Turn “How does that work?” into something you can try together.
Choose a topic, take turns changing a control, and ask your child to explain what happened. Aim for a 10–15 minute exploration, with room for more questions.
For curious minds. For future makers.
Be curious.
Open things up.
See how they work.
Ever wonder how a rocket flies, a car moves, or sunlight becomes electricity?
SimpleSci turns big science and engineering questions into hands-on explorations. See the parts move, change something, and figure out why.
Five free labsNo student signupMade for middle school
01
See it.
Look inside. Watch the parts move.
02
Try it.
Change an input. See what happens.
03
Understand it.
Connect the pieces. Explain the why.
What will you figure out today?
Five labs to explore now. Seventeen more everyday mysteries are coming soon.
Machines & TransportationNot started
INTERACTIVE LABHow does a car work?
Fuel becomes motion through a controlled explosion that powers the wheels.
Interactive lab · 5-question quizMachines & TransportationNot started
INTERACTIVE LABHow does an airplane work?
Move the wing. Change the airflow. See how lift helps an airplane stay in the sky.
Interactive lab · 5-question quizEnergy & EnvironmentNot started
INTERACTIVE LABHow does a solar panel work?
Follow sunlight into a solar cell and see how it becomes electricity.
Interactive lab · 5-question quizSpace & TransportationNot started
INTERACTIVE LABHow does a rocket work?
Follow the propellants, watch the exhaust, and discover the push that lifts a rocket.
Interactive lab · 5-question quiz INTERACTIVE LABMachines & TransportationNot started
How does an electric vehicle work?
Follow electricity from the battery to the motor, then see how magnetism turns the wheels.
Computers & ElectronicsComing soon
How does an iPad work?
Tap the screen and follow the signal from your finger to the pixels.
Future explorationBuildings & InfrastructureComing soon
How does a house work?
A house is a set of systems that hold loads, move water and electricity, control temperature, and keep weather outside.
Future explorationElectricity & EnergyComing soon
How does a light bulb work?
A light bulb converts electrical energy into visible light, usually by making a semiconductor emit photons.
Future explorationEnergy & EnvironmentComing soon
How does wind energy work?
Wind pushes blades, a rotating shaft drives a generator, and electronics turn variable power into useful electricity.
Future explorationHome MachinesComing soon
How does a refrigerator work?
A refrigerator does not create cold; it moves heat from inside the cabinet to the room.
Future explorationBuildings & InfrastructureComing soon
How does a toilet work?
Gravity, water pressure, and a siphon move waste through a trap and into the sewer system.
Future explorationComputers & ElectronicsComing soon
How does Wi-Fi work?
Wi-Fi turns digital data into radio signals that travel between your device and a router.
Future explorationHome MachinesComing soon
How does a microwave oven work?
A microwave oven uses electromagnetic waves to make molecules in food move, producing heat.
Future explorationBuildings & InfrastructureComing soon
How does an elevator work?
A motor, cables or hydraulics, counterweights, brakes, sensors, and controls move people safely between floors.
Future explorationEnergy & InfrastructureComing soon
How does the power grid work?
Power plants, transformers, high-voltage lines, substations, and controls move electricity from generators to millions of users.
Future explorationSpace & ElectronicsComing soon
How does GPS work?
Your device measures radio-signal travel times from multiple satellites to calculate where it is on Earth.
Future explorationHome MachinesComing soon
How does a washing machine work?
Valves, a motor, sensors, detergent, and spinning water work together to remove dirt from fabric.
Future explorationBuildings & InfrastructureComing soon
How does air conditioning work?
Air conditioning moves heat from indoor air to the outdoors using a refrigerant loop.
Future explorationCities & InfrastructureComing soon
How does a traffic light work?
Signals use timers, sensors, controllers, and coordinated rules to move conflicting traffic safely.
Future explorationManufacturing & DesignComing soon
How does a 3D printer work?
A 3D printer turns a digital model into a physical object by building it one thin layer at a time.
Future explorationMachines & TransportationComing soon
How does a bicycle work?
Pedaling creates torque, gears trade speed for force, steering balances the bike, and brakes turn motion into heat.
Future explorationMedicine & TechnologyComing soon
How does an X-ray work?
An X-ray machine sends high-energy electromagnetic waves through the body and measures how much different tissues absorb.
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Why SimpleSci?
The world gets more interesting
when it starts to make sense.
You don’t need to know the science words before you start. Bring a question. We’ll show you the moving parts, give you something to try, and help you connect cause and effect.
SimpleSci is built for curious middle-school learners—and the parents and teachers cheering them on. We start with things you recognize and end with something you can explain.
Someone figured out how to build it.
Maybe the next idea will be yours.
For the grown-ups who encourage the questions
A little screen time.
A lot to talk about.
Free, hands-on science and engineering explorations for grades 5–8. Start with a question, leave with a conversation.
A ready-to-run engineering explainer. No student signup.
Use the step-by-step view to introduce a mechanism, then let learners experiment with the simulation and answer five questions. No special equipment—just a browser.
No student account or email required. Lesson and quiz progress is saved only in the current browser; it does not sync between devices.