Question 1

Why do we see a rainbow after it rains?

Accepted Answer

A rainbow happens when sunlight shines through tiny water droplets in the air. The light bends and splits into different colors, creating a beautiful arc in the sky.

Question 2

Why does ice float on water?

Accepted Answer

Ice floats because it’s lighter than the same amount of water. When water freezes, it expands and becomes less dense, so it floats to the top.

Question 3

How does a plane fly in the sky?

Accepted Answer

Planes fly because of their wings. They are shaped to push air down, and in return, the air pushes the plane up, lifting it off the ground.

Question 4

Why do we slip on a banana peel?

Accepted Answer

A banana peel makes the floor slippery because it’s smooth and gooey. This makes it hard for our shoes to grip the ground, so we might slip.

Question 5

Why does a ball bounce when you drop it?

Accepted Answer

A ball bounces because when it hits the ground, it squishes and then pushes back into shape, springing back up. This push makes the ball bounce upwards.

Question 6

Why do stars twinkle at night?

Accepted Answer

Stars twinkle because their light passes through the earth’s atmosphere. The air moves and bends the light, making the stars seem to change brightness and twinkle.

Question 7

Why do we get shocked when touching a metal doorknob?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes your body builds up extra electricity, called static electricity. When you touch metal, the electricity jumps from you to the doorknob, giving you a little shock.

Question 8

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Accepted Answer

Leaves change color because they stop making green chlorophyll when it gets colder and days get shorter. This lets other colors like red, orange, and yellow show instead.

Question 9

Why does a magnet stick to the fridge?

Accepted Answer

A magnet sticks to the fridge because it and the fridge have invisible forces that pull them together. This force is called magnetism and it makes the magnet cling to metal surfaces.

Question 10

Why do your clothes stick together in the dryer?

Accepted Answer

Clothes stick because they build up static electricity from tumbling around. This makes them act like magnets, attracting pieces of clothing to one another.

Question 11

Why does sugar dissolve in tea?

Accepted Answer

Sugar dissolves because its particles spread out into the tea. The hot water helps break the sugar apart, mixing it evenly throughout the drink.

Question 12

Why do balloons pop when you prick them?

Accepted Answer

When you prick a balloon, the air inside rushes out quickly. This sudden release breaks the balloon, making it pop loudly.

Question 13

Why does your voice sound different on a recording?

Accepted Answer

When you speak, your voice travels in the air, and you also hear it through your head. A recording only captures the sound in the air, so it sounds different.

Question 14

Why does the moon look different every night?

Accepted Answer

The moon looks different because it orbits around Earth. As it moves, we see different parts lit up by the sun, making it look like it changes shape.

Question 15

Why do we feel warmer wearing dark clothes?

Accepted Answer

Dark clothes absorb more sunlight than light colors. This makes them get warmer, and in turn, they make us feel warmer too.

Question 16

Why can we see our breath when it’s cold?

Accepted Answer

We see our breath on cold days because the warm air from our mouth has lots of moisture. When it hits the cold air, the moisture turns into tiny water droplets, making it look like smoke.

Question 17

Why do mirrors flip things horizontally but not vertically?

Accepted Answer

Mirrors flip things horizontally because they reflect light back straight. Your left and right sides are swapped, but up and down stay the same in the reflection.

Question 18

Why do bicycles stay upright when moving?

Accepted Answer

Bicycles stay upright because of their wheels spinning. Moving fast helps them balance, and it’s easier to stay straight when you’re in motion.

Question 19

Why does metal feel colder than wood?

Accepted Answer

Metal feels colder because it pulls heat away from your skin faster than wood. This makes your skin feel cooler when you touch metal.

Question 20

Why do we float more easily in salt water than in fresh water?

Accepted Answer

We float better in salt water because it’s heavier (denser) than fresh water. This extra density helps support our bodies as we float.

The Physics of Everyday Phenomena - 20 FAQs Explained Simply