Kitchen Fireworks

Supplies:

Glitter

Water

Dish soap

Plate or bowl

Cotton swab or toothpick

Directions:

Fill the dish or bowl with water.

Pour the glitter into the water so that it’s in one clump (do not sprinkle it all over the plate or bowl).

Dip the cotton swab or toothpick in the water. Does anything happen?

Dip the cotton swab or toothpick into the dish soap so that the end is covered.

Dip the soapy side of the cotton swab or toothpick into the center of the glitter and watch what happens. All of the glitter should rush to the sides of the plate or bowl like a firework exploding!

What’s happening?

If you remember our Tie Dye Milk experiment from last month, you might recall that we explored surface tension.

Surface tension is a term scientists use to describe how well or tightly molecules stick together at the top of a liquid. In fact, if you look at the top of the plate or bowl of water before you add soap, you might notice a bulge or bump. This is because the water at the top is sticking together.

When you add soap, you lower the surface tension and all of those molecules move apart, which makes the glitter rush to the sides of the dish.

Try this!

Try this same experiment with sequins or larger sparkles. Does it still work?

Be Part of a miracle