Energy Beads

Great topic for science fair projects! They look like ordinary white beads, but don’t take your eyes off of them. Take them outside and they change in the blink of an eye into a rainbow burst of color. These amazing beads will help you test for an invisible energy called ultraviolet light. Once you are back indoors, the beads turn back to their original white color. You’ll uncover the science of light as you explore with these incredible light-sensing tools. Learn about the difference between visible light, black light, and ultraviolet light. You’ll be able to conduct a number of Energy bead experiments to test whether your sunscreen and sunglasses are effective and to discover which materials can keep different kinds of light out, and which cannot. Afterward, thread your energy beads onto the rainbow string for the coolest light-sensing bracelet in town. Science Principles explored in this kit: Physics Note TO PARENTS: These beads are amazing experimental tools, and make a great start for open-ended scientific thinking and discovery. As such, they make a great basis for science fair experiments or anytime science learning. Encourage your scientist to think about the experiment results and to hypothesize and devise experiments of their own. The quick color change makes the kit ideal for exploration and discovery, and helps to make an otherwise invisible concept (the difference between different kinds of light) become real and accessible. Plus, you have to admit, that color-changing beads are just flat out cool. Maybe you can borrow the bracelet once the experimentation is through! Energy BEAD BRACELET LEARN MORE! The energy that we call light is actually made of lots of different kinds of energy, and ranges from the energy that makes the microwave work to the energy that allows doctors to take X-rays of broken bones. Lots of these kinds of energy come from the sun and travel to earth. Some of this energy we can see (scientists call this kind of energy visible light) and some we can’t. Among the kinds of light energy we can’t see is a type called ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light (sometimes called UV light) has a lot of energy (it’s what gives you a sunburn if you stay out in the sun too long.) Normally UV light is invisible to people, but with this kit you’ll have an amazing science tool that will help you to sense when UV light is present. The kit instructions offer experiment suggestions (try putting sunscreen on the beads. Do you think they will still change color when you go outside? ) But you can also think of your own experiments to try. Afterward, you can wear your energy beads as a bracelet. Have fun exploring! Ages 8 and up