: Rainbow Milk Experiment

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Ages: 5-10

Objective: Introduce children to the concept of surface tension and the properties of liquids while creating a colorful and mesmerizing display.

Materials Needed:

  1. A shallow dish or plate
  2. Whole milk (2% or skim milk will also work, but whole milk produces the best results)
  3. Liquid food coloring (multiple colors)
  4. Dish soap
  5. Cotton swabs or small droppers
  6. A flat surface for experimentation
  7. Paper towels for cleanup

Procedure:

  1. Begin by pouring enough milk into the shallow dish to cover the bottom, ensuring it forms a smooth surface.

  2. Let the milk settle for a moment to ensure it is calm and not moving.

  3. Next, add drops of different colored liquid food coloring to the milk. You can create a pattern or just add colors randomly.

  4. Dip one end of a cotton swab or use a small dropper to add a small drop of dish soap to the center of the milk dish.

  5. Observe what happens closely and enjoy the colorful magic!

Explanation:

  • When you add the dish soap to the milk, it breaks the surface tension of the milk. Surface tension is the property of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.
  • The dish soap lowers the surface tension, causing the milk molecules to move away from it. As the soap spreads out, it carries the food coloring with it, creating a beautiful swirling effect.
  • The colors mix and swirl together, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect on the surface of the milk.

Extensions:

  1. Encourage children to hypothesize what might happen if they use different types of milk (skim, 2%, or almond milk) and compare the results.
  2. Discuss with children why whole milk produces the best results compared to other types of milk. Hint: It has to do with the fat content!
  3. Challenge kids to experiment with different shapes and patterns when adding the drops of food coloring to the milk.
  4. Explore how the size of the dish or plate affects the outcome of the experiment. Would a larger or smaller dish produce different results?

Safety Note:

  • Ensure children handle the materials safely, especially the dish soap, and avoid ingestion of any of the substances used in the experiment.

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