Balloon Rocket Race
In book one, Summer Set in Motion, Halley and her friends need to solve a riddle about Newton’s Laws of Motion to win the Camp Eureka challenge! Here’s how they solve it.
What you need: String, a balloon, a straw (cut in half), tape
Here’s how you do it: Thread the string through the straw. Tie off both ends of the string to a doorknob and a chair. Blow up the balloon and hold the open end shut. Carefully tape the balloon to the straw. Move the balloon to one of the ends of the string. Let go and observe how the air in the balloon pushes the balloon forward.
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The Friendship Experiment
In book two, The Friendship Experiment, Halley finds herself needing to use chemistry to get her best friend back. Here’s how she reveals a secret message with an acid-base reaction.
What you need: Baking soda, water, white paper, grape juice, and two cotton swabs
How you do it: Make the invisible ink by mixing a tablespoon of baking soda to 1/4 cup of water. Dip the cotton swab in the mixture and write your message on a white sheet of paper. Let the message air dry. Reveal the secret message by dipping a clean cotton swab in grape juice and gently swiping it over the secret message
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Kid-Safe Monster Toothpaste
In book two, The Friendship Experiment, Halley finds herself performing in a science show at Halloween. Here is a kid-safe version of her experiment to try yourself!
What you need: 1/2 cup regular 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind you use for antiseptic), one packet of active yeast, water, dish soap, food coloring, an empty bottle, a small cup, and a pie pan
What you do: Mix 2 tablespoons of warm water with one packet of yeast in a small cup. Let it sit for 3 minutes to re-hydrate. Pour 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a separate plastic bottle. Add two pumps of dish soap to the hydrogen peroxide. Add green food coloring to the hydrogen peroxide. Place hydrogen peroxide container in a pie pan to catch the results. Note the temperature of the hydrogen peroxide by touching the outside of the container. Pour yeast-water mixture into the hydrogen peroxide solution. Touch the foam to feel if the temperature has changed.
Click here for the science discussion.