Science Reference Guides

Chemistry and Physics Experiments:Selected Resources for Science Teachers and Students

CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

Bonnet, Robert L., and Dan Keen. Science fair projects: physics.New York, Sterling Pub., 1999. 95 p.
   Presents projects and experiments that use easy-to-find materials to explore the world of physics, covering such topics as temperature, energy flow, acceleration, sound, pendulums, momentum, magnetism, and solar heat.

Burns, George. Exploring the world of chemistry.New York, Franklin Watts, c1995. 48 p.
   Suggests simple activities for exploring chemistry, the study of the substances that make up our world.

Ealy, Julie B., and James L. Ealy, Jr. Visualizing chemistry: investigations for teachers.Washington, American Chemical Society, 1995. 434 p.
   Includes bibliographical references.

Ehrlich, Robert. Why toast lands jelly-side down: zen and the art of physics demonstrations.Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press, c1997. 196 p.
   Bibliography: p. 193-194.

Friedhoffer, Robert. Physics lab in a hardware store.New York, Franklin Watts, c1996. 112 p.
   Bibliography: p. 107.
   Examines such topics in physics as mass, weight, gravity, buoyancy, and pressure with experiments using common household tools.

Friedhoffer, Robert. Physics lab in a housewares store.New York, Franklin Watts, c1996. 95 p.
   Bibliography: p. 91.
   Explores such topics in physics as levers, friction, heat transmission, and density with experiments using common household utensils.

Friedhoffer, Robert. Physics lab in the home.New York, Franklin Watts, c1997. 80 p.
   Bibliography: p. 75-76.
   Explores such topics in physics as the properties of water, transmission of heat, evaporation, and air pressure as seen in home plumbing, refrigerators, and other common items.

Friedhoffer, Robert. Science lab in a supermarket.New York, Franklin Watts, c1998. 95 p.
   Bibliography: p. 91.
   Presents a variety of experiments using items you can buy in the supermarket. Also explains the scientific basis for such things as the flexible plastic strips that cover doorways leading into the meat departments in many large markets.

Gardner, Robert. Science projects about kitchen chemistry.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, c1999. 128 p.
   Bibliography: p. 123-124.
   Presents experiments suitable for science fair projects, dealing with the chemistry involved with foods and activities related to the kitchen.

Gardner, Robert. Science projects about physics in the home.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, c1999. 112 p.
   Bibliography: p. 109-110.
   Presents instructions for physics projects and experiments that can be done at home and exhibited at science fairs.

Hauser, Jill Frankel. Gizmos & gadgets: creating science contraptions that work (& knowing why).Charlotte, Vt., Williamson Pub., c1999. 144 p.
   Provides instructions for making seventy-five contraptions that demonstrate friction, gravity, energy, motion, and other principles of physics and explains how to think like an inventor.

Herr, Norman, and James Cunningham. Hands-on chemistry activities with real-life applications.West Nyack, N.Y., Center for Applied Research in Education, c1999. 638 p. (Physical science curriculum library, v. 2)

Moje, Steven W. Cool chemistry: great experiments with simple stuff. New York, Sterling Pub. Co., c1999. 96 p.
   Fifty-five experiments with readily available materials explore basic concepts of chemistry and physics, including the properties of matter, acids and bases, and food chemistry.

Physics projects for young scientists.Rev. ed. Richard C. Adams and Peter H. Goodwin. New York, Franklin Watts, c2000. 128 p.
   Rev. ed. of: Physics projects for young scientists. Peter H. Goodwin, c1991.
   Bibliography: p. 120-121.
   Gives instructions for and explains the principles behind a variety of simple physics experiments.

Rohrig, Brian. 150 captivating chemistry experiments using household substances.Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, B. Rohrig, c1997. 184 p.
Teaching chemistry with TOYS : activities for grades K-9.Jerry L. Sarquis, Mickey Sarquis, John P. Williams. New York, TAB Books, c1995. 296 p.
   Includes bibliographical references.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIMENTS

Bonnet, Robert L., and Dan Keen. Science fair projects with electricity & electronics.New York, Sterling Pub., c1996. 95 p.
   Nearly fifty projects on electricity and electronics, designed for science fair competition.

DiSpezio, Michael A. Awesome experiments in electricity & magnetism.New York, Sterling Pub., c1998. 160 p.
   Provides instructions for over fifty experiments demonstrating the properties of electricity and magnetism.

DiSpezio, Michael A. Awesome experiments in light & sound.New York, Sterling Pub. Co., c1999. 160 p.
   Presents over seventy experiments designed to demonstrate the properties of light and sound and explain the science behind them, covering such topics as wavelengths, color spectrums, vibration, and air particles.

Doherty, Paul, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. The cool hot rod and other electrifying experiments on energy and matter. New York, John Wiley, c1996. 100 p.
   Presents over twenty experiments exploring energy transformations and how they affect the everyday world. The experiments are miniature versions of some of the exhibits at the Exploratorium, San Francisco's famed museum of science, art, and human perception.

Doherty, Paul, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. The magic wand and other bright experiments on light and color.New York, Wiley, c1995. 125 p.

Doherty, Paul, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. The magic wand and other bright experiments on light and color.New York, Wiley, c1995. 125 p.

Doherty, Paul, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. The spinning blackboard and other dynamic experiments on force and motion.New York, John Wiley & Sons, c1996. 112 p.
   Presents over twenty experiments exploring the principles of mechanics. The experiments are miniature versions of some of the exhibits at the Exploratorium, San Francisco's famed museum of science, art, and human perception.

Gardner, Robert. Experiments with bubbles.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, 1995. 104 p.
   Bibliography: p. 101.
   A collection of experiments that use bubbles to illustrate scientific principles and properties.

Gardner, Robert. Experiments with light and mirrors.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, c1995. 112 p.
   Bibliography: p. 110.

Gardner, Robert. Science projects about the physics of sports.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, c2000. 128 p.
   Bibliography: p. 124-125.
   Presents science projects and experiments related to sports, covering such topics as speed, Newton's Laws, force and motion, gravity, friction, and collisions.

Gardner, Robert, and David Webster. Experiments with balloons.Springfield, N.J., Enslow Publishers, c1995. 104 p.
   Bibliography: p. 99.

Goodstein, Madeline P. Sports science projects: the physics of balls in motion.Berkeley Heights, N.J., Enslow Publishers, 1999. 128 p.
   Bibliography: p. 125.
   Presents experiments and science fair projects that demonstrate the differences between kinds of sports balls and the relationship between their design and performance.

Levine, Shar, and Leslie Johnstone. The magnet book.New York, Sterling Pub., c1997. 80 p.
   Provides instructions for about thirty simple experiments exploring magnetism and electricity.

Mebane, Robert C., and Thomas R. Rybolt. Air & other gases. New York, Twenty-First Century Books, 1995. 63 p.
   Bibliography: p. 61.

Mebane, Robert C., and Thomas R. Rybolt. Water & other liquids.New York, Twenty-first Century Books, 1995. 64 p.
   Bibliography: p. 61.

Moje, Steven W. 100 science experiments with paper.New York, Sterling Pub., c1998. 128 p.
   Describes how to perform 100 experiments with paper and other materials easily found in the home, exploring such topics as air, chemistry, electricity, magnetism, heat, light, inertia, sound, and water.

Moje, Steven W. Paper clip science: simple & fun experiments.New York, Sterling Pub., c1996. 96 p.
   Describes sixty-five experiments using paper clips and other inexpensive supplies, demonstrating such basic physics and chemistry phenomena as weight, balance, flight, and surface tension.

Wood, Robert W. Light fundamentals.New York, McGraw-Hill, c1997. 140 p.
   Provides instructions for a variety of experiments introducing the study of light, its characteristics, sources, and uses.

GENERAL EXPERIMENTS

The Ben Franklin book of easy and incredible experiments.Edited by Lisa Jo Rudy. New York, Wiley, c1995. 131 p.
   Includes bibliographical references.

Cobb, Vicki, and Kathy Darling. You gotta try this!: absolutely irresistible science.New York, Morrow Junior Books, 1999. 144 p.
   A collection of science experiments and activities, arranged in such categories as "Physical Attractions," "Curious Chemistry," and "Freaky Fluids."

Coffin, Marilyn. Team science: organizing classroom experiments that develop group skills. Tucson, Ariz., Zephyr Press, c1996. 101 p.

Melton, Lisa Taylor, and Eric Ladizinsky. 50 nifty super science experiments.Additional material by Michelle Ghaffari. Los Angeles, Lowell House Juvenile; Chicago, Contemporary Books, c1997. 80 p.
   Provides instructions for science experiments involving such topics as gravity, color, and light dispersion.

Pearce, Q. L. (Querida Lee). Super science experiments.Los Angeles, Lowell House Juvenile, c1999. 90 p.

Pilger, Mary Anne. Science experiments index for young people.2nd ed. Englewood, Colo., Libraries Unlimited, 1996. 504 p.

VanCleave, Janice Pratt. Janice VanCleave's science experiment sourcebook.New York, Wiley, c1997. 308 p.
   Presents 300 science experiments, grouped under the topics of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science and physics.

VanCleave, Janice Pratt. Janice VanCleave's 203 icy, freezing, frosty, cool & wild experiments.New York, J. Wiley, c1999. 122 p.

VanCleave, Janice Pratt. Janice VanCleave's 202 oozing, bubbling, dripping & bouncing experiments.New York, J. Wiley, 1996. 120 p.
   Provides instructions for over 200 short experiments in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics.

Wiese, Jim. Rocket science: 50 flying, floating, flipping, spinning gadgets kids create themselves.New York, Wiley, c1995. 115 p.

Wood, Robert W. When?: experiments for the young scientist. New York, TAB Books, c1995. 133 p.

Wood, Robert W. Where?: experiments for the young scientist.New York, TAB Books, c1995. 133 p.

Wood, Robert W. Who?: famous experiments for the young scientist.Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., TAB Books, c1995. 127 p.

World Book's young scientist.Chicago, World Book, c1997. 10 v.
   See especially v. 2. Light & electricity. Magnetic power and v. 3. Atoms & molecules. Gases.
   Contents: v. 1. Space technology. Computers -- v. 2. Light & electricity. Magnetic power -- v. 3. Atoms & molecules. Gases -- v. 4. Planet Earth. Water -- v. 5. Living world. Plants -- v. 6. Animals -- v. 7. Human body. Communications -- v. 8. Energy. Conservation -- v. 9. Construction. Machines -- v. 10. Student guide. Index.

Compiled by Denise P. Dempsey
June 2000