Plasma Ball from Grapes

• Conduct this fun and interesting science fair project, which allows you to create a plasma ball using a microwave. Ask your teacher or parent to help you throughout the experiment, which you should start by cutting three grapes almost in half, so they are held together by just a sliver of skin. Press the three grapes to try and dry them out somewhat, while also stretching the skin that holds each grape together slightly. Place the three grapes on a dish and program your microwave for full power for no more than 10 seconds. Switch off the classroom or your kitchen lights, start your microwave and note down your observations. You should notice bright yellow sparking flashes, which are electromagnetic waves which cause current to move between the two halves of the grapes. Be careful when removing the grapes from the microwave -- they will be very hot.
  
  

The Effect of Microwaving on Seed Germination

• Carry out this fun botany project to investigate the effect that microwaving seeds will have on seed germination. Gather up 50 radish seeds and separate them into five groups of 10, with each group laid out on a damp paper towel. Label the towels Control; 30; 60; 90; 120. Fold each towel over so the seeds are covered, and place each towel within an identical microwave-proof dish. Leave the control dish to one side before exposing the other dishes to the microwave on full power for the number of seconds as displayed on the labels. Once you have microwaved all of your seeds, place them all beside each other on a naturally-lit windowsill. Return to your seeds once each day to take photographs of seed germination and provide each paper towel with a controlled volume of water. Finish your experiment after a week, comparing the germination rates for the different seeds before drawing a conclusion about the effect of microwaving on seed germination.
  
  

Microwaving Soap and Water Release

• Use this experiment to demonstrate that different brands of soap bars contain different amounts of water. Select four different brands of soap and weigh each bar prior to starting the microwaving. You should also weigh the heat-proof dish or tray that you will use to heat the soaps. Expose each bar of soap to one minute of microwaving on full power before leaving to cool --- be careful, both your soaps and the heat-proof dish will be hot. Once your soaps have cooled, weigh them once more and determine the difference in weight --- this is the amount of water that is in your soap. Calculate the percentage change for each soap brand to determine which bar of soap has the least and most water within.
  
  

Microwaved Water

• To start this fun project, plant four runner bean seedlings in identical plant pots with the same weight of potting soil within. Situate them next to each other on a naturally-lit table top. Label one plant pot "Microwave" so that you can discern one from the other. Water each of your plants once every other day using two different types of a controlled amount of water. Provide the microwave-labelled plant with a controlled amount of water that has been heated to boiling point in a microwave. Supply the other plant with the same amount of water but heat this water to boiling using a stove, instead. Continue watering your plants in this fashion once every other day for at least two weeks. Take photographs each time you water plants. After two weeks you will notice your microwave condition plant is smaller and much less healthy than the stove-boiled water.