Hooked on Science: Three-layered density

Using a few items from around the kitchen, you can learn all about density.

Materials

* Large transparent glass

* Water

* Syrup

* Vegetable oil

* Food coloring

Instructions

STEP 1: Change the color of the water by adding the food coloring.

STEP 2: Pour the corn syrup into the large transparent glass, about a quarter full.

STEP 3: Slowly pour the same amount of vegetable oil into the glass.

STEP 4: Slowly pour the same amount of colored water into the glass.

Explanation

The corn syrup, vegetable oil and colored water have different densities, therefore each separate into three layers. Density is a physical property that describes the mass per unit volume of a substance.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.