
- A stopwatch
Safety: Keep marbles away from small children. An adult must cut the cardboard.
Take it further: Make the board adjustable in slope with a hinge and measure the time against angle.
PhysicsMedium
Rubber-band spring balance with a cardboard scale and straw pointer
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The stretch of a rubber band grows with the load. A scale marked with known weights turns it into a simple balance that measures weight.
You will need
- A cardboard strip 30 cm long
- A strong rubber band
- A drinking straw as a pointer
- A paper clip as a hook
- A set of known weights such as 50 g coins or small bags of rice
- Pins, tape and a marker
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard. Keep eyes clear when the rubber band is stretched.
Take it further: Make a second band balance from a thicker band and compare the two scales.
PhysicsMedium
Straw and tape wave machine for transverse waves
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A disturbance can travel along a line of objects without the objects moving along. The machine shows a transverse wave with crest, trough, wavelength and speed.
You will need
- About 40 bamboo skewers or drinking straws
- Strong double-sided tape or long clear tape
- Jelly beans or clay balls for weights
- A table edge or a stand
- A ruler and a stopwatch
- A marker
Safety: An adult must trim the sharp tips of the skewers and cover them with clay.
Take it further: Change the weights and see how the wave speed changes.
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.