Experiment library
86 free experiment guides from ATP Volta™
Explore 86 of the 200+ experiments available through the complete ATP ecosystem. All 86 are published here in full: 42 in physics and 44 in chemistry and plant biology, for grades 6 to 12. Each one lists what students learn, the equipment and chemicals it uses, the science behind it, and the questions to put to the class.
These pages are free to read and free to use for lesson planning. They are taken from the ATP laboratory manuals that ship with every ATP Volta.
Physics experiments 42
Forty-two physics experiments from the ATP Volta manual, from first-class levers to series and parallel circuits.
Levers and balance
- First class leversBy varying either the position or the masses loaded on the arms of a balance the student can be introduced to the first-class levers and balance principles.
- First class levers and equilibrium positionsThe purpose of this experiment is to analyze first-class levers where the fulcrum lies between the power effort and the resistance load.
- Sensitivity of a balanceApplying slightly different masses on the two pans of the balance, the student can evaluate the lowest mass that the balance can measure.
- Second and third class leversThe purpose of this experiment is to analyze second and third-class levers; in this case the fulcrum is placed at one end of the rod.
Measurement
- Measurement of a lengthThe experiment allows the students to learn how to measure lengths using a Vernier caliper and introduces them to the physical meaning of errors in a measurement.
- Measurement of densityThe aim of this experiment is to understand the physical concept of density and to measure its value for the materials provided in the lab using two different methods.
Forces and simple machines
- Parallel ForcesThe purpose of this experiment is to analyze the effects of the application of parallel forces to an object and to determine the conditions of balance.
- Composition and decomposition of forcesConcurrent forces, weight as a force, and the static measurement of a force.
- Fixed PulleysThe purpose of this experiment is to verify the functioning of a fixed pulley as a simple machine.
- Mobile PulleyThe purpose of this experiment is to understand the functioning of a mobile pulley as a simple machine.
- Fixed and Mobile PulleysThe purpose of this experiment is to verify how two joined pulleys (fixed and mobile) work.
- Inclined PlaneThe student studies and verifies the composition of forces.
Elasticity and oscillation
- Hooke's LawThe purpose of this experiment is to analyze the stretching of a spring as a function of the load applied to it, in order to determine the elastic constant of the spring and to verify the law of direct proportionality.
- Springs in series and in parallelThe purpose of this experiment is to analyze a phenomenon, strange at first glance, that involves springs in series and in parallel.
- Simple PendulumThe purpose of this experiment is to study a simple pendulum.
- Spring PendulumThe aim of this experiment is to study the spring pendulum using the approximation of a massless spring.
Fluids and pressure
- Communicating VesselsThe aim of this experiment is to study the fundamental principles of the communicating vessels.
- Archimedes' PrincipleThe aim of this experiment is to introduce the students to the concept of buoyancy and to study Archimedes' principle in a simple and very intuitive way.
- The ManometerThe purpose of the experiment is to give a qualitative explanation of the U-tube manometer.
Heat and temperature
- Equilibrium temperature of mixed liquidsThe aim of this experiment is to introduce the concept of equilibrium temperature of mixed liquids in a calorimeter.
- Heat transfer and thermal insulationThe aim of this experiment is to introduce the concept of heat transfer and how it is possible to slow down this mechanism by means of insulating material.
- Specific heat capacity of solidsA typical way to introduce students to a fundamental concept such as specific heat, comparing steel and copper.
- Heat SensitivityThe purpose of the experiment is to introduce the concept of temperature as felt by the human being.
- Pulse GlassThe purpose of the experiment is to show how a pulse glass works.
- Thermometer's time constantThe purpose of the experiment is to give a quantitative explanation of the thermometer's time constant. This gives insight into the heat sensitivity of the thermometer.
Sound
- Use of the Tuning ForksThe aim of the experiments performed with this pair of tuning forks is to allow students to understand the phenomenon of sound wave propagation.
- The Phenomenon of ResonanceThis experience provides clear evidence of the phenomenon of resonance between the two tuning forks.
- Beats and Interference in AcousticsThis experiment provides qualitative evidence of acoustic interference and beats caused by the tuning forks.
Light and optics
- Focal LengthThe aim of the experiment is to introduce the students to the properties of biconcave and biconvex lenses.
- Thin Lens EquationThe aim of this experiment is to measure the focal length of a thin lens using the conjugate point equation. With this method the determination of the focal length is possible only for thin lenses.
- MagnificationThis experiment allows the students to observe and calculate magnification using convex lenses. As a further exercise, students investigate the dioptric power of the lens.
- Mixing of ColoursThis qualitative experience allows the students to observe colour mixing by performing additive and subtractive synthesis. Primary and secondary colours and their compositions are also studied.
- Microscope and TelescopeHow to make a compound microscope using two short focal length convex lenses. The object to be viewed is placed just outside the focus of the objective lens.
- Prism: Composition of LightThis experiment shows a potential use of a prism, as it enables light to be split into its components.
- Shadows and PenumbraThis experiment investigates the formation of shadows using different shadow rods. Light does not bend around the object, so a shadow of the same shape is cast on the screen.
- MirrorsReflection and image formation in plane and curved mirrors.
Magnetism
- Attractive and repulsive Magnetic forcePlastic cased bar magnets offer an easy and engaging way to show the attractive and repulsive properties of magnets to students.
- Magnetic Field ForcesThe Magnetic Field Chamber 2D gives a visual approach to the structure of magnetic field lines, showing how magnetic powder aligns along the lines of the field created by the U-shaped magnet.
- Compass and MagnetismThe purpose of the experiment is to show how a compass aligns under the action of an external magnetic field.
- A Fairly Common Magnetic ToyThe aim of the experiment is to study how an attractive and repulsive force can be combined into an always-attractive force.
Electric circuits
- Electric ResistanceThis experience allows the students to approach the general theory of electricity and introduces them to the physical concepts of electric resistance and charge flow.
- Series versus parallel circuitsThis experiment illustrates the theory and applications of combined resistors, in series and in parallel configurations.
Chemistry and biology experiments 44
Forty-four chemistry and plant-biology experiments, from the law of mass conservation to pollen germination.
Matter, mixtures and solutions
- Law of mass conservationThis experiment tests the statement that during a chemical reaction the total mass of the system is conserved, even if chemical changes occur in the solution.
- Diffusion in a solutionMolecules and ions in a liquid are continuously moving, and this movement increases with temperature. This explains why solutes eventually become equally distributed through a solution even though the solvent remains stationary.
- ColloidsTo introduce colloidal solutions and familiarise students with filtering techniques.
- Properties of colloidsTo show some properties of colloidal solutions.
- Coordination complexesTo show the formation of coordination complexes of copper ions through reactions with water, ammonia and sodium chloride.
- Temperature effects on solubilityTo investigate the dissolution of substances and introduce the concept of solubility.
- Density of substancesTo determine the density of some liquid and solid substances by measuring volumes and masses.
- Water of crystallizationTo show the presence of water in a coordination complex, not as an impurity but as part of the structure of the crystals.
- Melting of sulphurAn example of a solid to liquid change of state, explained from the microscopic and thermodynamic point of view. The melting of sucrose is given alongside as an example of a change of chemical structure by heating, to point out the difference.
- SublimationTo demonstrate sublimation.
Reactions and energy changes
- Acid base reactionsTo demonstrate the chief properties of acids and bases, and to introduce the concept of acids and bases and some indicators.
- Single exchange reactionTo demonstrate displacement reactions, resulting in new compounds.
- Neutralization heatTo demonstrate the enthalpy change arising from the neutralization of a strong acid with a strong base.
- Crystallization heatTo demonstrate an exchange of heat between a system and its environment — in this case the opposite of the dissolution of a salt.
Preparing and testing gases
- Hydrogen productionTo demonstrate the displacement of hydrogen from hydrochloric acid by the use of zinc.
- Hydrogen propertiesTo demonstrate two principal properties of hydrogen.
- Carbon dioxide productionTo show a characteristic reaction between carbonates and acids.
- Carbon dioxide propertiesTo show some properties of carbon dioxide.
- Sodium carbonate and bicarbonate productionTo produce sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogencarbonate (bicarbonate).
- Oxygen production and propertiesTo demonstrate a method of generating oxygen by means of a chemical reaction that does not involve electrolysis.
- Oxygen production IITo demonstrate the preparation of oxygen at room temperature by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solution using a catalyst.
Electrochemistry
- Electrolytes and conductivityTo introduce the concept of electrolytes and conductivity, and to check electric current by means of an electric light bulb.
- Conductivity and concentrationsTo determine the relation between current intensity and concentration of a strong electrolyte solution.
- Introduction to electrolytic processesTo show the different tendencies of metals to oxidise, and to introduce students to the basic redox reactions of metals.
- The salt solution cellTo measure a difference of potential between two electrodes dipped in a salt solution.
- The lemon cellTo make a simple cell using an unusual acidic solution.
- The Daniell cellTo set up galvanic copper and zinc cells with two different concentrations of the metal salt solutions, and measure their potential difference.
- The Volta cellTo introduce another method of producing a difference of potential between two electrodes, measuring the voltage of a single Volta cell and then of two Volta cells linked in series.
- Water electrolysis with acidsTo carry out the electrolysis of water in an acidic environment.
- Water electrolysis with basesTo carry out the electrolysis of water in a basic environment and observe the different reactions.
- AccumulatorsTo set up a simple accumulator and demonstrate the possibility of storing energy as chemical energy.
- Corrosion and galvanic protectionTo use acids, salt solutions and water to obtain corrosion processes, and to learn about procedures that preserve substances from corrosion.
Water, cells and plants
- Oxygen in waterTo demonstrate the presence of oxygen dissolved in water.
- OsmosisTo introduce the process known as osmosis.
- Osmosis in cellsTo observe osmosis in living plant cells.
- Osmosis in rootsTo show how osmosis influences the passage of water through roots.
- Osmosis in potatoesTo show osmosis in potatoes.
- Osmosis in potatoes and effects of concentrationTo show a method for calculating the minimum sucrose concentration that causes water loss in potatoes, pointing out the importance of the concentration of the solution.
- Cell turgorTo demonstrate how the water content in plant fibres is responsible for herbaceous plants standing up.
- Capillarity in the stemTo show the rising of sap through the woody vessels.
- Chromatography of chlorophyllTo introduce a common organic extraction technique.
- Pulp of fruitsTo analyse some fruit pulps in order to show their nutritive substance values.
- Starch in leavesTo demonstrate the presence of starch in vegetable tissues.
- Pollen germinationTo show pollen germination.