This DIY glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls science project teaches chemical reactions and polymers while making their very own bouncy ball. It’s fun and educational, it’s a win-win!
To create a bouncy ball, you need glue which is made of long chain molecules called polymers. When you mix borax with the glue, it links the polymers together. Adding cornstarch to the mixture helps the molecules bond together, making them hold their shape better. You can make the project more exciting by using glow-in-the-dark paint or different types of glue like glitter glue, to create a unique bouncy ball. You can also experiment with the amount of ingredients to see how to make a ball with the best bounce.
DIY Glow-In-The-Dark Bouncy Balls
Ingredients:
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- 2 glass or plastic cups
- Spoon, fork, or stirring stick
- 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon borax
- 1 tablespoon Elmer’s Glue (white or clear)
- 1 teaspoon Corn Starch
- 1 teaspoon Glow-in-the-dark paint
- 2 to 3 drops of food coloring (or enough until you reach the desired color)
To make your bouncy balls, use the following directions:
First, you’ll want to set out your glasses. You may want to mark one borax mixture and the other ball mixture so you can easily remember which mixture is in which glass.
In one of the glasses, combine water and borax. Stir until borax dissolves.
In the other glass, mix glue, cornstarch, food coloring, glow-in-the-dark paint, and 1/2 tablespoons of borax and water mixture. Allow the mixture to sit for 20 seconds before stirring.
Begin to stir the ingredients together until they begin to harden and start to get sticky, but all stay together.
Remove the mixture from the glass and start working it with your hands to form balls. It will become less sticky as you work with it.
Creating bouncy balls is a fun way to teach kids about polymers. The process takes only 15 minutes and is a great activity for the family.
This DIY project appeared first on Jenns Blah Blah Blog written by myself Jenn Brockman. Let me know what you think and/or if you’ve ever made your own diy bouncy balls.
