These simple science demonstrations use items commonly found in most kitchens. Kids can follow these directions to make a lava lamp, create a glitter globe or make their own rainbow in a jar. Each demonstration will show a different property of how how vegetable oil interacts with other substances such as salt and rubbing alcohol.
Lava Lamp
Many adults remember the Lava Lamps that were popular in the 60's and 70's. This demonstration does not require any heat, as the original lamps did, to create the movement of colored blobs. Use a flashlight to shine through the experiment to make it glow.
Items Needed:
Clear glass jar
Vegetable oil
Salt
Water
Food coloring
Measuring cup
Step 1: Pour three inches of water into the glass jar.
Step 2: Pour 1/3 cup of oil into the glass jar.
Step 3: Add a few drops of food coloring
Step 4: Shake salt onto the top of the oil for 5 seconds.
The oil will fall to the bottom in little blobs as the salt particles fall. When the salt dissolves the oil returns to the top of the glass. Add more salt to get the oil to keep falling.
Glitter Globe
This globe demonstrates that some liquids never mix, no matter how hard you shake them.
Items Needed:
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
Vegetable oil
A tall thin plastic container
Small sequins, beads, glitter or small objects
Food coloring
Measuring cup
Step 1: Rinse out the plastic container. Fill it ? full with rubbing alcohol. Add one or two drops of food coloring.
Step 2: Fill the remainder of the jar with oil, leaving an inch of air at the top
Step 3: Put the small objects into the jar. Add a pinch of glitter.
Step 4: Carefully fill the jar the rest of the way to the top with oil and screw the lid on tightly.
Step 5: Gently shake the bottle. The alcohol and oil will mix and the glitter will spread through the mixture. Set the bottle down and watch as the oil and alcohol separate.
These two liquids will not mix with each other so no matter how many times you shake the bottle they will always separate.
Rainbow in a Jar
In the spring or summer it is more likely that we will get to see a rainbow than during the winter months. This colorful natural event can be recreated in the kitchen with a few simple items.
Items Needed
4 different colors of food coloring
4 clear jars or glasses
Masking tape
Pen
Sugar
A tablespoon
Water
Spoon
You will be adding a different amount of sugar to each of the glasses.
Step1: Place a small piece of masking tape on each jar and number the jars from one to four.
Step 2: In the first jar pour one tablespoon of sugar, in the second jar pour two tablespoons, three in the third and four in the fourth glass jar. Add three tablespoons of water to each jar and stir until the sugar dissolves. If the sugar does not dissolve in any of the jars add one more tablespoon of water to all of the jars. This will keep the ration of sugar to water the same in all of the jars.
Step 3: Once sugar has dissolved add a few drops of food coloring to each jar and stir until mixed.
Step 4: Carefully pour the mixture from jar #3 into jar #4. The best way to make this transfer is to hold the spoon inside the jar and pour the liquid onto the spoon so it drips slowly into the jar.
Step 5: Pour the liquid from jar #2 on top of the layers in jar #4.
Step 6: Finally pour the liquid from jar #1 on top.
Because sugar adds density to the water the layers should remain separate, thought the boundaries will mix a bit. Eventually the rainbow will dissolve as the sugar spreads evenly through the water layers in the jar. This experiment can also be done with vegetable oil.
Enjoy trying these simple experiments with your kids. They may find they are more interested in science then they realized.
Dawn Marcotte is a freelance writer and has a bachelors degree in elementary education. She also has two children who insist on growing up too fast. She has made a commitment to spend at least 5 fun minutes a day having fun with them every day for the next year. In this quest she has discovered many fun science experiments and shares them with others http://thingstodowithkidsmn.com/?cat=12