Science experiments you can try at home! Justin Huffman from Penn State Altoona’s Lions Learning Lab makes a boat powered by toothpaste!
“Toothpaste-Powered Boat”
Demonstration Concept
This science demonstration teaches kids surfactants and the surface tension of water. Kids will have fun building a small boat that runs on toothpaste!
Materials
- Plastic (I used a plastic folder), Styrofoam, milk carton…etc.
- Toothpaste or soap
- Hole Puncher
- Marker
- Scissors
- Large container of water
Instructions
- With a marker, trace a pentagon shape in (plastic, styrofoam, or milk carton).
- Take your scissors and cut your pentagon out.
- Use the hole puncher to punch a hole in the bottom center of the pentagon.
- Take your scissors and cut a little notch out of the bottom of the hole.
- Place a thin layer of toothpaste around the small hole on both sides of the boat.
- Finally place your boat in a container of water and get sailing!!!
Visit Lions Learning Lab for more information.