10 Backyard Science Experiments for Kids
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Rubber bands around a watermelon
If you are up for a big mess and have a lot of time to fill, this experiment is sure to be a hit. It’s pretty straightforward — simply put rubber bands around a watermelon until it explodes. Each rubber band applies a small amount of pressure, leading to the eventual explosion. Be sure to have a lot of space for this one as the fruit and juice will fly in all directions. And bring your patience, it can take hundreds of rubber bands before the big payoff.
Science lesson: It’s all about pressure! When you wrap rubber bands around a watermelon, each band adds pressure by squeezing the fruit tighter. As more bands are added, the pressure builds up inside the watermelon’s rind, which is strong but not unbreakable. Eventually, the force becomes too much — and the watermelon bursts in a juicy explosion!
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