Capillary Action Science Fair Projects

Capillary action science fair projects examine the interesting way that fluid moves against gravity up a capillary or thin tube. The following biology science experiments use both organic and inorganic test subjects, however, all of the experiments look at the same phenomenon, capillary action. While you can't enter these projects into a science fair and win, you can use them to help you develop a unique project.

DNA Extraction Kit	EDU-36820 C2D Discovery Planet Digital Microscope	Experiment with Microbes	Young Scientists Club Set - Nature Walk	Discovery Planet EDU-41021 Maxscope Videoscope
Age 12 thru High School	Ages 10 and up	Age 10 +	Ages 4 -12	Ages 10 and up

Young Scientists Club Set 6	Young Scientists Club Set 7	Young Scientists Club Set 10
Ages 9 - 12	Ages 9 - 12	Ages 9 -12

The first option that you have for capillary action science fair projects is the traditional diver in a bottle experiment. This experiment explores capillary action by making an eyedropper dive and surface in a two liter bottle filled with water. To advance this project's design you can try using liquids other than fresh water. Does this variation make a difference?

The second option that you have for capillary action science fair projects is to collect fluids using a pipette. Doctors commonly collect small blood samples using a pipette for testing. You can work with blood, however, safer fluids are probably best. Try to explain why the fluid is able to move against gravity up into the tiny pipette. To advance this project consider exploring ways that the results from this experiment can be applied to the medical field, and then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of capillary action.

The third option that you have is to use a young scientists club science kit set to explore how water is drawn up through the roots and dispersed to the various parts of a plant. This project is a great addition to a biology or horticultural unit. The advanced version of this experiment would include experimenting with how capillary action is used by plants to distribute nutrients to its cells as well as water.

If you are interested in a simple project then consider conducting a chromatography paper experiment. These experiments use a chromatography paper to separate out different colors from solutions. To complete this project you will need chromatography paper and water soluble markers. First you will create a thick block of color with your marker at the bottom of your chromatography paper. Via capillary action, the colored fluid from the marker will be drawn up the paper. Different colors will be separated out and deposited as the colored fluid travels to the top of the paper. Explain the colors that were left on your chromatography paper.

To get the most out of your capillary action science fair projects you need to make sure you create a report, visual display and oral presentation that is as interesting as your project. To do this you will want to make sure each component explains what your hypothesis was, how your experiment was designed and set up, how you collected your data and what you discovered. Your visual display will need to be full color, have illustrations and be neatly laid out. Your oral presentation will need to be well rehearsed and you will need to deliver it without relying solely on your note cards.