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Baking Soda Eruption

What’s causing this chemical reaction? 

Try this experiment at home and learn what causes a chemical reaction! A chemical reaction is when one or more substances react to form an entirely new substance with different properties.  

There are 5 signs that a chemical reaction has occurred. These signs are easy to remember…just think about F.A.R.T.S. To identify whether a chemical reaction has occurred, at least one of these 5 changes: 

  • Fizzes: Did the reaction produce bubbles or gas?  
  • Aroma: Did the reaction produce a smell?  
  • Re-color: Did the reaction produce a new color? 
  • Temperature: Did the reaction produce a temperature change or release light?  
  • New Substance: Did the reaction produce a new substance like water or a solid? 

Ready to make your own? Follow the written steps below! 

Materials you will need:

  • Vinegar 
  • Baking soda 
  • Any container (an empty plastic water bottle or small bowl works best) 
  • A tray or something to catch the mess 

Directions:

Step 1:

Pour some baking soda into the container (you don't need a lot)

Step 2:

Carefully pour some vinegar onto the baking soda and watch it fizz. You can pour more vinegar to make it erupt again until all the baking soda has dissolved. 

 

Step 3:

Clean up, and if you want, try again.

The Science of Baking Soda and Vinegar

  • Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an acid-base reaction that releases carbon dioxide. 
  • The chemical equation looks like this:  NaHCO3(s) + CH3COOH(l) → CO2(g) + H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + CH3COO(aq) 
  • This is an example of an acid-base neutralization reaction, where the reaction forms water and a salt as products. 

Expand on This Activity:

  • Ask Your Scientist the Following Questions: 
    • Which of the changes from F.A.R.T.S. did you notice in the reaction? 
    • What else produces carbon dioxide (CO2)? 
  • Keep Experimenting: 
    • If you have food coloring, you can add a few drops to your baking soda before you pour the vinegar to get a colorful eruption. 
    • You often see this reaction used to demonstrate a volcano erupting. Can you make a volcano out of things you have at home? You could use clay, papier mache, you can even make one outside out of dirt (just watch out for ants!)

BIGGEST Membership Sale of the Year — Just in Time for the Holidays!

Our BEST Deal of the Year is Here – CYBER MONDAY ONLY!

 

15% OFF

MEMBERSHIPS!

Get 12 months of learning and discovery for the price of 10!

Offer valid Monday, November 27 from 12:00 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.

Discount will be automatically applied upon checkout. No promo code needed!

A mother and son doing a science experiment

Become a Member

The best deal in town just got better! Enjoy unlimited general admission, exclusive Member-Only events, discounts, and even more perks. Learn more. 

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Gift a Membership

Gift Memberships expire one year from the date of redemption. There is no time limit on redeeming the E-Gift Certificate. Learn more.

What's in a Membership?

  • UNLIMITED General Admission to Orlando Science Center exhibits including upcoming traveling exhibits and special events like Spark STEM Fest and Science Night Live.
  • Early registration to Summer Camps.
  • Discounts on The Coffee Spot, The Science Store, 4Roots Cafe, special events like Kids Night at the Museum, Summer and Break Camp programs, Gift Memberships, and more! 
  • Four complimentary Guest Passes valued at $96
  • FREE or discounted admission to 350 museums and science centers across the country through the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport Program. 
  • And even more benefits!
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Already a Member?

As an OSC Member, you already know the amazing value of your annual membership, and this Cyber Monday, you can share it with your friends and family! Members always receive a 10% discount when you purchase a Gift Membership, but for ONE DAY ONLY you can take advantage of this sale and save 15% when you give someone else the gift of membership!

Add-ons for Family and Grandparent Membership levels are available to customize your membership, simply choose your membership level, and purchase your add-ons at your next visit.

Add the "Bring a Friend" feature for just $35 to bring one additional person with you each visit. For just $70, you can bring TWO additional people each visit as part of your Membership! Add-ons are available for purchase in person at OSC, or by calling 407.514.2158.


Veterans Day Military Discount and Ceremony at Orlando Science Center

FREE Admission November 4-19, 2023 and Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony

Science Center Joins Lockheed Martin in Saluting Former and Current Service Members 

In honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active military can enjoy complimentary admission* to Orlando Science Center and 50% off for their family thanks to Lockheed Martin.

Admission includes access to two theaters, special live programming, and four floors of permanent and traveling exhibits such as Backyard Adventures, the newly updated Our Planet, Our Solar System, and so much more for learners of all ages and interests! Explore the calendar to see what's going on at Orlando Science Center during your visit.

Veterans and active military also receive 10% off Memberships all year long!

*Admission and Membership discounts are only available in person at the Science Center. Must present valid military ID and matching photo ID to redeem.

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony

We invite you to join us in honoring our veterans during a brief ceremony on Saturday, November 11 at the Red Tails Monument in Loch Haven Park located just outside of the Science Center.

A statue of air force planes to honor Red Tail pilots outside Orlando Science Center.

The wreath ceremony is made possible by Lockheed Martin to honor veterans and salute the brave people who keep our nation safe. The Red Tails Monument is made possible through a partnership with Orlando Science Center and Vision of Flight.

General Admission to Orlando Science Center is not required to attend the outdoor ceremony. 

The Red Tails Monument serves as a symbol of courage and triumph over adversity that inspires future generations in their pursuit of academic success and careers in STEM fields, such as aviation. During World War II, the Red Tail Pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to racial discrimination, both within and outside the Army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction.

This promotion and ceremony are made possible by Lockheed Martin to honor veterans and salute the brave men and women who keep our nation safe. As our military serves our country proudly, their families serve, too. Lockheed Martin works with nonprofit partners like Orlando Science Center to support the active-duty force and their families. In addition, more than 20,000 veterans work at Lockheed Martin. To learn more about Lockheed Martin’s commitment to veterans, please visit their website.  

Thank You For Your Service

Mummy Sock Puppets

BOO! It's Spooky Season, and we're celebrating with DIY mummy sock puppets!

Mummies aren't just a great costume for Halloween night. Mummification was a 70-day process of preserving the bodies of pharaohs, members of nobility, and even animals. This process has allowed us to know what these great individuals looked like 3,000 years ago and to understand the preservation of human bodies.

Research shows that Egyptians began the processes of mummification around 2600 BCE. This practice endured for well over 2,000 years, continuing into the Roman Period. However, the quality of mummification someone received was dependent upon the price paid. Pharaohs such as Tutankhamen and others were prepared with the utmost attention to detail, laid to rest with treasured items.

Learn to make your own Mummy Sock Puppet!

Want to try your hand at making your own mummy sock puppet? This is a fun and easy activity you can do right at home! 

Materials

  • Sock
  • Fabric Markers
  • Buttons
  • Yarn
  • Thread
  • Sewing Needles
Materials needed to make sock puppets, including a sock, scissors, sewing needles and various threads.

Step 1: 

Gather materials. 

 

Step 2: 

Use the fabric marker to mark where you want to sew the button eyes.

A woman draws eyes on a sock puppet using a fabric marker.

Step 3: 

Thread the needle and sew on both buttons.

Step 4: 

Either sew on yarn accessories or wrap your sock puppet in yarn to mimic a mummy's wrappings. Make sure you don't wrap too tight so you can remove your hand from the sock puppet!

a man sews buttons onto a sock puppet
a woman wraps yarn around a sock puppet

Step 5: 

Tie off thread/yarn loose ends and enjoy your sock puppet!

Expand on the Activity

Did you love making your spooky sock puppet? Check out these other fun and easy experiments you can do right at home to help you get into the spirit of the season!

simple spooky STEM experiments

Simple Spooky STEM Activities to Scare Up Some Fun

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays at the Orlando Science Center, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite simple spooky STEM activities that you can do at home!

How to demonstrate static electricity with Orlando Science Center

How to Demonstrate Static Electricity and Shock Your Friends

Learn a phantom-tastic physics lesson while you learn how to demonstrate static electricity! Put a little boogie in tissue paper ghosts to make them dance in this fun and simple science activity.

what to do with leftover candy with Orlando Science Center

What to do with Leftover Candy? Learn Some Sweet Science!

This experiment is sugar, and spice, and everything science! Join us as we dive into some chemistry (and our candy stash) and we'll give you a fun trick for what to do with your leftover treats.

Chromatography Experiment for Kids

What pigments are in different types of black markers? 

Try this Chromatography experiment and watch as ink breaks down into different colors! 

Chromatography is a really useful technique for chemists, helpful in everything from identifying biological materials to finding clues at crime scenes. Chromatography separates the parts of a mixture based on whether they like to stick to the paper, or if they like to travel with the liquid. 

Ready to try it out? Follow the written steps below! 


Materials you will need: 

  • Black Sharpie marker 
  • Black Crayola marker 
  • Black Expo marker 
  • Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 
  • Shallow bowl (this will get marker on it) 

 

Directions: 

Step 1: Rip your coffee filter into three pieces. 

Step 2: At the top of each piece label them. S for Sharpie, E for Expo, and C for Crayola. 

Step 3:Use the marker that matches the letter to make a thick dark mark at the bottom of each piece. 

Step 4:Pour a little bit of alcohol into the bottom of the bowl. 

Step 5:Place the tips of each of the three filter pieces in the bowl so that they are touching the alcohol. It will take a little time, but you should start to see the ink move up the filters. 

The Science of Chromatography 

  • Alcohol acts as a solvent and dissolves the chemicals that make color in markers. The chemicals that dissolve best will move further up the filter. 
  • Sharpies are alcohol based, Crayola washable markers are water based, and Expo markers are alcohol based if they’re dry erase and water based if they’re wet erase.  
  • The alcohol based markers will dissolve better in the rubbing alcohol because it is the main ingredient in the ink. 

Expand on the Activity

Did you enjoy this Chromatography experiment? Expand on the activity with the options below.

  • Ask Your Scientist the Following Questions: 
    • Did the inks travel at the same speed? 
    • Did they all travel the same distance? 
    • What other ways could chromatography be useful? 
  • Keep Experimenting: 
    • Try it with other types of black ink, like a writing or drawing pen. Would it work with printer ink? 
    • Does the color of the ink matter? See our OSC @ Home blog about capillary action to explore a colorful version of this experiment. 
    • Try using water instead of alcohol and see if it works.

Bank of America Offers Free Admission to Cardholders for Museums on Us Weekends

The first full weekend of every month, Bank of America and Merrill and Private Bank credit and debit cardholders can receive free admission to Orlando Science Center on Saturdays and Sundays through the Museums on Us program!

About Museums on Us

Museums on Us weekends includes access to Orlando Science Center's four floors or exhibits and experiences such as giant-screen films, workshops in The Hive: A Makerspace (ages 8+), and so much more! 

Eligibility

Offer is open to all Bank of America and Merrill Lynch debit and credit card holders and is valid for one complimentary general admission per cardholder. 

To gain free entry, present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card and a photo ID at Guest Services upon arrival. Non-cardholders, including children, are not eligible for free admission.
 

Both the credit or debit card and matching photo ID must be presented at the time of the visit to gain free entry. 

Upcoming Bank of America Weekend Dates 

  • October 7 & 8, 2023
  • November 4 & 5, 2023
  • December 2 & 3, 2023
  • January 6 & 7, 2024

Orlando Science Center thanks Bank of America for their continued partnership and support of their Museums on Us program for the last two decades. We value their outstanding dedication to providing communities enriching learning experiences.

Want FREE Admission to Orlando Science Center All Year Long?
Become a Member Today!

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders receive 10% off of an annual membership when they buy during Museums on Us weekends!

Annual memberships to Orlando Science Center include major perks like free admission, free parking, free admission to events like Science Night Live, special member-only previews of exhibits and films, and so much more! 

Can You Hear Me Now? Learn to Make a DIY Cup Phone

Can you hear me now? Learn how to make a DIY Cup Phone!

How do phones allow us to talk to people who are so far away? We can find out by making a DIY cup phone using things you might have around the house. 

Telephones turn sound waves into electricity that can be sent using cables. Once the sound electricity reaches you, magnets are used to convert the electrical signals back into sound waves. The sound vibrates the air around it, so you can hear what the person on the other end of the line is saying. 

Ready to make your own? Follow the written steps below!

Materials you will need: 

  • 2 Styrofoam or paper cups
  • Twine or other string
  • Scissors
  • Markers (these are optional!)

Directions

Step 1: Use the scissors to poke a hole in the bottom of each cup.

Step 2: String a piece of twine between the cups by pushing each end of the string inside the holes you just made. Use a long piece of string to help the sound travel farther.

Step 3: Tie a knot in the end of the string inside the cups to keep the cups from falling off.

Step 4: Feel free to decorate your cups with markers if you want, but there's nothing wrong with keeping them plain!

Step 5: To use the phone, all you have to do is talk into the cup while someone else holds the other cup to their ear. Make sure to keep the string tight; if the string is sagging, the sound won't travel effectively!

The Science of Cup & String Phones

  • You may have heard that sound travels - but how?
  • Sound is made up of waves that we can hear. These sound waves are formed by objects vibrating, or shaking back and forth very quickly. 
  • Sound travels through air, water, and solid objects as vibration. 
  • The sound of your voice vibrates the cup, which cases the string to vibrate, too, as sound travels down it. 
  • Our ears collect the sound vibration, where nerves send them to our brain. 
  • Our brains process the signals, and then we hear the sound!

Join Us For Discovery Days!

Spark Curiosity Across Central Florida!

Host an Event

Join in the excitement by organizing an event to provide opportunities for families and curious minds to participate in science activities throughout Central Florida. Events can range far and wide and should include fun inspirational experiences for everyone!

Some programs can be specifically for kids and families, and some just for adults. Sample events include conversations with a scientist or engineer, behind-the-scenes Q&A tours, craft demonstrations, a nature walk with a scientist or science trivia at neighborhood bars. Almost anything is possible.

How Does Hosting a Discovery Day Event Work?

  1. Submit your event proposal and get a sneak peek at the required form info at the bottom of this page.
  2. We will check your submission to make sure the event meets our selection criteria.
  3. We approve your event as an official Discovery Day event (or we’ll follow up if your proposal needs to be modified).

Selection Criteria

  1. Events should take place in Central Florida prior to the #SparkSTEMFest between February 1-15.
  2. Science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics should be a significant component of the event.
  3. Events should be fun, interactive, experiential, and meaningful, with a focus on drawing connections to STEM.
  4. Host accepts all responsibility for the event, including venue, organization, content, staffing, etc.
  5. Event should be accessible to the general public. Free events are encouraged (or free with admission) or ticketed to cover production costs only.
  6. Host agrees to promote the event as a part of #SparkSTEMFest using the guidelines we’ll provide.
  7. Host agrees to provide attendance, photos, anecdotes, and feedback to Orlando Science Center within 14 business days after the event.

Orlando Science Center reserves the right to reject any event for any reason. 

Applicants will receive notification of acceptance or regret as soon as possible or by December 31. 


Promotional Support 

To assist hosts, the STEM Spark Fest organizers will:

  1. Promote events on the Orlando Science Center website and as part of the online calendar. 
  2. Promote with Facebook events and targeted emails (provided event details are provided in enough time).
  3. Provide an Event Host Marketing Kit with promotional materials, signage, #SparkSTEMFest branding templates and logos for use in digital and print media.

Application Form Sneak Peek

  • Your Contact Info (Name, Email, Phone) – This is so we can reach you and will not be public.
  • Proposed Event Title – The more exciting the better! Make it catchy, thought-provoking, mysterious, or even funny! This is how it will be used in publication.
  • Event Description – Make it sound fun! The first sentence should describe what the attendee can expect to learn from your presentation. Subsequent sentences should offer more details about what will be covered and why the reader should attend. This will be used in publication so check for spelling and grammar.
  • Event Type – Choose from our list of categories (Hands-on, Performance/Film, Open House/Tour, etc.).
  • Organizer(s) – Please list any organizations (including your own) that you would like credited for this event.
  • Photo Upload – Include a fun picture or logo (at least 1920x1080 jpg to be used as the featured image on your event listing.
  • Target Audience – Choose from: 21+ Only, Adults, Families (Adults and Kids Together), Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College Level, or All Ages.
  • Is this presentation available in English, Spanish or both?
  • Topic - Choose as many topics as relevant to your activity.
  • Specify your event date(s) and times – Must fall within February 1-15 to be included on the form.
  • Event Venue – Please be specific with the location.
  • Pricing Structure – We encourage offering free or reduced cost events to help cover your operational expenses. Be sure to include ways to purchase tickets in the event description if this is a condition of your event. Include estimated attendance and maximum capacity.
  • Ticketing and Registration - If your event requires registration/ticketing, how will you handle it? Consider a ticket for free events as a way for guests to RSVP. This will help capture attendance.
  • Event Website – Please be aware that you will need to provide Orlando Science Center with a link to redirect guests to your website or Facebook event to access registration information.
  • Social Media – Provide handles to be included in event listing and used by our marketing team to cross-promote the event as part of Spark STEM Fest.

Submit your proposal here by December 17

Ask a Scientist Question Archive

About our Scientist in Residence

The Scientist in Residence is a STEM professional who is an expert in their field. They're also available to provide unique insight into trending science topics, promote science literacy, and answer questions from the public.

Dr. M.J. Soileau is currently serving as our inaugural Scientist in Residence. A big personality with a passion for improving the STEM environment, Dr. Soileau has been a trailblazer in both optical research and higher education.

He has been a fervent supporter of Orlando Science Center since the 1980s, when he first joined the Board of Directors. Now an Emeritus Member of the Board, Dr. Soileau served as Chairman during a critical period of the Science Center's history, garnering financial resources and governmental support for our mission.

 

Dr. Soileau Answers Your Questions!

We have received some fantastic questions from guests, campers, and preschoolers alike for our Scientist in Residence. Check out his answers below and check out the Ask a Scientist page for the most current questions! You can also submit your own questions on this page. Let's get curious together!

The short answer is that air molecules scatter the blue light from the Sun much, much more than other colors and in all directions. This makes our sky blue. Below is a more detailed explanation.

Sunlight is a mixture of all the colors of the rainbow. The colors in sunlight have almost the same intensity. Our eyes perceive this mixture as white light. CAUTION: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!!! Serious eye damage can occur!

Light is a wave, and red light has a longer wavelength (distance between peaks of the wave) than blue light. The molecules of air are much, much smaller than the wavelengths of visible light. Therefore, the air scatters sunlight in all directions. The blue light in sunlight is scattered much, much more than the other colors, making the sky appear blue. This explanation is called Rayleigh scattering, named for the 19th Century British physicist who discovered it.

white light entering a prism and being divided into colored light rays  the wavelengths of visible light by color. red has the longest wavelength and blue has the shortest.

Farts are a natural byproduct of eating a nutritious diet to supply our bodies with energy and nutrients needed for us to survive and thrive.  Farts and poop are the waste products of our digestive process, which extracts the needed stuff from our food.   

Why do farts (flatulence) smell so bad? The answer starts with the food we eat.  For example, eggs (very healthy food) contain sulphur (S), which combines with oxygen to give us energy. The waste product of digesting eggs is sulphur dioxide gas - sometimes called rotten egg gas because it smells like rotten eggs…ugh!  A lot of the food we eat (raisins prunes, meat products, vegetables, soft drinks, wine and beer, etc.) contains sulphur compounds.  A waste product of digesting that food is sulphur dioxide, which our bodies expel as smelly farts!

Dogs use their tails to communicate. For example, when your dog sees you, they wag their tail to communicate to you that they are excited to see you. It's a way of showing their affection for you. 

On the other hand, when a dog does something wrong and you scold them for it, the dog might stick its tail between its hind legs and slowly wag it. This communicates to you that your dog is feeling sorry or ashamed. 

However, just as our voices can communicate anger or fear in addition to excitement and affection, sometimes a dog wagging its tale is communicating that they are angry or afraid. You can probably tell the difference with your dog, but it's more difficult to tell with a dog you don't know. Never approach or touch an unknown dog unless their owner is present and gives you permission!

In science, it's important to ask the right question to get the best answer. We can better understand the answer to this question by changing the word "heat" to "light." So, let's look at this question: Since white reflects light and black absorbs light, why are the lenses in sunglasses usually black?

The answer is that we make sunglasses partly black to absorb some fo the sunlight coming through them. That way, the light that makes it through the dark glasses is not too bright for our eyes. 

Note that sometimes sunglasses look shiny white rather than dark. These glasses are made of very thin layers of metals (like aluminum) that reflect some white light but let some through. The light that comes through the lens is now safe for our eyes, because it's not too bright. 

Explore More! Words used in science have very specific meanings. For example, light is electromagnetic radiation. That radiation can be reflected (off a mirror), transmitted (through a clear piece of glass), or absorbed (into a black surface). The light absorbed by a black surface heats (raises the temperature) the surface. Light reflected or transmitted does not heat the surface it's interacting with. 

Crayons are made by mixing melted paraffin wax with a carefully measured amount of paint pigments to produce many colors. The mixtures of pigments and paraffin wax are then poured into special molds in the desired shape and allowed to cool and become solid.

NatureWorks is Closed for Construction

Hold on to Your Hard Hats!

We've been hard at work behind the scenes on Orlando Science Center's most ambitious construction project to date. Our new permanent animal and nature exhibit, Life, presented by Dr. Sarah Layton, is racing towards completion faster than a cheetah chasing its prey! Life is a complete reimagining and expansion of our old NatureWorks exhibit, so this space is closed to the public during the construction process.

We've conquered design, demolished obstacles, erected new infrastructure, and put together habitats and life support systems. We are nearing the end of construction and are 90% complete! The exhibit will be ready and open to the public in Spring 2024.

Soon, we'll be entering the next phase by enhancing the exhibit space with theming and introducing our Animal Ambassadors into their new home! Picture birds flying over your head in the rainforest and starfish basking in the water just a hand-touch away.

path
aquarium
tree

Meet the Ambassadors

As we prepare habitats for our animals, we're slowly welcoming new ambassadors to our crew. We have recently welcomed two sun conures, two burrowing owls, and two Madagascar tenrecs, and we have a few more animals on the way. The health and safety of our living collection is of utmost importance to us, so we make sure all of our acquisitions, quarantine processes, and care procedures are up to the standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) - the highest standards in animal care and welfare.

New animals need some time to adjust to their new surroundings before meeting guests, so you might not meet our newest residents just yet. But you can still say hello to our other animal ambassadors, like Luna and Poppy the chinchillas, Memphis the skunk, Captain the macaw, Betsy the Burmese python, Blue the eastern indigo... you get the picture! You have a chance to meet our ambassadors twice a day, every day this summer! Just check the calendar for Meet a Snake or Life with Animals.

a raccoon in a cage

As we welcome new friends (whether furry or feathered, spiky or shelled!), we have also expanded our animal care team. Numerous keepers with experience caring for species native to the swamp, ocean, and rainforest habitats have joined our Orlando Science Center team. Led by Curator Shannon Zimmerman and Animal Care Manager Jenny Volz, the Life team has grown to suit the needs of our newest animal residents - and of course, the needs of our beloved existing ambassadors like Captain and Memphis! Be sure to stay in touch via email and social media, where we'll be sharing more updates as progress continues.