Ice & Oil

Concept: Density
Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given unit of volume. The formula for calculating the density of a substance equals its mass divided by its volume (Density = Mass ÷ Volume). Density is usually given in grams per milliliter (g/mL).

Read Aloud: The Everything Kids' Magical Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson

Ingredients:

      ·         Ice Cubes
      ·         Vegetable Oil
      ·         Food Coloring

      ·         Ice Cube Tray

      ·         Mason Jars

 Demonstration:

      ·         Fill an ice cube tray with water. Add a few drops of food coloring to each compartment of the ice cube tray. Place in freezer until the ice cubes are frozen solid.

      ·         Slowly pour vegetable oil into a Mason jar until it is about 3/4 full. 

      ·         Add a colored ice cube to the Mason jar.

Experiment:

·         What happens if you refreeze the contents of the Mason jar?

·         What happens if you defrost the contents of the Mason jar?

Observations:
The same amount of different liquids will have different weights because they have different masses. The liquids that have a higher density and weigh more will sink below the liquids that have a lower density and weigh less. The ice cube floats because it is less dense than the vegetable oil. However, when water freezes it becomes more dense than the vegetable oil so it sinks to the bottom.