Fun Party Trick Also a Cool Science Experiment
Flavored Snow Cone Syrups Teach Kids About Density
May 30, 2009
A kid’s birthday party may not sound like the best time to test out science experiments for kids, but this cool science experiment is so easily accomplished with ordinary kids’ party supplies that it’s sure to entertain young children – and slip a few elementary science lessons about water density and liquid density as well!
Party Stuff That You’ll Need
- Clear plastic cups (enough for all the kids)
- Drinking straws (enough for all the kids)
- Colored syrup (snow cone syrup or Italian Ice syrup works well)
- Drinking water
- Optional: Food coloring
Density Science Experiment/Party Trick
Pour a little syrup into each child's plastic cup.
Now slowly pour in a little drinking water over the syrup, being careful not to stir or mix the two fluids together. Because the water is less dense than the syrup, it will remain above the syrup, creating a weird two-tone drink. (Note: You can also color the water with food coloring to create a weirder two-color effect).
Now let the kids use their drinking straws to sample their two-tone drinks. When they dip their straws into the top layer of less dense water, they'll only taste water. But if they dip their straws into the denser syrup at the bottom, they'll taste its rich sweetness.
How can one drink have such two completely different and separate flavors? Explain that liquids like syrups are denser than water – in other words their molecules are packed closer together making them heavier than the water in the cup. When water – which is less dense than syrup since its molecules are farther apart – gets poured onto the syrup, it remains separate from the denser liquid, letting the kids sample two flavors from the same cup.
Now let the kids stir their two-tone drinks with their straws. They'll see that mixing the drink causes the two layers of fluid to temporarily combine (and the colors to merge). If the syrup was too sweet, diluting it with the water might also improve the flavor!
Note: In the interests of safety, make sure it's all right for the kids to drink sweet substances like snow cone syrup and/or food colored water before letting them participate.
Source:
Corman, Jessica and Hilairy Hartnett. Ocean Adventures, Tempe: Changing Hands Bookstore, 2009.
Want to try out more cool science experiments that let kids experience the principles of density first hand? Then check out Science Experiment Teaches Kids About Density and Coke Sinks and Diet Coke Floats.
Have a kid who's interested in robots or space travel? Check out Science Books for Kids on Robotics and Alien Life.
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