National Science Day for kids

What is National Science Day?

National Science Day is marked in India on 28 February every year. It remembers the scientist C. V. Raman and a discovery about light that he announced in 1928.

Many families and classrooms mark the day by asking questions and trying simple experiments. There is no single right way to join in.

Why 28 February?

The date comes from 1928. On 28 February that year, C. V. Raman announced the discovery of what is now called the Raman effect. That is why India remembers this date.

The Raman effect is about light. When a beam of light is deflected by molecules, most of it keeps the same wavelength, which is one way of describing the kind of light it is. A small part, however, comes out with a different wavelength. Scientists today use this idea to analyse different materials.

Who was C. V. Raman?

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist. In 1930 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him.

His big question was about light, the kind of question a curious child can ask while looking at a torch beam. Never look straight at the sun, because it can hurt your eyes.

How did the day begin?

A group called the National Council for Science and Technology Communication proposed that India should mark a national day for science on 28 February. The Government of India accepted the idea and declared the day in 1986. The first National Science Day was held a year later, on 28 February 1987.

What is scattering of light?

Scattering means light being deflected, or sent in new directions, when it meets molecules. Here is our own picture: roll a ball across a floor covered in marbles. The ball hits a marble and zooms off a different way. Light meeting molecules can be sent off in a similar way.

You can look at scattered light yourself with the activity below.

Our suggestion: a torch and a glass of water

This is our own idea, not an official National Science Day activity. It needs an adult to supervise.

1. Ask a grown-up to help you. Find a clear glass, a small torch (flashlight), water and a little milk.
2. Fill the glass with clean water and put it on a table in a room that can be made dim. Do not use the sun for this activity, and never look straight into the torch.
3. Switch the torch on and shine it from the side of the glass, never towards anyone’s eyes. Can you see the beam in the water?
4. Ask your grown-up to stir in just a few drops of milk. Shine the torch from the side again. What do you notice about the beam now?
5. Add a few more drops, one at a time, and look from different sides. Draw what you see.
6. When you finish, pour the water away and wash the glass.

Safety notes: use a low-powered torch, keep the glass away from the edge of the table, and never shine any light into anyone’s eyes. Our guess is that the tiny drops of milk floating in the water send some of the light towards you, so the beam shows up. Try it and see whether you agree.

When is the next National Science Day?

The next National Science Day is on 28 February 2027. We worked that date out from the calendar and it is a Sunday.

For more hands-on ideas, visit our easy science activities for kids. Teachers can find classroom ideas on our for teachers page.

Test yourself

1. On which date is National Science Day marked? Answer: 28 February.
2. Whose discovery does the day remember? Answer: C. V. Raman’s.
3. In which year did Raman receive the Nobel Prize in Physics? Answer: 1930.

Questions

When is National Science Day in India?

National Science Day is marked on 28 February every year. The next one is 28 February 2027, which we worked out from the calendar to be a Sunday.

Why is National Science Day on 28 February?

It is the date in 1928 when C. V. Raman announced his discovery of the Raman effect, a finding about how light is scattered by molecules.

When did India decide to mark National Science Day?

The Government of India declared 28 February as National Science Day in 1986, after the National Council for Science and Technology Communication proposed it. The first National Science Day was held on 28 February 1987.

Did C. V. Raman win a Nobel Prize?

Yes. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him.