Physics Experiments

The Naked Scientists: Science Radio & Science Podcasts

Experiment from our Archive
Seeing further - DIY telescope
(c) Dave Ansell

Dropping Eggs


How to stop an egg from breaking when dropped without any padding, and what it has to do with a womb.

Freezing batteries


We have a look at the chemistry of batteries and what happens if you cool them down.
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Snapping Spaghetti


What happens when you snap a simple piece of spaghetti? Believe it or not, this is a question that has baffled some of the finest minds in the world. Why not have a go yourself?
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Building Bridges - The Science of Beams


Have a go at the Naked Scientists Bridge Challenge and see if you can do better than we did...
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Steam explosions - the science of popcorn


Find out some of the science behind that tasty cinema snack! Why is it that you always find tiny popcorn at the bottom of your bowl?
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2] [3]

Weighing the Atmosphere


Find out how hard a vacuum cleaner can suck, what this has got to do with air pressure and discover how this helps us suck.
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Why do wheels work?


The wheel is something we have been taking for granted for the last 7000 years, but why is it so effective?
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Pumping Straw - a centrifugal pump


Make a pump out of a straw and a skewer and soak all your friends.
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Disappearing monitors - the power of polarisation


If you have ever wanted to know how to make something on your computer screen disappear then find out here. Also find out why you should use polarised sunglasses and how an LCD monitor works.
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Singing stirings - build a guitar


Make beautiful music with some string and a table, and find out why some notes sound great together.

Seeing further - DIY telescope


Dave builds a makeshift telescope from a pair of magnifying glasses - but be careful not to get dizzy - the image it produces is upside down!
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2] [3]

Microwaving Ice - why defrosting is so slow.


It's "On Your Marks..." for a watery microwave race - will water boil before ice melts?...
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2]

Silver from soot


Convert normal soot into a beautiful silvery substance using just a candle, some water and a mug...
(c) Dave Ansell
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Listen
...or download as MP3 [1] [2] [3]

Drop Magnifier


Make the cheapest microscope in the world, using a piece of plastic and some water. And find out what it has to do with sneezing on your TV screen!
(c) Dave Ansell

Vortex Cannon


If you have ever been too lazy to get up and blow out a candle a few feet away, then we might have the answer.

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