MATHEMATICS OF WAVES AND MATERIALS
  • Home
  • People
  • Research
    • Research interests
    • Publications
    • Grants
    • External Conferences
    • Research Talks
    • Opportunities
  • Events
    • UKAN-MCA
    • Lighthill-100
  • Group meetings
    • Online Seminars
  • Industry
    • Industrial Collaborations
    • Thales
    • Dyson
  • Engagement
    • Our Research Explained
    • Meet a Mathematician
    • Virtual Postcards
    • Smarter Materials for Greener Devices
    • Learning Resources >
      • Primary Learning Resources >
        • Make a Kazoo!
        • Noisy Balloons!
        • Hundreds and Thousands
      • Secondary Learning Resources >
        • The Anatomy of a Wave
        • Resonance and Standing Waves
        • The Science of Musical Instruments
        • The Science of Balloons Part 1
        • The Science of Balloons Part 2
        • Draw Curves with Straight Lines
        • Sci-Fi Slinky Sounds
        • Resonant Rings
        • Floating Slinky
        • Slow Waves
        • Unmixing
      • Slinky Science
    • Schools and Colleges
    • Public Events
    • Get in touch
    • Social Media
    • Community Festival Waves and Sound
  • A to Z
  • Contact
  • Blog

Slinky Science!

Learning Resources Home
Curriculum links: KS2 Working Scientifically, Forces, Sound; KS3 Working Scientifically, Motion and Forces, Waves, Sound, Energy in Matter

​We love Slinkies because we can use them to explore waves and sound in lots of fun ways.  Here are a few of our favourite experiments to try!

Watch the videos and use the Experiment Guides to find out what to do.
​
These experiments work best with a metal Slinky.  A metal mini-Slinky can be used, but for Sci-Fi Slinky Sounds a full-sized Slinky gives the most dramatic result!
All activities undertaken must be risk assessed.  Guidance can be found on the CLEAPSS website.
Picture

Experiment Guides
 
slinky_science_a5_print_booklet.pdf
File Size: 445 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​This is a printable guide that you can fill in with your observations, and tick off the experiments as you go!  Print double-sided in landscape on A4 paper.  Then fold the pages down the middle to make a booklet.
slinky_science_online_guide.pdf
File Size: 341 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​This is a version in large print that you can read on screen.
What do you do if your mini-slinky is too small to walk down your stairs?  You build it a smaller staircase!  Watch a clip of our efforts and then have a go yourself!
Can you guess what will happen if you drop a slinky?  Slow motion footage shows some very curious behaviour!  Watch our video to find out more.  More about this experiment
Slinkies of all sizes are brilliant for making waves!  Watch our mini-slinky waves and then give it a try.
​

When is a slinky not a slinky?  When it is a laser-blaster!  Well OK, we can’t really turn a slinky into a sci-fi blaster, but we can make it sound like one! More about this experiment

Proudly powered by Weebly