Rainbow Fireworks in a Jar

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Ages: 5-10

Objective: Introduce children to the concepts of density, liquid layers, and color mixing in a visually captivating experiment that mimics the colors of fireworks in a jar.

Materials Needed:

  1. Clear glass or jar (one per participant)
  2. Water
  3. Vegetable oil
  4. Food coloring (assorted colors)
  5. Fork or spoon for stirring

Procedure:

  1. Fill the glass or jar about two-thirds full with water.

  2. Allow the water to settle, then add a layer of vegetable oil on top of the water, filling the jar almost to the brim.

  3. Wait for the oil and water to separate into distinct layers.

  4. Add drops of food coloring to the jar. Choose different colors and space out the drops to create a colorful pattern.

  5. Observe as the food coloring sinks through the oil layer and mixes with the water layer, creating vibrant colored droplets.

  6. Use a fork or spoon to gently stir the contents of the jar. Watch as the colored droplets mix together and create swirling patterns reminiscent of fireworks.

  7. Observe the colorful display and discuss with children the science behind the experiment, including concepts of density, liquid layers, and color mixing.

Extensions:

  1. Experiment with different densities of liquids by adding other household liquids, such as corn syrup or dish soap, to the jar and observing how they interact with the water and oil layers.

  2. Discuss the chemistry behind the mixing of oil and water, as well as the properties of different types of liquids.

  3. Encourage children to hypothesize what might happen if they use different colors of food coloring or vary the amounts of each color.

  4. Explore the science behind fireworks and how they produce colorful explosions in the sky.

  5. Challenge kids to create their own variations of the experiment using different materials or liquids to achieve different effects.

Safety Note:

  • Remind children not to ingest any of the substances used in the experiment. Supervise closely to prevent spills or accidents, especially when handling glass jars.

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