Rainbow Density Jar

Materials:

I Tall Glass Jar

1 bowl

2-3 bottles of Food Coloring- Color of your choice (Red, blue, and green are preferred)

¼ cup honey

¼ cup blue dish soap

¼ cup water

¼ cup vegetable or olive oil

¼ cup rubbing alcohol

A stick or something to mix with

Steps:

1. Add the honey to the tall glass.

2. Add one drop of food coloring from your first bottle and one drop of food coloring from the second bottle to the glass. Stir until liquids are combined.

3. Add the blue dish soap to the jar.

4. In the bowl, add a few drops of food coloring of your choice. Then, add ¼ water and mix until combined. Add this liquid to the jar.

5. Wait a few seconds. Then, add the olive oil into the jar.

6. Using the bowl again, add some food coloring to the rubbing alcohol and mix until combined. Add the liquid to the jar.

7. See your final product!

How did this work?

Density is the answer. Density is the measure of how much mass there is in a given volume. Density can be found by dividing mass by volume (D= M/V).

Density is about how tightly packed the matter is in a given volume. Each of these liquids has a varying number of molecules mashed into the same volume of liquid. As you can see, the light liquids, which include the oil and rubbing alcohol are less dense than compared to the heavier liquids, which include honey. The heavier liquids have less matter in the volume. Because of this, honey sinks to the bottom, while the lighter liquids float on top of the heavier liquids. Basically, different densities can sit on top of each other. Lower density liquids will always float on top of higher density liquids.

A rainbow density jar!

Picture Source: STEMforYou.com