Note – Prices are included for some of the Apps. If prices are included then it was the price when we wrote this article. Prices may have changed so you’ll want to check.
Discover more about how the world works. Learn biology, physics, chemistry, anatomy, astronomy, and more.
NASA App HD – Free
I’ve never known a kid who wasn’t completely fascinated with all things solar-system related when it came to that particular learning segment at school. This app from  NASA, allows you to explore space from your iPad. Pictures with explanations are included.
Star Walk
Price: $4.99
Star Walk has been touted as one of the premier iPad apps since its debut on the iTunes market. This is one of the best science apps because of its intuitive use of the iPad’s technology. Using the digital compass within the iPad, StarWalk aligns itself with your position and will display what you see in the sky, on your screen. In-app abilities allow users to identify constellations, planets and learn more about the night time sky with stunning graphics and in-depth factoids.
Solar Walk 3D
Price: $2.99
Most of the best science apps for iPad are related to space and the solar system. Solar Walk is another app from the creators of Star Walk, only this time users learn about the solar system. A 3D model allows users to choose what they’d like more information about, before detailed graphics and information about other planets and moons appear on the screen.
3D Brain
Price: Free
By showing 3D images of an animated human brain, this app walks users through different areas of the brain, their functions and common issues. Users can simply browse the information, or use search functions to key in on specific areas. In terms of our iphoneandkids.com readers, this app would be great for high school students enrolled in an anatomy class, or parents of children with learning disorders that want to learn a little bit more about how the human brain works.
iLearn Solar System HD
Price: $1.99
Many of the best science apps are geared toward older children, or higher level learning. iLearn Solar System takes useful, engaging information about the solar system and compiles it into an app that will interest children in the elementary school age range. Crisp, clear graphics are explained to users by an animated astronaut and her alien sidekick friend. I remember the solar system being a major part of elementary science learning, and this app would be a great supplement to the classroom materials that your child is studying.
Periodic Table of the Elements
Price: Free
Although simple and relatively straightforward, the Periodic Table of the Elements app is a must have for any high school student currently learning the ins and outs of chemistry. An animated table allows users to select any element and instantly receive access to a fact sheet listing an element’s atomic number, boiling point, basic information and more. This science app is a great aid for high level homework, or any profession that may require reference to the Periodic Table.
Volcanoes – $4.99
From the developers site –
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Volcanoes are an awesome display of the Earth’s power. Explore them interactively with this new app and learn about the world’s major volcanoes and their eruptions, lava, plate tectonics, and much more. Learn and play at the same time through a variety of games like Memory Match, Jigsaw Puzzles, and the Magic Square among others. Learning has never been more fun with this interactive and educational app that is based on school curriculum.
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Elements – $13.99
From the developers site –
[quote]
If you think you’ve seen the periodic table, think again. The Elements: A Visual Exploration lets you experience the beauty and fascination of the building blocks of our universe in a way you’ve never seen before. And as the first really new ebook developed from the ground up for iPad, The Elements beautifully shows off the capabilities of this lovely device.
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Monster Anatomy $18.99 – Just what the title says. It uses actual MRI scans.
From Apple –
See the Apps for Learning Life Science collection
See the Apps for Learning Physics collection
Note: This list isn’t by any means a comprehensive list of apps. If you have any you like, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments below. We screen all comments, so that won’t appear immediately.