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
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.
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.
PhysicsMedium
Sugar in fruit juice from the density of a floating egg
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsEasy
The pepper that runs away from soap: surface tension
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
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.
PhysicsMedium
Sticky tape strength: how overlap length changes the load it holds
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
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.
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
Glass bottle xylophone: water level and pitch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The pitch of a note from a tapped bottle depends on the amount of water in it: more water gives a higher note when tapped. You tune bottles into a scale and learn how vibration speed sets pitch.
You will need
- 8 identical glass bottles or tumblers
- Water and a jug
- A spoon of steel or a wooden stick
- Food colour, optional
- A ruler
- Tape and a marker
- A phone with a tuner app, optional
Safety: Use unchipped glass and tap gently. An adult must handle any broken glass, and keep the bottles away from table edges.
Take it further: Use a tuner app to measure the frequency of each bottle and graph frequency against water height.
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
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsEasy
Coat hanger balance: weigh sugar, salt and rice by comparison
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A balance compares two masses by checking that they pull equally on both sides of a pivot. You build one from a hanger and use it with a reference weight to measure the mass of kitchen items.
You will need
- A wire or plastic coat hanger
- Two identical paper cups or small bowls
- Strong string
- A hook or a nail to hang it on
- Coins or a 50 g weight as reference
- A marker, ruler and tape
- Sugar, salt and rice
Safety: Hang the balance from a safe place and keep the cup contents low. An adult must help with nails. Wire ends can be sharp, so tape them.
Take it further: Make a ruler seesaw balance and test the principle of moments with unequal distances.
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
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsEasy
Which surface colour heats up fastest in the sun? Four can test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsMedium
How many clear layers does a solar heater plate need? Glazing test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
PhysicsEasy
Vertical Savonius turbine from two halves of a plastic bottle
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A vertical-axis wind turbine spins whichever way the wind blows. The curved half-bottle blades catch more push on the open side than the round side, so the rotor keeps turning.
You will need
- One 1 litre plastic bottle
- Two round cardboard discs 12 cm wide
- A bamboo skewer or thin dowel as the axle
- A bottle cap or small bead for the bearing
- Strong tape and glue
- A table fan for testing
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle and the skewer ends. Keep fingers and hair away from the spinning blades and from the fan guard.
Take it further: Add a small DC motor on the axle and measure the voltage across an LED at each fan speed.
PhysicsMedium
Two, three, four or six blades: which rotor turns a dynamo best?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
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.
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.