Physics
Do more expensive brands of tennis ball bounce better than cheaper ones?
Do older balloons float better or worse than newly filled ones?
Does boiling water in a pan with a lid make it boil quicker or at a lower temperature than water in a pan with no lid?
How does the color of a background affect its absorption of solar insulation?
Which factors affect how a pendulum swings?
How strong are different gauges of nylon fishing line?
What factors affect the bounce of a dropped ball?
How does wetting paper affect its strength?
Does paper thickness affect its strength?
Are rubber bands stronger when it is warmer?
How strong is a toothpick?
Which brand of battery last the longest?
Does temperature affect how fast paint dries?
What affects the strength of electromagnets?
Do different liquids have different surface tension?
What effect does oil have on surface tension?
How does the size of pot and shape of a pot, the amount of water, and the presence of a lid affect the speed at which water boils?
What factors affect the rate of evaporation of water?
How accurate are homemade weather instruments?
How is current in an electric circuit affected by type of conductor, temperature, filament, etc?
Does room temperature affect the lifespan of soap bubbles?
Compare how different metals conduct heat.
Compare metals in density and buoyancy.
What effect does an objects size and mass have on how it sinks in water?
How is the absorbency of a sponge affected by its size?
How is light affected when it passes through water?
How does the number of turns of wire affect electromagnets?
Study the effect of color on heat absorption
Analyze the different heat retention capabilities of straw, sand, paper and cloth.
How do different types of wood burn?
Design a way to measure the speed of sound.
Do different types of fabric dry quicker than others?
Which brands of battery last the longest?
How does the color, thickness, temperature of candle, room temperature etc. effect the speed at which candles burn?
Which keep drinks cooler; cans or bottles?
Study how the size, color, size of neck etc. affects how far balloons travel when the air is let out.
Compare how objects of different size and weight fall to the ground.
Study what affects the distance at which a ball travels when rolled down an incline.
What factors affect the speed at which ice melts?
How does salt affect buoyancy?
How do temperature and humidity affect the life of batteries?
Who can design the electromotor able to produce the most electricity?
Study the effect of water temperature on the buoyancy of a floating object.
Which shape of boat holds the most weight?
How does water temperature affect the speed it takes sugar to dissolve in it?
How does temperature of water affect the speed at which it freezes?
Do energy saving light bulbs produce less light than conventional light bulbs?
What effect does prolonged exposure to sunlight have on paper?
Which substances are the best insulators?
Which type of lawn sprinklers use the least water, or cover the most area with water?
Discover ways to slow down the rate at which ice melts.
Compare how different structures affect how sound travels? Which dampen the sound best?
Does the height from which a ball is dropped affect the height of its bounce?
Which brands of soap make the most long lasting soap bubbles?
What effect does spreading salt on icy roads have?
On which surfaces do balls roll fastest?
Which types of plastic bags are the strongest?
Is wood strength affected by different types of paint covering?
Does putting a spoon in my hot tea make it cool down quicker?
Does the viscosity of oil very with temperature?
More ideas for teaching inquiry-based science lessons in biology and chemistry are available in 'Teaching Inquiry-based Science' by Mark Walker, available from Amazon here.