Rolling, bouncing, racing, zipping, squishing, and more! Physics is fun, and these simple physics experiments are perfectly fun physics for kids! Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our simple science experiments and STEM activities for all year round learning and play!
EASY PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
FUN PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS
Can physics be playful? Absolutely, and we will show you AMAZING physics experiments for kids that are easy to set up, budget-friendly, and of course playful! Hands-on is the way to go with our young scientists, explorers, and engineers.
From catapults to rockets and ramps to light and sound, you will find a little bit of everything to start enjoying physics at home or add to your classroom lessons with your kids. We even have some free fun printable packs to help you get started at the bottom of this page.
Oh and if you are looking for an equally awesome collection of simple chemistry experiments for kids, we have that too!
WHAT IS PHYSICS?
Physics is most simply put, the study of matter and energy and the interaction between the two. How did the Universe begin? You might not have the answer to that question! However, you can pull off these cool physics experiments to get your kids thinking, observing, questioning, and experimenting.
Let’s keep it basic for our younger scientists. Physics is all about energy and matter and the relationship they share with one another. Like all sciences, physics is all about solving problems and figuring out why things do what they do. Keep in mind that simple physics experiments can involve some chemistry too!
Kids are great for questioning everything, and we want to encourage…
- listening
- observing
- exploring
- experimenting
- reinventing
- testing
- evaluating
- questioning
- critical thinking
- and more…..
In the following easy physics experiments and activities, some of the things you are going to learn a little bit about are static electricity, Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, simple machines, buoyancy, density, and more! And all with easy household supplies, so you can still do awesome physics projects on a budget!
Encourage your kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time. Science always includes an element of mystery that kids naturally love to figure out! Learn more about using the scientific method with young kids here..
We have a brand new series surrounding the NGSS science standards so you can work all these great ideas into your lesson plans. Click here to read more.
SIMPLE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
You will love these neat physics project ideas we have to share with you. I handpick my selections based on what I think my son would enjoy, what supplies are needed, and what amount of time needs to be dedicated to each activity.
Click on each link for the full descriptions of each of the experiments and activities.
Looking for easy science process information and free journal pages?
We have you covered…
—>>> FREE Science Process Pack
AIR RESISTANCE EXPERIMENT
Whoa! A physics experiment in under 10 mins and all you need to do is go raid the computer printer! Make simple air foils and learn about air resistance.
AIR VORTEX CANNON
Make your own homemade air cannon and blast down dominoes and other similar items. Learn about air pressure and the movement of air particles in the process.
BALANCING APPLE EXPERIMENT
Can you balance an apple on your finger? We explored balancing apples and gravity with real apples for our Ten Apples Up On Top basic physics experiment and it was pretty challenging! Now let’s try to balance a paper apple (use our FREE printable template to make your own).
BALLOON CAR
There are I am sure many ways for you to come up with a balloon car of your very own. I have two balloon car design suggestions to get the creative juices flowing! You can make a LEGO balloon car or you can make a cardboard balloon car. Both work off of a similar principle and really go! Find out which makes the fastest balloon car,
BALLOON ROCKET
Explore fun forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project. See it here along with more easy physics ideas. Although theme for a holiday, this simple experiment can be turned into any fun theme. You can even race two balloons or set it up outside!
BUOYANCY
Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh and a bowl of water too!
EGG DROP PROJECT
Check out our mess-free version of a classic science experiment. This egg drop challenge is a great way to introduce younger kids to the scientific method as you test out ideas to protect your egg from cracking.
Here’s an egg drop project suitable for older kids by Lemon Lime Adventures.
EGG RACES
Let the egg race experiments begin! Which egg will roll to the bottom of the ramp first? Help your kids make predictions as to what will happen with different size eggs and different angles of ramps. Older kids may also find learning about Newton’s 3 Laws to be interesting, and explore how they can apply those ideas to their egg races.
HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT
Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean and buoyancy with this simple physics activity.
Check out more awesome shark week activities here.
KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS
Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for summer STEAM. This simple physics activity for preschoolers encourages the sense of sight! We spent a fun morning designing and crafting our DIY kaleidoscope for kids. This kid’s kaleidoscope uses every component of STEAM to create a cool, homemade science toy.
LEGO PARACHUTE
If your mini-figure was about to go skydiving, would they have a LEGO® Parachute? And would their parachute actually work and carry them safely to the ground? Experiment with different materials to see what makes a good LEGO parachute.
LEGO ZIP LINE
Can you set up a LEGO® Zip Line and see how well it holds up when in motion? This LEGO® building challenge is also a great way to introduce gravity, friction, slope, energy, and motion while getting creative with your LEGO® design. You could also add a pulley mechanism like we did here for this toy zip line.
MARBLE RUN WALL
Pool noodles are amazing and cheap materials for so many STEM projects. I keep a bunch on hand all year-long to keep my kid busy. I bet you didn’t know how useful a pool noodle could be for physics projects. Learn about gravity, friction, energy and more with hands-on physics fun!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cardboard Tube Marble Run
POPSICLE STICK CATAPULT
Want to learn how to make a catapult with popsicle sticks? This Popsicle stick catapult design is an easy physics experiment for kids of all ages! Everyone loves to launch stuff into the air.
We have also made a spoon catapult, LEGO catapult, pencil catapult, and a jumbo marshmallow catapult!
LEGO RUBBER BAND CAR
We made a simple LEGO® Rubber Band Car to go along with our favorite superhero book. Again these can be made as simple or as detailed as your kids would like to make them, and it’s all STEM!
ALSO CHECK OUT: Rubber Band Car
SALT WATER DENSITY EXPERIMENT
This easy to set up salt water density experiment is a cool variation of the classic sink or float experiment. What will happen to the egg in salt water? Will an egg float or sink in salty water? There are so many questions to ask and predictions to make with this easy physics experiment for kids.
SHADOW PUPPETS
Kids love their shadows, love to chase shadows, and love to make shadows do silly things! There’s also some fun things to learn about shadows for physics. Make simple animal shadow puppets and learn about the science of shadows.
SIMPLE PULLEY EXPERIMENT
If the weather is great, get outdoors and set up a pulley system for this simple physics experiment. We have made pulleys before with a card board box and a rope for our stairs and also a mini pulley made with PVC pipes. You can find everything you need at the hardware store!
SINK AND FLOAT EXPERIMENT
Use items straight out of the kitchen for our sink or float experiment. You could also test peeling your vegetables or slicing them. Plus I am sure your child will be able to come with other fun things to test! This is a simple physics experiment and totally engaging for young kids.
SOUND EXPERIMENT
Kids love to make noises and sounds is all a part of the physical sciences. This homemade xylophone sound experiment is truly a simple physics experiment for kids. So easy to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and play!
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Balloons are a must for this one! This simple experiment explores the fun physics that kids love. I bet you’ve even tried it yourself. Although it’s themed for Valentine’s Day, you can make it your own!
VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT
Test the viscosity or “thickness” of different household liquids with this easy physics experiment for kids.
WATER DISPLACEMENT EXPERIMENT
Learn about water displacement and what it measures with this simple physics experiment for kids.
VALENTINE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS
5 simple physics experiments with a Valentine’s Day theme including a balloon rocket, static electricity, buoyancy and more!
MORE COOL PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
Magnet Powered Car | Science Kiddo
Rocket Building Station | Lemon Lime Adventures
Exploring Light with Prisms | Buggy and Buddy The Science of Sound Waves | KC Edventures
Gravity Art | Artful Parent
FUN STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
You may also like…
SIMPLE ENGINEERING PROJECTS FOR KIDS
COOL THINGS TO BUILD WITH LEGO
CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
SIMPLE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS MAKE LEARNING A BLAST!
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Emma
Wow, I see so many ideas here I want to try? Gravity art, nuts and bolts sculptures…my daughter is going to love these!
Anne
Great list of activities! I know that even as an engineer, physics “sounds” hard. Anything we can do to get kids trying it, playing with it and learning it helps remove that stigma. Thanks for including our slime, too 🙂
littlebins
Your welcome! Yes Physics does sound intimidating but it doesn’t have to be.