Intermediate science experiments

Intermediate projects from the community library, rated by how much setup, measurement and skill they need rather than by how impressive they look.

106 published projects in this collection

What to expect

These take more setup, more trials or more careful measurement. Expect to spend a couple of sessions and to plan your data table before you start.

How difficulty is decided

Difficulty comes from the project's own record — the number and complexity of steps, the tools required and the skill level the creator set — not from a subjective label, so it stays comparable across subjects.

Projects to try

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Free

Engineering

Which base shape makes a tower most resistant to shaking?

Build model towers with different base shapes from spaghetti and marshmallows or straws, then test their stability on a simple shake table.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$15 materials

Which cushioning material best protects an egg from a drop?

Build egg protection cases using different cushioning materials and test survival rate after being dropped from a fixed height.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Several days
$10 materials

Does the number of gear teeth affect how many turns are needed to complete a rotation?

Use a simple gear or lever set to compare rotations needed between gears of different tooth counts.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$20 materials

Which insulated container keeps ice packs frozen the longest during transport?

Line small coolers with different insulating materials and time how long ice packs take to fully melt in each, simulating cold chain transport.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
1 day
$18 materials

Which gripper finger shape picks up the most objects successfully?

Build a simple lever-operated or string-operated gripper with interchangeable finger tips and test pickup success across various small objects.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$20 materials

Which tower base shape supports the most weight before collapsing?

Build small paper towers with different base shapes and test how much weight each can hold before failing.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Several days
$8 materials

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Free

Environmental Science

Does traffic affect air particle levels near a road?

Set out sticky collection cards at different distances from a road and count deposited particles.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$10 materials

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Free

Environmental Science

Does a solar oven get hotter with more reflectors?

Build a cardboard solar oven and measure inside temperature with different numbers of reflectors.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Several days
$15 materials

How does blade number affect the power output of a model wind turbine?

Build model wind turbines with different blade counts and measure voltage output using a small DC motor generator and fan.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$25 materials

Does blade angle affect how much wind a model turbine can capture?

Build a simple model wind turbine with adjustable blade angles and measure rotation speed at a fixed fan setting.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$18 materials

Does roof angle affect how much rainwater a collection system captures?

Build model roofs at different slope angles connected to gutters and collection containers, then simulate rainfall to measure water capture efficiency.