5 Science Experiments with Tape | Inspiration Laboratories

This #SchoolYearReady post is sponsored by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. Stock up on Scotch® Tape and try out these science experiments with tape.

Science Experiments with Tape

For these experiments, you’ll need Scotch® Magic™ Tape or Scotch® Transparent Tape. Find them at Walmart in the Back to School and stationary aisles.

You’ll find Scotch® Magic™ Tape in the green box and Scotch® Transparent Tape in the red box. For more ways to use tape for Back to School, check out the creative ideas from 3M.

Tape Prevents a Balloon from Popping

This is a classic science magic trick. Stick a needle through a balloon and the balloon doesn’t pop. Do you know the secret? Place a piece of Scotch® Transparent Tape on the balloon. Then, push the needle through the tape.

If you try to push the needle through the balloon elsewhere, the balloon will pop.

Light from Unrolling Tape

Did you know that scientists have discovered that sticky tape generates x-rays in a vacuum? In 2008, scientists at UCLA published an article in Nature sharing their results. You can watch a video of their triboelectrification research here.

Unrolling Scotch® tape also produces light. You’ll notice the blue light in the article and video above. You can try this one yourself. Grab a roll of Scotch® Magic™ Tape (it seemed to work better than the Scotch® Transparent Tape) and head to a dark room. Unroll the tape. You’ll see blue light being emitted from the where the tape is pulled away from the roll. The photo below was taken with a long exposure and has been enhanced.

Use Tape to Collect Fingerprints

You’ll need:

Scotch® Transparent Tape
a pencil
paper
magnifying glass (optional)
paint brush or make up brush with soft bristles
dusting powder (cornstarch or cocoa powder)
surfaces to explore (like a drinking glass)

The easiest way to observe your fingerprint is to scribble on a piece of paper to create a layer of graphite. Rub your finger on top of the graphite. Place a piece of Scotch® Transparent Tape over your finger and pull away. Stick the tape down on a piece of paper. Use a magnifying glass to look at your fingerprints. Compare different fingers.

Now it’s time to dust for prints. Fingerprints can be collected from hard surfaces like glass or school desks. Use a paint brush or make up brush to gently sprinkle on a fine powder. Cornstarch works well on dark surfaces. Try cocoa powder for light surfaces. Either should be fine for clear glass. Blow away any excess powder. Place a piece of Scotch® Transparent Tape over the fingerprint and pull away. Stick the tape down on a piece of paper. Cornstarch will be seen on dark colored paper and cocoa powder will be seen on light colored paper. Use a magnifying glass to look at the fingerprints. Can you tell who they belong to based on the fingerprinting you did before?

Static Charge

Use Scotch tape to observe static charge. The pieces of tape will attract each other or repel each other depending on how you set up the demo. Watch the video below and follow along. You can read more about the static charge experiment here.

Tape Secret Messages

I have one last tape idea for you. Write secret messages on Teflon tape. You’ll write your message on the tape and then stretch the tape out (up and down). Your message will disappear. Pull the tape lengthwise and your messages will reappear. Get the full instructions for making the Teflon tape secret messages at Steve Spangler Science.

Do you have any tape experiments we can try? Share them in the comments!

For even more ways to use tape for Back to School, don’t forget to check out the creative ideas from 3M.

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