Lesson Plan 6: Understanding Your Electricity Bill.Lesson Plan 2: Electricity and Electricity Generation.Lesson Plan 1: Energy Basics and Energy Sources.Because the densities are different, they won’t mix! When you dip the straw into the second cup and quickly remove and replace your thumb over the opening water from the second straw is pushed in, but because it is denser it rests under the less dense water. That’s why when you remove the straw the water stays in the straw. Because you have your thumb over the other opening air pressure is not pushing down on the water in the straw. When you place your straw into the first cup (the least dense) and put your thumb over the opening, air pressure from the cup moves the water up the straw. In other words, the more salt in each cup, the denser the salt water solution becomes. You should have a bit of colored water from this cup underneath the water from the first cup.Īlthough both water and salt have a unique density, you can change the density of the water depending on how much salt you put into it. Very quickly remove your thumb and replace your thumb over the straw. You should have a bit of colored water in the straw. Dip the straw into the water of cup No.Add the correct amount of salt to each cup of colored water.The numbers represent the number of teaspoons of salt each cup will get.If you are using glasses or ceramic cups, mark pieces of paper 1-6 and place one number by each cup. If you are using clear cups, number each cup 1-6 directly on the cup.Have an adult help you remove the sponges. If you don’t have food coloring, you can color the water by taking the sponge out of markers and placing them in the water. If you have 6 cups, you’ll need to mix two colors of food coloring for the fifth cup and two different colors for the sixth cup. Using your food coloring, color each cup of water a different color.Using your measuring cup, fill each cup with 6 ounces of water.Gather as many cups as you can – clear are best but any cup will do.Food Coloring – if you don’t have food coloring, break open a marker and use the sponge inside to color your water.Clear is best but if you don’t have clear cups, any cup will work.

Cups – at least 2 but you can use as many as 6.After doing this experiment, your child will be able to answer how different amounts of salt affect the density of water. This kid-friendly, simple and super fun project can be done with just a few supplies you can find around your kitchen. Have your kids ever asked you why they float better in salt water versus fresh water? How do different amounts of salt affect the density of a solution? Our friends at the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center have shared a cool (and colorful) experiment with us that will help kids grasp the science behind density.

Density of salt water