A Fun Science Experiment - Layers Of Liquid

Apart from doing science fair projects, simply doing science experiments for the fun is a good idea as well. There are so many elementary science fair projects to do, kids can have lots of fun without ever getting bored, especially homeschoolers must make an effort to do as many fun and easy science experiments to instill a love of science in the kids.

Our fun experiment today will show how different layers of liquid can be formed in a jar because of the difference in density of the liquids.

If your water is too dark you cannot see the layers properly. Make the water light.


What you will need for your science experiment:

• A glass half filled with water
• 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 4tablespoon of golden syrup
• Food coloring
• A clean glass jar
  

How to do your science experiment:

1. Color the water in the glass with a little food coloring. Do not make it too dark or you will not be able to distinguish the layers very well. Your layers will also not stay very long as the water with the food coloring will start coloring the syrup as it dissolves in the water. (It practically “soaks up” the colored water, do you know why?)
2. In a clean glass your spoon four tablespoons of vegetable oil
3. Slowly add four tablespoons of the colored water to the jar.
4. What happens?
5. Now you add the four tablespoons of golden syrup to the jar very carefully and watch what happens.
6. What do you think will happen if you add the liquids in a different order?
7. Why do you see three layers?
8. Why is the syrup at the bottom and the oil on the top?
   

Go to Elementary Science Fair Projects for more ideas.