Simple Physics Experiments for Preschoolers (2026)

By Emily Chen · October 1, 2026

Preschoolers are natural physicists. They drop things, push boundaries, and ask "why" endlessly. These 15 experiments harness that curiosity to teach real physics concepts through play — using only items from your kitchen.

Why Start Physics Early?

Research from the Center for Early STEM Learning shows that children ages 3-5 who engage in hands-on science activities develop stronger problem-solving skills and show 30% greater engagement in science throughout elementary school.

Gravity Experiments

1. What Falls Faster?

Materials: Feather, ball, leaf, rock, paper (flat and crumpled)
Activity: Drop pairs from the same height. Which lands first? Why?
Physics: Gravity pulls everything down, but air resistance slows some objects. The crumpled paper falls faster than flat paper because less surface area catches air.

2. Ramp Race

Materials: Cardboard ramp, toy cars, books to change angle
Activity: Roll cars down ramps at different angles. Which is faster? How far does each car travel?
Physics: Steeper ramps = more gravitational energy converted to motion.

Magnetism Experiments

3. Magnetic Scavenger Hunt

Materials: Magnet, 20 household items
Activity: Test which items stick. Sort into magnetic and non-magnetic piles.
Physics: Magnets attract iron, nickel, and cobalt. Most metals (aluminum, copper) are NOT magnetic.

4. Magic Maze

Materials: Paper plate, paper clip, magnet, marker
Activity: Draw a maze on the plate. Place paper clip on top. Move the magnet underneath to guide the clip through the maze.
Physics: Magnetic force passes through thin materials.