9 Layer Density Tower & The Scientific Method

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Density is one of the first topics that eighth graders study in the Physical Science. I found this experiment on https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/density-tower-magic-with-science/ (This is a wonderful website for science teachers.) Before you start the experiment with your students, ask them to make predictions and record them on paper. This is a great opportunity to incorporate the scientific method. Suggest making inferences before testing and observations during  the experiment. 




The materials needed for the experiment are honey, corn syrup, 100% maple syrup, whole milk, dish soap, water, vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, lamp oil, one tall narrow, clear, and quart cylinder, nine 4 oz. cups for the liquids, food coloring, turkey baster, popcorn kernel, cherry tomato, board game die, plastic beads, plastic soda cap, and ping-pong ball. Follow the directions closely as you pour each of the liquid into the cylinder. It is important to maintain separate layers. The separate layers of liquid show how some solutions are more dense than others. When a liquid is less dense than another, it will float on top of the more dense solution (hence the 9 layers😏). Gently drop each of the solid materials into the cylinder. Some solid materials will float because of it's light density. I like this experiment because it is hands on and illustrates density effectively to students. 

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Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 28, 2018 at 10:40 AM

    As a future science teacher, I think that this experiment would be a fun and engaging activity for students in the classroom! When introducing the topic of density in the classroom, I think that this would make an excellent pre-reading activity. That way when they begin reading about what density is and how it works, they would have already developed schema of density, and they could use their prior knowledge to better comprehend the scientific text they are reading. This would also be a fun activity to use as a way to show the scientific method, like you mentioned! Thanks for sharing this activity! So fun! (WC: 106)

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