Water - based experiment in jnr room

On 13th March, Pádraig from the Atlantiquarium visited our school. He and the children in the jnr room carried out an experiment using water.

Padraig got a plastic bag and a jug full of water. Then when we put our hand in to the bag and then into jug of warm water. Whe you take your hand out of the jug your hand is dry, but it feels as if it is wet. It a very strange feeling.

Dancing Raisins

Dancing Raisins

Pour 7up inot a glass.  Put in 6/7 raisins and watch what happens. 

Tornado in a Bottle

Tornado in a Bottle

Materials

• 2 Empty 2L Plastic Bottle
• Strong Tap (Duct/Electrial)
• Water
• Food Colouring

Methods

1. Fill one of the bottles three quater with water and food colouring (Make sure not to add too much, you onely need a light colour in water).
2. Tape the empty bottle to the bottle with water (upside down-opening to opening)
3. Turn the bottles upside down and swirl in a circular motion.

What happens

When the bottles are turned upside down the air in the bottom bottle wants to get inot the top bottle as fast as it can, while the water wants to get down as fast as it can.  When you swirl the bottles it forces the water out to the edges and fastest route is for the water go down the outside while the air comes up through the middle.  This forms a tornado cone in the top bottle.



Volcano

Materials

* Vinegar
* Bread soda
* A large spoon
* Glass container

Methods
1. Add about half a glass of vinegar to a glass container
2. Just mix a few droips opf food colouring
3. Add a large spoon of bread soda

The volcano should erupt nicely. If you wish the volcano to erupt over the container just add more vinegar and bread soda, care should always be taken with food colouring as it does stain clothes.


What happens

Bread soda is a base substance and vinegar is an acidic substance. WHen the two substances are mixed they react. This reaction causes a foam and emits Carbon dioxide.

Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents



Materials

• 2 Jam Jars (Same Size)
• Squares of card/plastic
• Table salt
• Food Colouring
• Paper Towels
• Plastic/Baking Tray

Methods

1. Fill one jar with colourless fresh water (from the tap is fine) and the other jars with coloured salty water (tap water with salt added can be used).  Place both the jars in the tray. 
2. Place a piece of card on top of the salty water and invert the card (turn it upside down), the upward pressure of air will hold the card in place (most of the time).
3. Place the saltwater jar on top of the freshwater jar and have someone remove the card.  Do this over the tray in case of spillages.  Observe results.
4. Repeat No 1 - this time put  the freshwater on top of the salt water, remove card and observe the results.
5. Repeat No 1 - this time put the fresh water on top of the salt water and turn the jars horizontally (sideways).  Remove the card and observe.

What Happens

When the saltwater was placed on top, the water in the two jars mixed togheter.  This is because saltwater is heavier that freshwater and sunk down through the freshwater in the bottom jar.  When the freshwater is place on top is floats on top of the saltwater at the bottom.



Hydothermal Vents

Hydrothermal Vents

Materials

• Large Jar with wide opening
• Small Jar
• Food Colouring
• Cold Water
• Hot Water
• Baking Tray

Methods

1. Place Large Jar in Baking Tray in fill  80% with colour water
2. Fill Small Jar with Hot Water and colour with food colouring
3. Slowly  place the Small Jar in the Large Jar

What Happens

The hot water in the small jar comes out into the big jar to the surface because hot water is lighter the cold.  Hydrothermal vents are areas in the ocean where heat esacapes from the earth's mantle through cracks in the earths crust.  This heat warms up the surrounding water and causes it to rise as is observed in this experiment.



Wembury's Water Experiments

Have a look at the examples of some writing by pupils at Wembury Primary School. Can you work out what they were doing and what they found out?

                                                                      Year 4 and 5

Year 2