Sep 23 2008
Fun With Science: Moving Pepper
This is a very simple science experiment that can be done with children as young as 2. Basically, if they can sit still and be amazed, then they can enjoy this experiment.
Before you begin any science experiment, whether you do it at home or in a classroom, you should really take the time to make some predictions. Explain what you will be doing, i.e. putting pepper in the water but let them have time to explore the possibilities. Do they think the pepper will float or sink? Is the water hot or cold? Do you think the pepper would float if the water was cold?
Next ask them what would happen if you put dish soap into the water. Write down what the kids are saying for prosperities sake, or if you are in a classroom, and if you want, you could have the kids draw pictures of the bowl of water before and after you add the dish soap.
What you need:
- Pepper
- Water
- A bowl (it doesn’t have to be large but you want it large enough for all the kids to be able to see into it without pushing)
- Dish Soap
Directions:
- Fill the bowl with water. Ask the questions, let the kids test the water and comment on it.
- Have your child(ren) add pepper to the water. Discuss what is happening.
- Place a drop of dish soap in the center of the water and discuss what is happening and why.
And that’s it. A 5 minute activity that you can do over and over again. This experiment actually deals with
water tension and how it is affected by the dish soap. Generally, water has a very strong surface tension that pulls the water together. The pepper, which weighs less than the surface tension, floats. When you drop in the dish soap, the surface tension changes, becomes weaker, and the pepper is pulled away from the soap with the water. For kids, it looks like magic.
Sirena Van Schaik
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