In this independent research project students investigate the properties of materials, electric circuits and electronic devices in order to design, build and test a device to measure the steadiness of someone’s hand ...

Students investigate how well different sun creams and sun blocks protect against UV radiation from the sun and research:

• Information about the electromagnetic spectrum and radiation from the sun.
• Why UV radiation is damaging to...

Students investigate the effect of industry or agriculture on a water course, by comparing levels of pollution with those in an ‘unspoilt’ body of water. They will need to consider what form any pollution...

In this project, students make their own toothpaste and compare it to toothpastes available in the shop. They then do some tests to find out which toothpaste cleans the best by testing on egg shell.   Students are asked to consider the following questions:

• ...

In this independent research project, students investigate the fat and salt content of different crisps and then suggest which crisps would be best for a patient with coronary heart disease. They start by finding out about the effects of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and what...

In this practical lesson from the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), students complete a number of different tests on a selection of materials and identify each one from its particular properties. The tests include Eureka cans, electrical circuits and other...

In this video from the Teachers TV series Demonstrating Chemistry, Professor Hal Sosabowski demonstrates a solid...

Produced by Solar Spark, this is a simple practical activity that can be used to show how a solar photovoltaic cell works. During a 45-60 minute session, students make solar cells out of cheap and readily accessible materials. The mechanism behind the solar cell is similar to that used in a dye-sensitised solar...

Produced by Solar Spark, this activity looks at the relationship between light and absorption in solar cells. Using a photovoltaic cell and different colour acetate sheets, it demonstrates the ability of solar cells to absorb at different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and shows how the more it can...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Solar cells use light from the Sun to generate electricity, and it is now quite common to see solar-powered consumer devices. What has held...

This resource uses the context of tornadoes in the solar atmosphere to investigate circular motion and energy changes. A hole is drilled in the bottom of a washing up bowl and orange pith can be used to track the motion of the water when draining through the bottom and creating a vortex. The Key Stage Three...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Sound is an important part of our lives. Many people enjoy listening to music, and watching television would not be the same without sound. On...

In this video an oscilloscope simulator on a laptop is demonstrated to visualise a sound wave and calculate its frequency. 

Four groups of practicals, produced by Institute of Physics (IOP), which help students to understand the properties of sound.

In addition to the guidance included for specific activities, please refer to the generic health and safety information before commencing any practical activity.

This resource...