Hooked on Science: Nonstick mower

You may not think to do science experiments with a mower, but there's one experiment you should try before mowing the yard.

Materials

* Lawn mower

* Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the nonstick cooking spray, spray the lawn mower blade and undercarriage

STEP 2: Have an adult mow the lawn.

STEP 3: Once the mower cools, observe the blade and undercarriage.

Explanation

Just as nonstick cooking spray keeps your food from sticking to pans, it also keeps grass from sticking to the undercarriage of the mower. The nonstick cooking spray is basically a type of oil mixed with a few other ingredients. The mixture creates a surface that repels food and grass.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.