Layered Liquid and the Propensity to Show Density
Materials:
- Large Test Tube, Vase, or Graduated Cylinder
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Liquid Dishwashing Liquid
- Dark Corn Syrup
- Vegetable Oil
- Glycerine
- Water
- Red & Green Food Coloring
- Cork Stopper (Solid rubber stopper or superball)
- Small Block Oak Wood
- Lead Sinker
- Wooden Toothpick
- Ice Cube
- New Penny
Procedure:
Slowly pour the following liquids, (in order), into a narrow clear glass container. Pour carefully so that the layers will form.
- Dark Karo Syrup
- Glycerine
- Dawn Dishwashing Liquid
- Water with Red Food Coloring
- Vegetable Oil
- Rubbing Alcohol with Green Food Coloring
Add the small solids listed in the materials section. Avoid mixing the layers when adding the solids.
Explanation:
What's going on?
All materials have characteristic densities. The most dense, (syrup), will be at the bottom, the least dense, (rubbing alcohol), will be at the top. Each object will sink to the level of the liquid that has a great density than the object. The object will then float on that layer.
