fall experimental

13 Fall Science Experiments Perfect for Kids

Fall science experiments are perfect for when the weather cools off

It’s that time of year again! Your kids can’t wait to skip, jump, and hop into the Mount Everest-worthy pile of leaves that’ll soon be collecting in your backyard. And, with the start of the new season comes the chance for a whole new lineup of kids’ activities and fall science experiments. If your little explorer loves Halloween slime , falling fall leaves, and pumpkins , we’ve got the ultimate list of fall science experiments, and even a few fall science experiments for preschoolers. And bonus—they’re an educational (but still entirely entertaining) alternative to screen time. And, when you’re done with these, try out these fun potions just for kids .

Sink or Float Fall Edition

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor | Homeschool Mom (@elatedmomma)

This fun experiment is always interesting, but add some fall items like (fake) pumpkins, leaves, rocks, and acorns to give it a cozy vibe.

Apple Browning Experiment

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFka3VWH8e8/?hidecaption=true

Ever wonder why apples don’t stay the same color? Us too. Have your kids take the steps to find out how and why this happens by checking out this experiment .

Salt Crystal Fall Leaf Science Experiment

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Moore (@victoriamooresings)

This fall science experiment is one of the prettiest we’ve tried. With simple instructions and gorgeous results, preschoolers especially love this one. Get the tutorial here .

Nature Walk

What could be easier than going outside and taking a walk ? The fall season means that there are plenty of changes to see outdoors. Bring a pad and a pencil to take notes or a sketchbook to draw. Ask your child a few open-ended questions about what they see and the season (such as, "Why do you think the trees look different now?" Along with the leaves in the trees, encourage your child to look for autumn animals or insects—or ask why they don't see as many critters and creatures as they would have a few short months ago.

Insider tip: Need more fall activities for kids? Here are 50+ ways to spend time as a family this fall. 

Related: Under Pressure! 10 At-Home Science Experiments That Harness Air

Halloween Slime

Slime science is always welcome with the pint-sized set. Try this recipe from Mini Monets and Mommies to make not-so-spooky Halloween slime, add glow-in-the-dark glue for a creepy type of cool or make a ghoulishly ghost version that shimmers with a hint of silver glitter. 

Insider tip: if your kids love slime as much as ours do, kick the fun up a notch with this recipe for DIY boogers (yep, you read that right).

Glowing Milk

This kind of spooky science experiment is magic milk. That's right—magic. If your kid wants to make have a good time, head over to Learn Play Imagine for the how-to. 

Related: 6 Incredibly Easy Rainbow Science Experiments

Tissue Transfer Experiment

These color-changing leaves from Mini Monets and Mommies are more than just seasonal decor. Use tissue paper to test how the color moves from one surface onto another, creating red, orange, or yellow leaves in a magical moment—all while your little investigator is exploring the scientific process. Soak a paper leaf (that your kiddo draws) with water and place the non-colorfast tissue paper on top.

What happens next? Your child can make a prediction, test it, and compare the results to what they thought would happen. Afterward, encourage your child to talk about how the tissue's color ended up on the paper and why other types of objects might not produce the same effects.

Pumpkin Seed Science

This sensory activity is ideal for little scientists who are into making hands-on discoveries. When you carve your family's jack o'lantern, let the kiddos close their eyes and describe what the inside of the pumpkin feels like. Then, clean and dry the seeds and have your child add a few drops of red, orange, or yellow food coloring into a bag, toss in the seeds and coat them. When they're dry, the seeds are perfect for making mini mosaics or other types of seasonal art. Not only is this sensory exploration an artsy adventure, but it's also a lesson in the plant life cycle. Save a few seeds and plant them in indoor pots, creating a second fall science activity!

Related: 26 Edible Science Experiments Worth a Taste

Exploding Pumpkins Science Experiment

By now you've probably parented for long enough to have tried the good ol' baking soda and vinegar volcano more than a few times. This fall-themed take on the classic from Little Bins for Little Hands  is a scientific exploration that will make a mess in the most magnificent way possible!

Fall Color Science

Why do leaves change color in the fall? That's a tricky one to explain to your child. That is, without the help of a hands-on experiment to do the "talking." If you're not sure where to start, check out this simple exploration from How We Learn . 

Related: 7 Sun-Science Experiments to Make Your Day

Fall Scents Science

With this imaginative experiment from Fun At Home With Kids , your kiddo can combine the sensory science of the fall season with a creative craft. Encourage your child to ask questions about the senses and talk about how people can explore through them (including the sense of sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing). As your child mixes, mashes, stretches, and smashes the scented dough, ask open-ended questions, such as, "How does the dough feel on your hands?" and, "What can you smell?" Your child can even create an accompanying chart, comparing the play dough scent to different foods. 

Apple Taste Test

The tastes, scents, and sights of fall are here! And your child is ready to explore what the season has to offer. Try a sensory science exploration with this apple-tasting activity from Mama Papa Bubba .

Insider tip: if you're looking for great apple recipes, click here. 

Related: It’s Alive! Gross (But Cool) Science Experiments for Kids

Candy Creations

This STEM idea from Lemon Lime Adventures takes autumn engineering to the next level. Your little learner can explore the art of building, getting hands-on with concepts such as form vs. function, balance, and weight distribution. 

Insider tip : For ways to use up leftover Halloween candy, check out our ideas here. 

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20 Awesome Fall Science Experiments

I just love Fall, and of course, fall science activities for kids! Explore easy to set up fall science experiments, and printable fall worksheets. From an apple oxidation experiment, to leaf chromatography, pumpkin oobleck and more. You will find tons of awesome fall science activities for preschoolers to elementary!

Explore Nature For Fall Science Too!

Simply getting outside and going on a fall-themed scavenger hunt is a terrific way to start off a fall science lesson. You can collect samples to add to a fall-themed discovery table. We made these simple Fall discovery bottles when we were hanging out in our backyard.

Great Questions To Ask

Encourage kids to explore, learn and make observations by asking good questions.

• What do you see?
• What do you hear?
• What do you feel?
• What do you smell?
• Even what do you taste? {like our apple 5 senses taste test }
• What is happening?
• What would happen if…?

Free Printable Fall Science Guide

This free printable fall science guide comes with handy links to bookmark and a fall theme science process pack with science journal pages. Perfect for planning out your science activities this fall!

Best Fall Science Experiments

These fall science activities also incorporate a great deal of sensory play and provide sensory stimulation for our younger kiddos. Easy enough to do with even the youngest child. Add in the scientific method (read more below) for older kiddos! Great fall science activities for preschoolers to elementary!

Each link below shows the how-to’s of fall science activities and experiments to try with your kids.

It’s fall, and soon the leaves will be changing and turning brilliant shades of yellows, reds, and oranges! Learn about why leaves change color with our printable lapbook project. Then, explore more leaf science with one of these fall science experiments below.

Leaf Chromatography Experiment

Have you ever wondered about how leaves get their color? Set up this easy fall experiment to find the hidden pigments in the leaves in your backyard!

Learn About The Veins Of A Leaf

Explore the structure of plant leaves and how water travels through leaf veins with the kids this season. This fun and simple experiment is a great way to see behind the scenes of how plants work!

How Do Plants Breath Through Leaves

Have you ever wondered do plants breath and if so, how? All you need to do is head outside and grab a few leaves to get started with this simple experiment. Learn all about plant respiration.

Fall Leaf Slime

Our Fall slime recipe is perfect science and sensory play when the leaves begin to change color. Fall science is easy to do with young kids and older kids too!

Grow Salt Crystal Leaves

You will want to try this fall leaf theme activity growing salt crystals. Growing crystals is a really fun and simple experiment you can do at home or in the classroom.

Erupting Apple Volcano

A must try apple science experiment! Make an apple volcano and explore a cool chemical reaction with everyday supplies from your kitchen cupboard.

Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Why do apples turn brown is a classic apple science experiment for kids! Get kids thinking about how to keep apples from turning brown, and learn all about the oxidation of apples.

Apple 5 Senses Activity

There are so many different types of apples to enjoy! Take the great apple taste test and see which apple is your favorite. So simple to set up and includes a free printable worksheet.

Apple Oobleck

Just 2 ingredients for this amazing science activity! Give it a twist perfect for a fall and apple theme lesson.

Apple Gravity Experiment

Race apples and learn about physics for hands-on outdoor fun this fall season.

How Does An Apple Grow

This is a great apple lesson plan that includes literacy resources, parts of an apple activity, and helpful videos!

Balancing Apples

Explore gravity with real and paper apples for this fun apple project.

Do Apples Float?

Do apples sink or float in water? Check out this and other fun apple STEM challenges.

Red Apple Slime

Learn about non-Newtonian fluids with a fun apple twist on a favorite slime recipe.

Pumpkin Slime

Kids love to play with slime and making slime is an awesome science experiment! Homemade slime is always fun especially when you make it inside a real pumpkin.

Pumpkin Volcano

Chemistry and pumpkins combine for a unique volcano science activity!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Mini Pumpkin Volcano

Rotting Pumpkin Jack Experiment

I love the story about pumpkin Jack. If you are going to carve a pumpkin this year then you are already a good part of the way there to setting up your own rotting pumpkin science experiment.

Pumpkin Oobleck

A classic 2 ingredient oobleck science experiment inside a pumpkin!

Sink or Float Pumpkin Experiment

Explore whether pumpkins sink or float, what are the parts of a pumpkin and more with these simple, fun preschool pumpkin activities .

Crystal Pumpkins

Make crystal pumpkins with a fun twist on a classic borax crystal experiment.

Pumpkin Clock

Make your own clock using pumpkins to power it. Really? Yes, find out how you can make your own powered pumpkin clock.

Bonus Fall Worksheets To Use

Life cycle of an apple.

Learn about how apples grow from a seed to become an apple tree with these printable apple life cycle worksheets. Great to pair with a hands-on apple activity!

Life Cycle Of A Pumpkin

Learn about a pumpkin life cycle with these fun life cycle of a pumpkin worksheets! Find out how many stages there are in growing a pumpkin and the parts of a pumpkin.

Why Do Leaves Change Color

Why do leaves change color? Find out what causes leaves to change color in the fall with this fun printable lapbook project. Our printable fall leaves project makes learning easy!

Fall Would You Rather Questions

Have some fun with your kids with these printable would you rather questions for Fall. Great for conversation starters or small group activities.

Fall Coloring Pages (Science Theme)

These fall coloring pages explore the anatomy of fall and make the perfect addition to either your next science or art lesson! Learn about the parts of an apple, pumpkin, and leaf with these free printable fall coloring pages. Great for preschoolers as well as elementary age kiddos.

Using The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should simply be used as a guide to help lead the process. It’s not set in stone!

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation. Click here to learn more about the scientific method and how to use it.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos or do a more formal notebook entry with older kiddos!

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids

Printable Fall STEM Projects Pack

This 200+ page fall theme pack complements both the apple and pumpkin packs. There are no overlaps!

What’s Included:

• 20+ Fall theme science and STEM activities  with printable sheets, instructions, journal pages, and useful information all using easy-to-source materials perfect for limited time needs. Includes a fall theme engineering pack with fun, problem-based challenges for kids to solve
• Leaf theme science activities  include parts of a leaf, leaf coloring pages, leaf rubbing sheets, leaf graphing, and why leaves change colors information and lapbook! Go on a leaf scavenger hunt too.
• Pinecone Pullout Pack:  includes pinecone life cycle information, science investigations, and more.
• Fall Screen Free Code Pack  includes an introduction to binary code, algorithms, puzzles, and more
• Fall Art/STEAM Projects 
• Bonus Fall fun pack   includes games and activities  to round out your fall theme activities, such as brain breaks, Would You Rather cards, mystery math pictures, and more

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

20 Must-Try Fall Science Experiments for Kids

It’s almost  FALL ! Changing temperatures, colors, and changes in routines mean there are lots of opportunities to explore some new and exciting science experiments. If you are a regular here, you know just how much  we love science . For us, fall is an awesome time to do some of the  science experiments for kids  we have been putting on our to do list all year. If you are looking for  inexpensive, easy projects  that are great for fall, you have come to the right place!

Glowing Fall Science Experiments

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy fall, than with a nice glowing science experiment. Here are just a few that we love and adore. They are simple and easy to set up. Best of all, your kids will want to do them OVER and OVER again.

Glow In the Dark Pumpkins | Steve Spangler

Glow Stick Experiment | Lets Explore

Glowing Jello Experiment | Learn Play Imagine

Glowing Exploding Bag | Growing a Jeweled Rose

Glowing Bath Water | Fun at Home With Kids

BUBBLING, EXPLODING AND FIZZY EXPERIMENTS

What kid doesn’t want to explode something, right? Fall is perfect for these messy science experiments! What kid would not love to make a pumpkin explode or a ghost blast off? We are talking serious fun here guys!

Ghost Rockets | Growing a Jeweled Rose

Erupting Pumpkin | Growing a Jeweled Rose

Creepy Density Demonstration | Science Sparks

Pumpkin Volcano | Little Bins for Little Hands

Bubble Science with Pumpkins | Preschool Powol Packets

EARTH & LIFE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES

What better time than fall to get outside and explore the world. Its a great time to take time to learn about the elements and the creatures that surround us. It is a great time to investigate things just a little further.

Why Leaves Change Color | How Wee Learn

Rotting Apples | Science Sparks

Leaf Chromatography | Life with Moore Babies

Rotting Pumpkin | Kids Activities Blog

Corncob Popping | Tinkerlab

FALL CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

Pumpkin Catapult | Nerdy Science

Classic Egg Drop | Lemon Lime Adventures

Dry Ice Bubbles | Not Just Cute

Static Electricity Bats | Inspiration Laboratories

Magnetic Slime | Frugal Fun For Boys

Looking for more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) projects and inspiration?

Check out my new book STEAM Kids and get a FREE STEAM Kids Halloween book  if you buy during launch week! You can get both books (eBook PDF format) for only $9.99! But the sale and bonus book offer ends September 21 , so grab your copy now and don’t miss out!

Get more information on STEAM Kids by clicking here . Or go order your copy now! eBook PDF or Paperback  

ARE YOU READY FOR MORE SCIENCE FUN?

TIME FOR SATURDAY SCIENCE BLOG HOP!

Visit these great bloggers for more fun saturday science experiments too.

Sea Monkeys from Suzy Homeschooler

Sound Vibrations from The Joys of Boys

Season’s Circle Chart from Stir the Wonder

Homemade Kids Science Kit With 10+ Experiments To Try from Little Bins For Little Hands

Don’t Forget to Check Out The Other Must Try Science Experiments

FREE DOWNLOAD

Discover how to get siblings to get along even when all they do is annoy each other with the Sibling “Get Along” Poster Pack!

22 thoughts on “20 Must-Try Fall Science Experiments for Kids”

What a fun collection!! Thank you so much for including our pumpkin bubble science too!

Its so wonderful! Of course!

Super fun round-up! Thanks so much for featuring candy pumpkin catapults.

Such a great experiment!

What a cool list of science activities for Halloween and fall. We are sharing this on our Halloween Science Pinterest page. Huge thanks for sharing some of our experiments. Your blog is too fun!

Thank you so much! We love some Steve Spangler around here! We would love to collaborate in the future, too!

Very cool and nice collection of science activities for Halloween and fall. Thanks so much for featuring candy pumpkin catapults i really liked it.

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amazing experiments ..very easy to perform and understand..i made a game referring to these experiments do watch it here : http://goo.gl/dNdoh6

cool experiments for kids..keep sharing stuffs like this..some science games that you might like : http://goo.gl/BzQQU1

thanks for sharing..it was amazing..very good collection of experiments..you can even try these experiments in this amazing science games : http://goo.gl/kB1dKg

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Easy Fall Science Experiments for Elementary Students

Categories STEM Activities , Fall STEM Activities

When the leaves start to turn colors and temperatures start to drop, it’s time for fall science experiments.  These autumn science experiments are perfect for elementary!

Fall science activities are the perfect way to celebrate the turning of the season when it’s too early to do Halloween STEM activities but it’s too late to do back to school STEM activities!

Of course, you can also do fall science projects right after Halloween before you do Thanksgiving STEM activities and science experiments.

Round out your year of science experiments for kids with this complete list of fall science experiments.

What is a Fall Science Experiment?

A fall science experiment is no different from any other science experiment, except that a fall theme is used when exploring the science experiment.

A science experiment for fall includes fall themes, like apples, pumpkins, acorns, corn, cranberries, leaves, hay, and other staples of fall.

Many common science experiments can be done with a fall twist, simply by changing the colors of the experiment, adding fall elements instead of the traditional science elements, or by using fall themes to illustrate each scientific concept.

Fall science activities are just as easy to do in the classroom as at home, and both science teachers and parents and grandparents can have fun with science using fall themes.

What are the benefits of fall science experiments?

There are a lot of reasons to keep science experiments topical, like these autumn science experiments.

One of the biggest reasons is that during the fall, you have access to fall-like materials, including leaves, acorns, pinecones, candy corn, and other commonly used supplies for fall science experiments.

It’s easier to do these fall science experiments when the supplies are easier to get. Additionally, kids are more interested in science when it’s relatebale to them.

A lot of science experiments can get theoretical, which may make the concepts difficult for children to grasp.

If you love these experiments, check out this list of leaf science experiments.

When normal themes are brought into the mix, kids are better able to grasp how and why science concepts work, which makes them score higher on science tests and exams.

Don’t Miss: Gross Science Experiments

Fall Science Experiments with Worksheets

The following list of fall science experiments provide the best in science projects and science activities all with a fall theme!

Kids will have a blast doing these science experiments for fall and learning all about the science behind these super simple science experiments for kids.

Learn about the density of a pumpkin with the pumpkin density column experiment. 

Learn about an apple’s life cycle with this apple life cycle printable.

Learn about how butter is made with the making butter science experiment.

Try this science experiment for s alt crystal pumpkins.

Make fluffy apple slime to celebrate the season and learn about polymer chains.

Transform feathers into crystals with the salt crystal feather science experiment.

Take your crystal adventures to the next level with these salt crystal apples.

Learn about the colors in leaves in the leaf chromatography science experiment.

Make glittery fall slime and learn about chemical bonds.

Get a little creepy with this osmosis for kids experiment.

Make your very own glow in the dark oobleck a nd learn about non-Newtonian fluids.

See how long it takes for mold to grow on bread in the classic bread mold science experiment.

Learn about the types of bacteria when you make your own edible pitri dish bacteria.

Transform ordinary leaves into beautiful salt crystals and learn about ionic bonds.

Make a fall version of the classic lava lamp science experiment.

Create your own pumpkin density jar!

Try the pumpkin volcano experiment and learn about chemical reactions!

What are your favorite fall science experiments?

Share this project with a friend!

20 Outdoor Fall Science Experiments & Activities

By: Author Jacquie Fisher

Posted on Published: October 5, 2022

Categories Educational Activities , Kids Activities & Crafts , Science Experiments

20 Fall science experiments and Autumn science activities for preschoolers, kindergarten & elementary age kids!

I just LOVE Fall! 

Especially getting outside to enjoy the weather — which always leads me to think about a few fun Fall themed science activities for kids like these leaf science experiments & activities .

So today I hope to inspire you with some seasonal science — activities and experiments with leaves, apples, pumpkins and more Autumn favorites!

Fall Science Experiments & Activities

Autumn is the perfect time to try a few of these Fall themed learning activities especially since There’s a LOT of science that happens outside during the Fall season:

• leaves change colors
• animals start hibernation, migration or adaptation behaviors
• the night sky begins to shift – kids probably notice you can see the moon both at night & in the morning
• the days become shorter and cooler
• and trees begin to shed both their leaves and seeds

With all the seasonal changes, science in the Fall can be so easy to come by and so colorful too — kids will typically ask questions like “why do leaves change colors?” , they look forward to making leaf rubbings and eagerly collect various nature items like pine cones & acorns for projects!

And one of the best parts about exploring science in the Fall is being able to make a mess outside 🙂 

In addition to talking with kids about the seasonal changes they see around them, try a few of these hands-on activities and experiments that introduce your kids to different science concepts.  We’ve included affiliate links to some of our favorite items that are great for exploring science in Autumn too!

Fall Science Experiments

While most of these are outdoor experiments, quite a few can also be done inside too!

Explore The Art & Science of Leaf Rubbings || Edventures with Kids

Or if you don’t have a variety of leaves in your area, try these Leaf Rubbing plates for kids with leaf guide !

Look at The Hidden Colors in a Leaf || Share it! Science

And you can also learn how a leaf breathes with this awesome experiment || Edventures with Kids

Explore what owls eat & digest with this Owl Pellet Science Lab Kit !

Introduce the five senses to kids with this Fall Apple Science Experiment || Edventures with Kids

See how a leaf gets water || Learn, Play, Imagine

Create a Pinecone Weather Station (this is so cool!) || Science Sparks

Autumn Science Activities

Go on a Leaf Scavenger Hunt {free printable included} || Edventures with Kids

Try these Pumpkin Science Activities w/FREE printable worksheet! || Edventures with Kids

Test Gravity with Apples || Little Bins for Little Hands

Learn about the Life Cycle of a Pumpkin || The Bloom Mom

Track migration patterns with this Bird Watching Kit for kids !

Track the Phases of the Moon with these hands-on science activities || Edventures with Kids

Play Name that Tree! leaf & tree identification activity using these free printable tags || Edventures with Kids

Learn about bats with these Bat books & nighttime activities || Edventures with Kids

Explore life after dark with this FREE printable Nocturnal Scavenger hunt || Edventures with Kids

Take an evening walk with these Constellations Knowledge Cards and learn about the stars in your neighborhood!

More Fall Science Activities

Explore Citizen Scientist Projects for Kids to do at home || Edventures with Kids

Grow a pumpkin inside a pumpkin ! || Life with Moore Babies

Learn what animals do in the Fall with these books on hibernation & migration || Edventures with Kids

Explore the different types of chlorophyll with this easy DIY Leaf Print Activity !

Use your 5 Senses & Guess what’s in the Fall Bag || The Pleasantest Thing

Set up an Animal Tracking Station in your yard ! || Creekside Learning

Create an Autumn Nature Table ( The Imagination Tree ) or Fall Nature Science Tray and get an up close look at seasonal changes!

Younger kids will enjoy exploring the season with this Sunflower & Corn cob activity || Happy Hooligans

Looking for more outdoor science? We also recommend the Outdoor Science Lab for Kids !

Halloween Science Experiments for Fall

Another fun time to explore science is during Halloween so I wanted to include some bonus science activities for the holiday. Try these fun outdoor ideas for seasonal learning — most are perfect for a classroom activity too!

Turn a Pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern with this easy Halloween Optical Illusion! || Edventures with Kids

Learn a little biology with this Skeleton Bone Science Activity & FREE printables ! || Edventures with Kids

Exploding Ghost Experiment || Three Ghost Friends

Kids will be amazed with this Ghost Science Kit experiment set !

Experiment with Melting Halloween Hands || Happy Hooligans

Make your Jack o’lantern erupt! || Growing a Jeweled Rose

See what happens when a Jack o’lantern rots || Kids Activities blog

Create a Ghost Balloon || Preschool Powol Packets

More Fun Fall Activities

Enjoy the season with more fun activities kids will LOVE!

40 Family-friendly Fall Activities

18 Autumn Scavenger Hunts

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The Best Fall Science Experiments for Kids

Fall is the perfect time to try our favorite fall science experiments that your kids will love including pumpkins, pinecones, fall leaves, and more!  It’s…

Fall is the perfect time to try our favorite fall science experiments that your kids will love including pumpkins, pinecones, fall leaves, and more! 

It’s time to get excited about the fall season! Leaves are changing, Halloween is around the corner and we’re nearing Thanksgiving. All these things can make you feel giddy. But what if I told you that there was a way to make your kids even more excited? In this post, I have compiled the BEST science experiments that will give your kids an exciting learning experience during the fall months. Ideas include Volcano Experiments, Experiments with Pumpkins, Pinecones, Fall Leaves, and more.

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SUGGESTED BOOKS & ACTIVITIES FOR FALL FUN:

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If you’re looking for a fun and simple STEM activity that will look a little bit like magic, this Bubbling Pumpkin Experiment from Living Life and Learning is so much fun to do! 

Have you ever wondered why pine cones seem to open and close? Experiment and find the answer with this fun Why Do Pine Cones Open and Close activity from Parenting Chaos.

One of our most fascinating and eye-catching fall activities was when we separated the colors in leaves during this Leaf Chromatography Experiment .

Setting up this Apple Volcano Science Experiment from Homeschool Preschool is a great way to engage preschoolers in an awesome STEM activity this fall!

Would your kiddos have fun learning how to preserve leaves to keep their fall colors? Check out these 6 methods of How To Preserve Leaves from Red Ted Art.

This easy autumn-themed Jumping Leaves – Static Electricity Activity from Science Sparks is great for kids of all ages and super simple to set up!

Your little ones will have so much fun collecting leaves for this Autumn STEAM: Tracing the Veins of a Leaf activity from Go Science Kids. That will absolutely enjoy decorating them too!

The corn in this Hopping Corn Science Activity from One Time Through will hop up and down repeatedly in your container for over an hour.  It’s so much fun to watch!

This STEAM Leaf Art Experiment gets children as close as possible to being able to see how water is absorbed in leaves.

This Bubbling Brew for Pretend Play from The Craft Train is a playful, fizzing science activity preschoolers will love. They can pretend to be witches or wizards whilst they stir up a magic brew!

Fall leaves are some of the prettiest things you’ll see this year. With a few supplies from your kitchen, you can create these beautiful Coffee Filter Fall Leaves Craft for Kids from Mom Brite.

This Sink or Float Thanksgiving Dinner STEM Activity from Happy Toddler Playtime is a fun and easy STEAM activity for Thanksgiving this year!

With fall arriving, and cooler temperatures, it is a great time to take nature walks! During those walks, you kids can pick up a few items along the way for this Fall Borax Crystal Science Project from From Engineer to SAHM.

Extract the colorful pigments from fall leaves with this Fall Leaf Experiment . It’s a great way for kids to visually see and understand why leaves change color when the weather changes.

Did you know you can paint on salt and create beautiful salt paintings? You surely can with this fun How to Make a Fall Salt Painting With Kids activity from Lil Tigers.

What better way to explore the changing environment than this Fall Nature Hunt from Parenting Chaos. Your kids will love investigating the natural world around them in the beautiful autumn air.

Your kids will want to do this magical Pumpkin Skittles Experiment from Mom Brite over and over! It’s easy and simple to set up and perfect for the fall and Halloween.

This Make Your Own Water Compass activity from The Gingerbread House is a great excuse to get outside and let the children have fun looking for colorful Fall leaves.

More to Do:

Hot and Cold Science

Pumpkin Color & Label

Fall Tree Craft

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15 Science Experiments for Autumn and Fall

November 5, 2013 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Autumn is such a great time of year. I love the colourful leaves underfoot and the first hint of winter. To celebrate the changing seasons, I’ve pulled together a wonderful collection of Fall Science Experiments .

I’ve also got a brand new book coming out in October, perfect for Halloween!

Fall Science Experiments for Kids

First up is this lovely fall sensory rice tray . This would be great for sorting seeds too.

Hunt for autumn treasures and sort them!

Model the changing seasons with this fun LEGO activity. We had great fun searching for the right coloured bricks and little props for each season.

Can you collect sticks to make and test rafts with ?

Find out why leaves change colour in fall and make a lovely autumn collage .

Try some leaf printing . You could add faces to make this a bit more exciting.

This is a great collection of fun  things to do with sticks and leave s . We love the peg leaf people!

Get messy with some fun autumn goo  or make some autumn ice .

Try some apple bobbing ? Do you know why the apples keep popping up?

Get your friends and family guessing with some lovely autumn estimating jars .

Find out why hedgehogs hibernate .

Get creative in the kitchen and explore changes of state with toffee apples or t reacle toffee .

I love this identify a tree activity from Edventures with Kids .

Learn about static electricity with these jumping leaves .

Make a magic potion using items collected on an autumn walk. Take a strip of contact paper out with you to attach your treasures to as you explore.

If you’ve got apples to spare, why not see if you can stop them from rotting ? Or make some lovely apple cider .

We love this gorgeous autumn sensory table from The Imagination Tree.

Find out how tall a tree is without climbing it!

Do you know how to find out how old a tree is ?

Did you know you can make pinecone weather station using just pinecones?

Look after birds in the colder months with these easy bird feeders .

How about these Stick Man activity ideas ? Stick Man is a great book for this time of year.

Red Ted Art has some great ideas for preserving leaves, including pressing leaves .

Don’t forget to check out our fun Halloween Science Experiment ideas, too.

Finally, with Christmas just around the corner, you could make some fun science kits to give as gifts.

Can you think of any more Fall Science Experiments for us?

Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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How Wee Learn

Out of the box learning ideas, playful art, exploring nature, and simple living - that is How We Learn!

Fabulous Fall Science Experiments

October 30, 2023 by Sarah Leave a Comment

I really do love fall. I always have. The beautiful colors, the crisp air, pumpkin spiced everything… and perhaps most importantly, the end of MOSQUITOES! 

Mind you, this year wasn’t too bad for the guys, but I remember a few years back the mosquitoes in our area were truly out of this world. Our neighbours who have lived here for over 30 years claimed they have never seen anything like it. And the farmers down the road say it has not been this bad in 70 years. Thankfully, it seems to have been a one year fluke and not the new normal!

Anywho, for one reason or another, fall ALSO means science experiment time in our house. Apparently, this is not a widely held tradition, but it is ours nonetheless.

Before we get into all of the wonderful fall science experiment ideas I have for you, I thought you might like to grab this freebie: Four Season Nature Walks! These beautiful printables encourage your child to really immerse themselves in the sensory experiences of nature walks. Grab yours right here:

Okay, back to it! Here are some of our favourite fall science experiments, and a few new ones we hope to try:

Why Do Leaves Change Colour – A hands-on science experiment that lets kids learn about chlorophyll and leaves as they change colour.

The Smelly Pumpkin Experiment by Fun-A-Day – Let the kids explore decomposition with old pumpkins! Go even further to see if pumpkin plants can be grown in the backyard.

Apple Science Experiment by Pre-K Pages – Children predict and investigate how to prevent apples from browning.

Pumpkin Guts Exploration by Stir the Wonder – Before breaking into the pumpkin, have the kids hypothesize what they’ll find inside. Then, let them inspect, explore, and record their findings.

Fall Sink or Float by B-Inspired Mama – Grab some pine cones, acorns, and other fall-themed items with the kids. They can then predict and determine which items sink and which float.

Sorting Leaves and Seeds by Inspiration Laboratories – Go for a nature walk with the kids and grab items that have dropped from fall leaves. Children can then sort and classify the items they find.

Exploring How Water Travels through Leaves by Buggy and Buddy – Help children experiment with how leaves get water—a great way to explore living things during the fall.

Saving Seeds Science by Rainy Day Mum – Grab different fall items, like pumpkins and gourds. Then, let the children dig their hands in to collect, compare, and contrast the seeds they find.

Animal Tracking Station by Creekside Learning – Help little scientists create an animal tracking station in the backyard! Once some tracks have been discovered, research to determine which animals are in your neighborhood.

Why Do Pine Cones Open by Lemon Lime Adventures – Collect pine cones from around the neighborhood, then delve into an experiment to see why they open and close.

Parts of an Apple by Natural Beach Learning – Kids can dissect an apple and explore the different parts of it. Add some literacy by labeling each part, too.

Hopping Corn Science Activity by One Time Through – Get corn kernels dancing in a jar with this simple but fun fall science experiment.

Erupting Apple Science by Kids Play Box – The kids will have a blast making their own “apples” and then making them fizz.

Crunchy Leaf Science by Teach Preschool – How long does it take a leaf to dry out and get crunchy? Let the kids collect some leaves and find out.

Growing Pumpkins in Pumpkins by Life with Moore Babies – Can you grow pumpkin plants inside a pumpkin? Let the kids try and find out.

Corncob Popcorn Experiment by TinkerLab – See if you can make popcorn straight from a dried corncob. Extend the experiment by trying out other types of corncobs, as well.

Nighttime Scavenger Hunt by Edventures with Kids – Grab the flashlights and go on a nighttime scavenger hunt with the kids. Can they see or hear any nocturnal animals while outside in the fall night?

Autumn Ice by Cakes and Scribbles – Add fall nature items to water and freeze. Then let the kids explore melting the ice!

Sprouting Indian Corn by Gift of Curiosity – An easy fall science experiment to try with the kids. All you need is Indian corn, water, and curious kids.

Pumpkin Spice Scented Volcano by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails – Add some fall spice to the traditional baking soda and vinegar experiment.

There you have it! Oodles of fall science experiments to get those little ones curious about the changes of the season. Perhaps fall science experiments will be a new tradition in your home too?

If your little one loves to explore nature, they’ll also love Nature School!

Nature School is your outdoor learning companion. In it, you’ll find simple ways to incorporate literacy, numeracy, fine motor development, sensory play, and crafting into your time outdoors.

Take a peek and get your copy of Nature School right here:  https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/nature-school

I hope you are having a lovely week. Thank you so much for reading!

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acceleration due to gravity

Want to see an object accelerate?

• Pick something up with your hand and drop it. When you release it from your hand, its speed is zero. On the way down its speed increases. The longer it falls the faster it travels. Sounds like acceleration to me.
• But acceleration is more than just increasing speed. Pick up this same object and toss it vertically into the air. On the way up its speed will decrease until it stops and reverses direction. Decreasing speed is also considered acceleration.
• But acceleration is more than just changing speed. Pick up your battered object and launch it one last time. This time throw it horizontally and notice how its horizontal velocity gradually becomes more and more vertical. Since acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time and velocity is a vector quantity, this change in direction is also considered acceleration.

In each of these examples the acceleration was the result of gravity. Your object was accelerating because gravity was pulling it down. Even the object tossed straight up is falling — and it begins falling the minute it leaves your hand. If it wasn't, it would have continued moving away from you in a straight line. This is the acceleration due to gravity .

What are the factors that affect this acceleration due to gravity? If you were to ask this of a typical person, they would most likely say "weight" by which they actually mean "mass" (more on this later). That is, heavy objects fall fast and light objects fall slow. Although this may seem true on first inspection, it doesn't answer my original question. "What are the factors that affect the acceleration due to gravity ?" Mass does not affect the acceleration due to gravity in any measurable way. The two quantities are independent of one another. Light objects accelerate more slowly than heavy objects only when forces other than gravity are also at work. When this happens, an object may be falling, but it is not in free fall. Free fall occurs whenever an object is acted upon by gravity alone.

Try this experiment.

• Obtain a piece of paper and a pencil. Hold them at the same height above a level surface and drop them simultaneously. The acceleration of the pencil is noticeably greater than the acceleration of the piece of paper, which flutters and drifts about on its way down.

Something else is getting in the way here — and that thing is air resistance (also known as aerodynamic drag). If we could somehow reduce this drag we'd have a real experiment. No problem.

• Repeat the experiment, but before you begin, wad the piece of paper up into the tightest ball possible. Now when the paper and pencil are released, it should be obvious that their accelerations are identical (or at least more similar than before).

We're getting closer to the essence of this problem. If only somehow we could eliminate air resistance altogether. The only way to do that is to drop the objects in a vacuum. It is possible to do this in the classroom with a vacuum pump and a sealed column of air. Under such conditions, a coin and a feather can be shown to accelerate at the same rate. (In the olden days in Great Britain, a coin called a guinea was used and so this demonstration is sometimes called the "guinea and feather".) A more dramatic demonstration was done on the surface of the moon — which is as close to a true vacuum as humans are likely to experience any time soon. Astronaut David Scott released a rock hammer and a falcon feather at the same time during the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. In accordance with the theory I am about to present, the two objects landed on the lunar surface simultaneously (or nearly so). Only an object in free fall will experience a pure acceleration due to gravity.

the leaning tower of Pisa

Let's jump back in time for a bit. In the Western world prior to the 16th century, it was generally assumed that the acceleration of a falling body would be proportional to its mass — that is, a 10 kg object was expected to accelerate ten times faster than a 1 kg object. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle of Stagira (384–322 BCE), included this rule in what was perhaps the first book on mechanics. It was an immensely popular work among academicians and over the centuries it had acquired a certain devotion verging on the religious. It wasn't until the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) came along that anyone put Aristotle's theories to the test. Unlike everyone else up to that point, Galileo actually tried to verify his own theories through experimentation and careful observation. He then combined the results of these experiments with mathematical analysis in a method that was totally new at the time, but is now generally recognized as the way science gets done. For the invention of this method, Galileo is generally regarded as the world's first scientist.

In a tale that may be apocryphal, Galileo (or an assistant, more likely) dropped two objects of unequal mass from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Quite contrary to the teachings of Aristotle, the two objects struck the ground simultaneously (or very nearly so). Given the speed at which such a fall would occur, it is doubtful that Galileo could have extracted much information from this experiment. Most of his observations of falling bodies were really of round objects rolling down ramps. This slowed things down enough to the point where he was able to measure the time intervals with water clocks and his own pulse (stopwatches and photogates having not yet been invented). This he repeated "a full hundred times" until he had achieved "an accuracy such that the deviation between two observations never exceeded one-tenth of a pulse beat."

With results like that, you'd think the universities of Europe would have conferred upon Galileo their highest honor, but such was not the case. Professors at the time were appalled by Galileo's comparatively vulgar methods even going so far as to refuse to acknowledge that which anyone could see with their own eyes. In a move that any thinking person would now find ridiculous, Galileo's method of controlled observation was considered inferior to pure reason. Imagine that! I could say the sky was green and as long as I presented a better argument than anyone else, it would be accepted as fact contrary to the observation of nearly every sighted person on the planet.

Galileo called his method "new" and wrote a book called Discourses on Two New Sciences wherein he used the combination of experimental observation and mathematical reasoning to explain such things as one dimensional motion with constant acceleration, the acceleration due to gravity, the behavior of projectiles, the speed of light, the nature of infinity, the physics of music, and the strength of materials. His conclusions on the acceleration due to gravity were that…

the variation of speed in air between balls of gold, lead, copper, porphyry, and other heavy materials is so slight that in a fall of 100 cubits a ball of gold would surely not outstrip one of copper by as much as four fingers. Having observed this I came to the conclusion that in a medium totally devoid of resistance all bodies would fall with the same speed. For I think no one believes that swimming or flying can be accomplished in a manner simpler or easier than that instinctively employed by fishes and birds. When, therefore, I observe a stone initially at rest falling from an elevated position and continually acquiring new increments of speed, why should I not believe that such increases take place in a manner which is exceedingly simple and rather obvious to everybody? I greatly doubt that Aristotle ever tested by experiment. Galileo Galilei, 1638

Despite that last quote, Galileo was not immune to using reason as a means to validate his hypothesis. In essence, his argument ran as follows. Imagine two rocks, one large and one small. Since they are of unequal mass they will accelerate at different rates — the large rock will accelerate faster than the small rock. Now place the small rock on top of the large rock. What will happen? According to Aristotle, the large rock will rush away from the small rock. What if we reverse the order and place the small rock below the large rock? It seems we should reason that two objects together should have a lower acceleration . The small rock would get in the way and slow the large rock down. But two objects together are heavier than either by itself and so we should also reason that they will have a greater acceleration . This is a contradiction.

Here's another thought problem. Take two objects of equal mass. According to Aristotle, they should accelerate at the same rate. Now tie them together with a light piece of string. Together, they should have twice their original acceleration. But how do they know to do this? How do inanimate objects know that they are connected? Let's extend the problem. Isn't every heavy object merely an assembly of lighter parts stuck together? How can a collection of light parts, each moving with a small acceleration, suddenly accelerate rapidly once joined? We've argued Aristotle into a corner. The acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass.

Galileo made plenty of measurements related to the acceleration due to gravity but never once calculated its value (or if he did, I have never seen it reported anywhere). Instead he stated his findings as a set of proportions and geometric relationships — lots of them. His description of constant speed required one definition, four axioms, and six theorems. All of these relationships can now be written as the single equation in modern notation.

Algebraic symbols can contain as much information as several sentences of text, which is why they are used. Contrary to the common wisdom, mathematics makes life easier.

location, location, location

The generally accepted value for the acceleration due to gravity on and near the surface of the Earth is…

g  =  9.8 m/s 2

or in non-SI units…

g  =  35 kph/s = 22 mph/s = 32 feet/s 2

It is useful to memorize this number (as millions of people around the globe already have), however, it should also be pointed out that this number is not a constant . Although mass has no effect on the acceleration due to gravity, there are three factors that do. They are location, location, location.

Everyone reading this should be familiar with the images of the astronauts hopping about on the moon and should know that the gravity there is weaker than it is on the Earth — about one sixth as strong or 1.6 m/s 2 . That's why the astronauts were able to hop around on the surface easily despite the weight of their space suits. In contrast, gravity on Jupiter is stronger than it is on Earth — about two and a half times stronger or 25 m/s 2 . Astronauts cruising through the top of Jupiter's thick atmosphere would find themselves struggling to stand up inside their space ship.

On the Earth, gravity varies with latitude and altitude (to be discussed in a later chapter ). The acceleration due to gravity is greater at the poles than at the equator and greater at sea level than atop Mount Everest. There are also local variations that depend upon geology. The value of 9.8 m/s 2 — with only two significant digits — is true for all places on the surface of the Earth and holds for altitudes up to +10 km (the altitude of commercial jet airplanes) and depths down to −20 km (far below the deepest mines).

How crazy are you for accuracy? For most applications, the value of 9.8 m/s 2 is more than sufficient. If you're in a hurry, or don't have access to a calculator, or just don't need to be that accurate; rounding g on Earth to 10 m/s 2 is often acceptable. During a multiple choice exam where calculators aren't allowed, this is often the way to go. If you need greater accuracy, consult a comprehensive reference work to find the accepted value for your latitude and altitude.

If that's not good enough, then obtain the required instruments and measure the local value to as many significant digits as you can. You may learn something interesting about your location. I once met a geologist whose job it was to measure g across a portion of West Africa. When I asked him who he worked for and why he was doing this, he basically refused to answer other than to say that one could infer the interior structure of the Earth from a gravimetric map prepared from his findings. Knowing this, one might then be able to identify structures where valuable minerals or petroleum might be found.

Like all professions, those in the gravity measuring business ( gravimetry ) have their own special jargon. The SI unit of acceleration is the meter per second squared [m/s 2 ]. Split that into a hundred parts and you get the centimeter per second squared [cm/s 2 ] also known as the gal [Gal] in honor of Galileo. Note that the word for the unit is all lowercase, but the symbol is capitalized. The gal is an example of a Gaussian unit .

00 1 Gal = 1 cm/s 2  = 0.01 m/s 2 100 Gal = 100 cm/s 2  = 1 m/s 2 .

Split a gal into a thousand parts and you get a milligal [mGal].

1 mGal = 0.001 Gal  = 10 −5  m/s 2

Since Earth's gravity produces a surface acceleration of about 10 m/s 2 , a milligal is about 1 millionth of the value we're all used to.

1 g ≈ 10 m/s 2  = 1,000 Gal = 1,000,000 mGal

Measurements with this precision can be used to study changes in the Earth's crust, sea levels, ocean currents, polar ice, and groundwater. Push it a little bit further and it's even possible to measure changes in the distribution of mass in the atmosphere. Gravity is a weighty subject that will be discussed in more detail later in this book.

Don't confuse the phenomenon of acceleration due to gravity with the unit of a similar name. The quantity g has a value that depends on location and is approximately …

almost everywhere on the surface of the Earth. The unit g has the exact value of…

g =  9.80665 m/s 2

by definition.

They also use slightly different symbols. The defined unit uses the roman or upright g while the natural phenomenon that varies with location uses the italic or oblique g . Don't confuse g with g .

As mentioned earlier, the value of 9.8 m/s 2 with only two significant digits is valid for most of the surface of the Earth up to the altitude of commercial jet airliners, which is why it is used throughout this book. The value of 9.80665 m/s 2 with six significant digits is the so called standard acceleration due to gravity or standard gravity . It's a value that works for latitudes around 45° and altitudes not too far above sea level. It's approximately the value for the acceleration due to gravity in Paris, France — the hometown of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures . The original idea was to establish a standard value for gravity so that units of mass, weight, and pressure could be related — a set of definitions that are now obsolete. The Bureau chose to make this definition work for where their laboratory was located. The old unit definitions died out, but the value of standard gravity lives on. Now it's just an agreed upon value for making comparisons. It's a value close to what we experience in our everyday lives — just with way too much precision.

Some books recommend a compromise precision of 9.81 m/s 2 with three significant digits for calculations, but this book does not. At my location in New York City, the acceleration due to gravity is 9.80 m/s 2 . Rounding standard gravity to 9.81 m/s 2 is wrong for my location. The same is true all the way south to the equator where gravity is 9.780 m/s 2 at sea level — 9.81 m/s 2 is just too big. Head north of NYC and gravity gets closer and closer to 9.81 m/s 2 until eventually it is. This is great for Canadians in southern Quebec, but gravity keeps keeps increasing as you head further north. At the North Pole (and the South Pole too) gravity is a whopping 9.832 m/s 2 . The value 9.806 m/s 2 is midway between these two extremes, so it's sort of true to say that…

g  =  9.806 ± 0.026 m/s 2

This is not the same thing as an average, however. For that, use this value that someone else derived…

g  =  9.798 m/s 2

Here are my suggestions. Use the value of 9.8 m/s 2 with two significant digits for calculations on the surface of the Earth unless a value of gravity is otherwise specified. That seems reasonable. Use the value of 9.80665 m/s 2 with six significant digits only when you want to convert m/s 2 to g. That is the law.

The unit g is often used to measure the acceleration of a reference frame . This is technical language that will be elaborated upon later in another section of this book, but I will explain it with examples for now. As I write this, I'm sitting in front of my computer in my home office. Gravity is drawing my body down into my office chair, my arms toward the desk, and my fingers toward the keyboard. This is the normal 1 g (one gee) world we're all accustomed to. I could take a laptop computer with me to an amusement park, get on a roller coaster, and try to get some writing done there. Gravity works on a roller coaster just as it does at home, but since the roller coaster is accelerating up and down (not to mention side to side) the sensation of normal Earth gravity is lost. There will be times when I feel heavier than normal and times when I fell lighter than normal. These correspond to periods of more than one g and less than one g. I could also take my laptop with me on a trip to outer space. After a brief period of 2 or 3 g (two or three gees) accelerating away from the surface of the Earth, most space journeys are spent in conditions of apparent weightlessness or 0 g (zero gee). This happens not because gravity stops working (gravity has infinite range and is never repulsive), but because a spacecraft is an accelerating reference frame. As I said earlier, this concept will be discussed more thoroughly in a later section of this book.

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Like any moving object, the motion of an object in free fall can be described by four kinematic equations. The kinematic equations that describe any object's motion are:

The symbols in the above equation have a specific meaning: the symbol d stands for the displacement ; the symbol t stands for the time ; the symbol a stands for the acceleration of the object; the symbol v i stands for the initial velocity value; and the symbol v f stands for the final velocity .

Applying Free Fall Concepts to Problem-Solving

There are a few conceptual characteristics of free fall motion that will be of value when using the equations to analyze free fall motion. These concepts are described as follows:

• An object in free fall experiences an acceleration of -9.8 m/s/s. (The - sign indicates a downward acceleration.) Whether explicitly stated or not, the value of the acceleration in the kinematic equations is -9.8 m/s/s for any freely falling object.
• If an object is merely dropped (as opposed to being thrown) from an elevated height, then the initial velocity of the object is 0 m/s.
• If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then it will slow down as it rises upward. The instant at which it reaches the peak of its trajectory, its velocity is 0 m/s. This value can be used as one of the motion parameters in the kinematic equations; for example, the final velocity ( v f ) after traveling to the peak would be assigned a value of 0 m/s.
• If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then the velocity at which it is projected is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the velocity that it has when it returns to the same height. That is, a ball projected vertically with an upward velocity of +30 m/s will have a downward velocity of -30 m/s when it returns to the same height.

These four principles and the four kinematic equations can be combined to solve problems involving the motion of free falling objects. The two examples below illustrate application of free fall principles to kinematic problem-solving. In each example, the problem solving strategy that was introduced earlier in this lesson will be utilized.  

Example Problem A

Luke Autbeloe drops a pile of roof shingles from the top of a roof located 8.52 meters above the ground. Determine the time required for the shingles to reach the ground.

The solution to this problem begins by the construction of an informative diagram of the physical situation. This is shown below. The second step involves the identification and listing of known information in variable form. You might note that in the statement of the problem, there is only one piece of numerical information explicitly stated: 8.52 meters. The displacement ( d ) of the shingles is -8.52 m. (The - sign indicates that the displacement is downward). The remaining information must be extracted from the problem statement based upon your understanding of the above principles . For example, the v i value can be inferred to be 0 m/s since the shingles are dropped (released from rest; see note above ). And the acceleration ( a ) of the shingles can be inferred to be -9.8 m/s 2 since the shingles are free-falling ( see note above ). (Always pay careful attention to the + and - signs for the given quantities.) The next step of the solution involves the listing of the unknown (or desired) information in variable form. In this case, the problem requests information about the time of fall. So t is the unknown quantity. The results of the first three steps are shown in the table below.

The next step involves identifying a kinematic equation that allows you to determine the unknown quantity. There are four kinematic equations to choose from. In general, you will always choose the equation that contains the three known and the one unknown variable. In this specific case, the three known variables and the one unknown variable are d , v i , a , and t . Thus, you will look for an equation that has these four variables listed in it. An inspection of the four equations above reveals that the equation on the top left contains all four variables.

Once the equation is identified and written down, the next step involves substituting known values into the equation and using proper algebraic steps to solve for the unknown information. This step is shown below.

-8.52 m = (0 m/s) • (t) + ½ • (-9.8 m/s 2 ) • (t) 2

-8.52 m = (0 m) *(t) + (-4.9 m/s 2 ) • (t) 2

-8.52 m = (-4.9 m/s 2 ) • (t) 2

(-8.52 m)/(-4.9 m/s 2 ) = t 2

1.739 s 2 = t 2

The solution above reveals that the shingles will fall for a time of 1.32 seconds before hitting the ground. (Note that this value is rounded to the third digit.)

The last step of the problem-solving strategy involves checking the answer to assure that it is both reasonable and accurate. The value seems reasonable enough. The shingles are falling a distance of approximately 10 yards (1 meter is pretty close to 1 yard); it seems that an answer between 1 and 2 seconds would be highly reasonable. The calculated time easily falls within this range of reasonability. Checking for accuracy involves substituting the calculated value back into the equation for time and insuring that the left side of the equation is equal to the right side of the equation. Indeed it is!  

Example Problem B

Rex Things throws his mother's crystal vase vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine the height to which the vase will rise above its initial height.

Once more, the solution to this problem begins by the construction of an informative diagram of the physical situation. This is shown below. The second step involves the identification and listing of known information in variable form. You might note that in the statement of the problem, there is only one piece of numerical information explicitly stated: 26.2 m/s. The initial velocity ( v i ) of the vase is +26.2 m/s. (The + sign indicates that the initial velocity is an upwards velocity). The remaining information must be extracted from the problem statement based upon your understanding of the above principles . Note that the v f value can be inferred to be 0 m/s since the final state of the vase is the peak of its trajectory ( see note above ). The acceleration ( a ) of the vase is -9.8 m/s 2 ( see note above ). The next step involves the listing of the unknown (or desired) information in variable form. In this case, the problem requests information about the displacement of the vase (the height to which it rises above its starting height). So d is the unknown information. The results of the first three steps are shown in the table below.

The next step involves identifying a kinematic equation that would allow you to determine the unknown quantity. There are four kinematic equations to choose from. Again, you will always search for an equation that contains the three known variables and the one unknown variable. In this specific case, the three known variables and the one unknown variable are v i , v f , a , and d . An inspection of the four equations above reveals that the equation on the top right contains all four variables.

v f 2 = v i 2 + 2 • a • d

(0 m/s) 2 = (26.2 m/s) 2 + 2 •(-9.8m/s 2 ) •d

0 m 2 /s 2 = 686.44 m 2 /s 2 + (-19.6 m/s 2 ) •d

(-19.6 m/s 2 ) • d = 0 m 2 /s 2 -686.44 m 2 /s 2

(-19.6 m/s 2 ) • d = -686.44 m 2 /s 2

d = (-686.44 m 2 /s 2 )/ (-19.6 m/s 2 )

The solution above reveals that the vase will travel upwards for a displacement of 35.0 meters before reaching its peak. (Note that this value is rounded to the third digit.)

The last step of the problem-solving strategy involves checking the answer to assure that it is both reasonable and accurate. The value seems reasonable enough. The vase is thrown with a speed of approximately 50 mi/hr (merely approximate 1 m/s to be equivalent to 2 mi/hr). Such a throw will never make it further than one football field in height (approximately 100 m), yet will surely make it past the 10-yard line (approximately 10 meters). The calculated answer certainly falls within this range of reasonability. Checking for accuracy involves substituting the calculated value back into the equation for displacement and insuring that the left side of the equation is equal to the right side of the equation. Indeed it is!

Kinematic equations provide a useful means of determining the value of an unknown motion parameter if three motion parameters are known. In the case of a free-fall motion, the acceleration is often known. And in many cases, another motion parameter can be inferred through a solid knowledge of some basic kinematic principles . The next part of Lesson 6 provides a wealth of practice problems with answers and solutions.  

Watch CBS News

Schwartz: FXFL Hopes To Becomes NFL's Official Developmental League

May 28, 2014 / 10:22 AM EDT / CBS New York

By Peter Schwartz »  More Columns

When a player gets cut from an NFL team, his choices are limited.  He could catch on with another team, get signed to a practice squad or do something else for a living.

But sometimes, a young player needs to develop before he is ready to play in the NFL. However, there has never been a true developmental league that can give someone the playing time he needs to hone his skills.

Until now, that is.

The brand new FXFL, which stands for Fall Experimental Football League, will debut this September with six teams, including a franchise in New York.

"We're extremely excited," said FXFL founder and sports attorney Brian Woods. "I think there needs to be a separate platform to develop younger players.  All of the major sports in this country have one."

As far as the NFL using the NCAA as its feeder system?

"I think that time has come and gone," said Woods.  "I think there is a need for (a development league) and I think that everyone knows that there's a need for it."

The FXFL's inaugural season will last six weeks and the league could expand to eight weeks in 2015.  They will play on Wednesday nights so they won't conflict with college or NFL football. Each team will have 40-man rosters, with the players having an opportunity to get "called up" if an NFL team is interested.

The new league will take advantage of the many quality players who will get cut by NFL teams during and after training camps this summer.

"We're going to get the best of the best available, work with these players (and) develop them, and we would like to have a structure where players could come and go pretty freely," said Woods. "The players that come to us are going to play.  They're not going to stand on the sideline."

The league expects at least 95 percent of the players to come directly from the NFL.  They will hold a two-week training camp starting on September 15 th,  with opening night expected to take place on Wednesday, October 1.

Down the road, the league hopes to get a stamp of approval from the NFL.

"Our ultimate goal is to become the official developmental league for the NFL," said Woods.  "We would like to get an official partnership with them at some point.  We're working toward that."

Woods and his partners spent plenty of time taking a look at minor-league baseball as well as what the NBA is doing with the D-League. A lot of what they saw will be used in the FXFL, but they are not about to label this as "minor-league football."

This league is all about developing players for the NFL, but it is not going to make the same mistakes as startup leagues of the past, including the XFL, UFL and even NFL Europe.

"We are not a competitor to the National Football League," said Woods. "We have a business model that's sustainable. The NFL has gotten so big that the only way a professional football league is going to co-exist is if it is a developmental league. The National Football League knows that there's a need for it."

While the league's primary mission is to get young players ready for the NFL, it's not stopping there. It also wants to be a training ground for coaches and officials.  The league feels that it can also help the NFL when it comes to proposed rule revisions.

As far as coaching candidates are concerned, the FXFL is looking for those who can help the players get to the next level.  The idea is also to get the coaches some experience.

"We want to have guys that are teaching NFL schemes," said Woods. "We do expect to develop just as many coaches as we do players."

In addition to New York, the FXFL will have teams in Orlando, Omaha, Portland, Boston and either Memphis or San Antonio. The league will own two to three of the franchises while the other teams will have ownership groups.  Those groups, as well as the venues for all of the teams, are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

The league is also on the verge of announcing a television contract.

"We are actively negotiating right now with a potential broadcast partner, and we do expect to have that in place within the next week or two," said Woods.

The great thing about going to a minor-league baseball game, say on Staten Island or in Brooklyn, is that you see a player who you just might see at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field one day. The same goes for minor-league hockey. as all three local teams have affiliates in the American Hockey League.  You could see a future Ranger in Hartford, a future Devil in Albany or a future Islander in Bridgeport.

Starting this season, you can possibly see a future Knick playing for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League.

And now you just might get a chance to see a guy playing in the FXFL on a Wednesday night and then suiting up for the Giants, Jets or another NFL team the following Sunday.

A true developmental league for the NFL has been a long time coming.  There are some players coming out of college that just aren't ready for the NFL and need game experience, something they won't get if they are buried on an NFL practice squad.

The FXFL has a smart business plan in place and the NFL knows it.  The time is right for a developmental football league, and come September it will be a reality. From there, it could be just a matter of time before the FXFL becomes the official developmental league of the NFL.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan . You can also follow the FXFL @GOFXFL . 

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Free Fall Calculator

Table of contents

This free fall calculator is a tool for finding the velocity of a falling object along with the distance it travels. Thanks to this tool, you can apply the free fall equation for any object, be it an apple you drop or a person skydiving.

Read on to learn the free fall definition and discover the most daring examples, including the highest free fall in history (spoiler alert: it broke the sound barrier )! We'll also explain what free fall acceleration is and why we assume it's constant.

Check out the projectile motion calculator , which describes a case of free fall combined with horizontal motion.

Prefer watching rather than reading? Check out our deep dive into the concept of free fall here:

What is the free fall definition?

In free fall, an object moves under the influence of gravitational force only . The only acceleration is the acceleration of gravity g . No other force, including air resistance, is acting on such an object.

Interestingly, an object in free fall doesn't necessarily need to be falling (that is, moving downwards). For example, the Moon's motion satisfies all of the conditions listed above: there is no other force acting on it other than gravity (it's being pulled towards the Earth), and there is no air resistance, as there is no air in space.

Why doesn't the Moon crash into Earth, then? It's because Moon's speed is not directed towards Earth, but tangentially to its orbit. Since the Moon is moving along an elliptic orbit with a high enough velocity, its motion generates a centrifugal force, equal and opposite to the force of gravity.

You may want to check out our gravitational force calculator and see what an amazing force gravity is.

Free fall speed

From the definition of velocity, we can find the velocity of a falling object is:

• v 0 v_0 v 0 ​ – Initial velocity (measured in m/s or ft/s);
• t t t – Fall time (measured in seconds); and
• g g g – Free fall acceleration (expressed in m/s² or ft/s²).

Without the effect of air resistance, each object in free fall would keep accelerating by 9.80665 m/s (approximately equal to 32.17405 ft/s ) every second. In reality, though, a falling object's velocity is constrained by a value called the terminal velocity .

What is the terminal velocity? As you have seen above, the free-fall acceleration is constant, which means that the gravitational force acting on an object is constant, too. However, the force of air resistance increases with increasing free fall speed. At some point, the two forces become equal in magnitude . According to Newton's first law, at that point, the falling body stops accelerating and moves at a constant speed. This speed is the terminal velocity.

In this free fall calculator, we neglect the influence of air resistance. If you want to consider it, head over to our free fall with air resistance calculator .

Free fall equation

If you want to calculate the distance traveled by a falling object, you need to write down the equation of motion. If the initial displacement and velocity are both equal to zero, it boils down to:

If the object is already traveling with an initial velocity, you have to take it into account, too:

You can immediately see that the object's distance traveled is proportional to the fall time squared. It means that with each second, the falling body travels a substantially larger distance than before.

Another interesting fact is that according to the free fall formula, the distance does not depend on the mass of the falling object . If you drop a feather and a brick, they will hit the ground at the same time… Or at least that's what science says! If you try to perform an experiment, you'll notice that, in reality, the brick falls to the ground first. Why does that happen? Again, because of air resistance. If you dropped the two items in a vacuum, they would both hit the ground at the same instant!

How to use the free fall formula: an example

Still not sure how our free fall calculator works? Don't worry – we prepared a simple example to walk you through it.

Determine the gravitational acceleration. On Earth, this value is equal to 9.80665 m/s² on average (which is also the default value set in the free fall calculator).

Decide whether the object has an initial velocity. We will assume v₀ = 0 m/s .

Choose how long the object is falling. In this example, we will use the time of 8 seconds .

Calculate the final free fall speed (just before hitting the ground) with the formula:

v = v₀ + gt = 0 + 9.80665 × 8 = 78.45 m/s .

Find the free fall distance using the equation:

s = (1/2)gt² = 0.5 × 9.80665 × 8² = 313.8 m .

If you know the height from which the object is falling, but don't know the time of fall, you can use this calculator to find it, too!

Highest free fall in history

You might already have learned the free fall equation, but it's one thing to understand the theory and a completely different one to experience it. There are many ways to experience the thrill of a free fall – you could, for example, jump with a parachute or try bungee jumping!

Technically, such a jump doesn't fulfill all the requirements of a free fall – there is substantial air resistance involved. In fact, a real free fall is only possible in a vacuum. Nevertheless, this is as close to the actual experience as you can get on Earth 😉

One of the most extreme examples of an almost-scientifically correct free fall is the jump of Dr. Alan Eustace, Google's VP of Knowledge, in 2014. Eustace jumped from a heart-stopping height of 135,908 feet (41,425 m) , thus setting a new record for a parachute jump.

Surprisingly, Eustace declined Google's help in the jump and funded the project himself. It was not an easy endeavor because such a leap required him to go up in a special balloon and wear a custom-designed spacesuit that protected him from sudden shifts in temperature (after all, he was jumping from the edge of space). The fall itself took 15 minutes, and the maximum speed exceeded 800 miles per hour – far over the sound barrier!

What is free fall speed?

Why is the weight of a free falling body zero?

It is not. An object in free fall will still have a weight , governed by the equation W = mg , where W is the object’s weight, m is the object’s mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Weight, however, does not affect an object's free-falling speed . Two identically shaped objects weighing a different amount will hit the ground at the same time.

What is the difference between free fall and weightlessness?

Free fall is when an object is falling , only being affected by the force of gravity, while weightlessness is when an object has no weight due to there being no effect from gravity (it still has mass). Weightlessness can be achieved either in space or if an equal force can be applied in the opposite direction of gravity.

How do you find free fall acceleration of a planet?

To find the free fall acceleration of a planet:

Estimate the total mass of the planet in kilograms.

Find the radius of the planet , from its center to its surface, in meters.

Divide the total mass by the radius squared.

Multiply the result by the universal Gravitational constant :

6.67×10 -11 N·m 2 ·kg -2

The result is the gravitational acceleration of the planet, which is also its free-fall acceleration.

Gravitational acceleration (g)

Initial velocity (v₀)

Time of fall (t)

Velocity (v)

Velocity at time t.

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Title: fall detection for smart living using yolov5.

Abstract: This work introduces a fall detection system using the YOLOv5mu model, which achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.995, demonstrating exceptional accuracy in identifying fall events within smart home environments. Enhanced by advanced data augmentation techniques, the model demonstrates significant robustness and adaptability across various conditions. The integration of YOLOv5mu offers precise, real-time fall detection, which is crucial for improving safety and emergency response for residents. Future research will focus on refining the system by incorporating contextual data and exploring multi-sensor approaches to enhance its performance and practical applicability in diverse environments.

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