Activities for Kids

Sink, Swim & Float! 6 Sensational Science Experiments

Take their love of boats to the next level with these cool experiments you can easily do right at home.

By Shelley Massey June 1, 2020

When you’re a parent—especially during COVID—sometimes, “absolutely not” becomes “whatever floats your boat” a little more frequently. And, because they’re kids, you’d better be prepared for their millions of questions about what that really means, exactly. So teach them with a fun at-home scientific activity! A day of boating science is as fun as it is educational, and we’ve got six simple science experiments for kids that are bound to make some waves!

Thrust and Propulsion

Wind is one way to make a boat go, but what happens when waters are calm? Find out how a reaction between baking soda and vinegar results in a gas, causing the boat to propel forward in the opposite direction, in this experiments by Science Sparks.

Scientific Principal
Jet engines and propellers all function by generating thrust, which moves boats across water. There are many different propulsion mechanisms for boats, but they all operate by creating thrust.

All photos by the author.