levitator
Science and technology come together in the Tree of Science demonstrations. Objects are launched into the air through chemical changes and physical effects, and daily life becomes a studio for exploring a fundamental physics law that governs our sense of home and space.
you will need
- Normal hair dryer
2. Light ball or table tennis ball
What should we do
- Turn on the hair dryer, preferably using the cold air setting.
2. Direct the air stream upward from the dryer.
3. Place the ball into the moving air so it sits within the stream.
What happened
The ball lifts into the air as if by magic, riding the fast air current. It stays suspended as long as the hair dryer runs. If the dryer is tilted, the ball can hover within the airflow.
Why did this happen?
The effect rests on Bernoulli’s principle: higher gas flow reduces pressure. The fast-moving air from the dryer lowers the pressure around the ball, which keeps it within the stream as surrounding air pressure pushes it back toward the center. This is a classic demonstration of how velocity and pressure relate in fluids.
pneumatic explosion
At a climactic moment in the show, several nitrogen-based mortars are set off on stage, creating water vapor columns that rise well above the audience. Liquid nitrogen expands dramatically when heated to room temperature, explosively pushing gas outward. While this is a striking effect seen in controlled productions, it should not be attempted at home. A simpler, safer experiment can illustrate gas pressure in action without handling hazardous materials.
you will need
- cream injector
2. Glitter or confetti
3. Scissors and wrapping paper
4. Shiny adhesive tape
5. Ordinary tape
6. Cotton pad
What should we do
- Unscrew the nozzle of the pastry syringe
2. Pull the syringe plunger back almost completely to create space inside for the charge.
3. Fill the syringe with glitter, confetti, or finely shredded colored paper
4. Compress the contents tightly
5. Seal the open end with corrugated paper using tape
6. Decorate the device with ribbon and wrapping paper
7. Stand the device vertically on the plunger
8. Press the piston firmly
What happened
Bang!
Why did this happen?
When the piston is pressed hard, the internal air pressure increases. The stronger pressure causes the corrugated paper to fail like a valve, letting the contents burst outward in a dramatic display.
man made clouds
On stage, thousands of liters of water vapor can be produced with liquid nitrogen, but there is a way to create a cloud with common materials at home without complex reagents.
you will need
- Large (1.5-2 liter) plastic bottle
p>
2. Warm water
3. Match or splinter
What should we do
- Fill one third of the bottle with warm water and seal the cap
2. Squeeze the bottle and then release
3. Open the bottle, light a match, lower it into the bottle, and quickly reseal the lid
4. Squeeze firmly again and release the bottle
5. When the pressure is released, observable cloud formation can subside if the bottle is squeezed again
What happened
The warm water releases water vapor inside the bottle. The vapor condenses on tiny smoke particles, forming a visible cloud. Pressurizing the bottle inhibits condensation, so the cloud may persist differently depending on the release. This illustrates basic principles of condensation and the role of condensation nuclei.
Why did this happen?
Warm water evaporates, producing water vapor. Condensation requires particles around which the vapor can cluster; smoke particles provide those seeds. Without those particles, water vapor may not readily form a cloud. The process reveals how temperature, pressure, and microscopic particles influence cloud formation.
smoke ball
During a festive sequence, large toroidal vortices created by smoke released from a ball can travel toward the audience. A scaled-down version of this effect can be reproduced safely at home with modest materials.
you will need
- A jar with a lid
2. Scissors and a utility knife
3. Marker and a balloon
4. Matches and incense sticks
What should we do
- Carefully cut the bottom from the jar with a utility knife
2. Drill a circular hole in the jar lid about half the lid’s diameter
3. Seal the jar with the lid
4. Trim the tip of the balloon with scissors
5. Push the balloon to the bottom of the jar
6. Light the incense stick and extinguish it, letting the jar fill with smoke
7. Tap the balloon membrane
What happened
Smoke rings emerge from the lid and linger, moving through the room for some time.
Why did this happen?
With the jar filled with smoke, tapping the balloon pushes some of the smoke out through the small lid hole. The cylindrical shape causes the smoke to curl into donut-like rings as it exits the opening.
chemical clock
Many of the Scientific Christmas Tree demonstrations rely on chemical transformations. A visible sign that a reaction is underway is a color change in the solution, which makes for a compelling hands-on observation.
you will need
- Starch
2. Hydrogen peroxide, 3%
3. Iodine solution in alcohol
4. Two vitamin C tablets (1000 mg)
5. Teaspoon and tablespoon
6. Four empty glasses and a jug of warm water
What should we do
- Prepare solution number 1 by dissolving two vitamin C tablets in three tablespoons of water.
2. Prepare solution number 2 by dissolving two teaspoons of iodine in alcohol in three tablespoons of water
3. Add two teaspoons of solution number 1 to the prepared solution number 2 and mix well. This yields solution number 2 ready
4. Prepare solution number 3 by dissolving two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in three tablespoons of water
5. Add a teaspoon of starch to the solution prepared, mixing well. This yields solution number 3 ready
6. Mix solutions 2 and 3 in a glass
What happened
The initially clear solution slowly turns dark blue as the reaction progresses.
Why did this happen?
Many chemical reactions involve a color change. When iodine meets starch, a deep blue compound forms. Vitamin C can delay this interaction by reacting with iodine to produce a colorless product. When solutions 2 and 3 combine, iodine release accelerates, reaches a threshold, and interacts with starch to create the blue hue.