SectionsMoreAbout Us

Simple Science Experiment: Oil, Water, and Food Coloring

BY STEVE DAVALA
136

Not enough time to think of a thoughtful science lesson for your kids? Here’s an experiment that is
not only entertaining, but will also help your child become a good thinker.
Science is all about making observations and figuring out how things work. Simple, hands-on
experiments that begin with, “What do you think will happen?” or end with, “Can you make it happen
differently?” get children’s minds in the right place.

Overview:
The following easy-to-set-up experiment involves mixing equal parts oil and water and then adding a
drop of food coloring. The water-based drop remains intact until it sinks through the oil and contacts
the water, at which point the color at last disperses. The oil remains separate from the water
because it lacks polarity (an article for another day) and floats because it’s less dense.
Understanding density will help your children get the most from the experiment, so here’s a quick
explanation. Let’s say you have two objects that are the same size but different weights. The one
that weighs more has more matter packed into it. It is denser. A good way to tell if something is more
or less dense than water is to put it in water. If it sinks, it’s denser, if it floats, it’s less dense.
This is a simple experiment, but with really great effects and good scientific concepts. Kids will love
the explosion of color once the food coloring makes it through the oil. You will love the ease of setup
and cleanup.
 Materials:

 Several drinking glasses,

 water,
 vegetable oil,
 liquid food coloring,
 a toothpick.

Procedure:

1. Ask what will happen when you mix oil and water together
2. Pour about ½ cup of oil into the drinking glass
3. Pour the same amount of water into the glass
4. Watch how the two separate
5. Explain density and ask which is denser, water or oil (the oil floats, showing it’s less dense than
water)
6. Ask what will happen when you put one drop of water-based food coloring into the oil
7. Have the child put a drop in and observe (if the drop needs encouragement to move downward,
use a toothpick)
8. Ask again which is denser, the water-based drop or oil (the water-based drop sinks, showing it’s
more dense than oil)

The experimenting doesn’t have to be over yet, however. In fact, this is when the science really
starts to happen. Children will want to continue this one by adding more or different colors to the oil
and water (perhaps to the one they already started to see how colors mix, perhaps to a fresh cup).
They might choose a different cup size or shape, they may choose different amounts of oil and
water, they may even ask some really great questions like, “Food coloring doesn’t mix with oil, but
what does it mix with?” Whatever they do, it’s in the name of science, and by encouraging their
experimenting, you will be furthering their scientific development.
Steve Davala is a middle school science and math teacher. He enjoys the hands-on approach to
learning science, as do his two kids!

Reader Comments:

 New to old
 Old to new

FEB 14, 2017 04:29 PM

POSTED BY DR. LOU

The coloring will simply fall down in strings and the oil will jump to the top

THIS HAS BEEN FLAGGED

FEB 14, 2017 04:28 PM

POSTED BY DR. LOU

The coloring will build up strings that shall fall and the oil will stay on top of the water

THIS HAS BEEN FLAGGED

MAR 13, 2013 01:41 AM

POSTED BY NIZZIEY

i would like to know about experiment in food dyies

THIS HAS BEEN FLAGGED

Add your comment:

Characters remaining:

Please enter the letters from the image below:

Audio version (mp3)

Related Articles

Story Times in the OKC Metro

Private School Open House & Information Fair Guide

Beyond STEM: OKC Robotics Programs for Kids

Top Spots for Learning Outside the Classroom

Teacher for a Day: What I Learned in an OKC Classroom

Readers Recommend: Birthday Party Venues in the OKC Metro

Back-to-School Resources

School Supplies Events in the OKC Metro

 Wage Up OKC: How local eighth graders are raising minimum wage

Simple Science Experiment: See-Through Paper

Popular Articles
1. Best Places to Have Fun with Teens & Tweens
2. 2019 Spring Break Activities in OKC
3. 2019 Go-To Guides for Spring Break Fun in OKC
4. OKC Mom Food Tips: A Rainbow of Foods
5. OKC Streetcar Stops for Families
6. OKC Zoo invites kids to particpate in the annual art contest
7. Redbud Classic Prepares for 37th Year
8. Oklahoma’s Top Roadside Oddities
9. Kid Review: America's Incredible Pizza
10. OKC Foster Families: Ramirez Family

Sections

 Home
 OKC Family Fun
 Calendar
 Local Resources
 Travel
 Contests
 Kids Pass Deals
 Free Fun

About Us

 About Us
 Advertise
 Find a Copy
 Digital Archive
 E-newsletters
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Pinterest
 Instagram

Copyright 2019 Metro Family Magazine. All rights reserved.

SCIENCE

How deserts cause the terrifying phenomenon of 'blood

rain'

 Josh Hrala, Modern Notion

 Apr 14, 2015, 10:45 AM ET

Creative commons

This weekend, the skies above the U.K. will open up to bathe most of the country in blood rain.

Though it sounds like something straight out of a nightmare, blood rain is actually a pretty
common meteorological phenomena.

Blood rain occurs when red desert dust is kicked up from the ground and carried away by storms.
When the dust mixes with rain water the droplets turn from clear to a brownish red that gives the
illusion of blood.

Sometimes these storms travel so far that they bring about problems in far off countries, which is
exactly what is happening in the U.K.. According to BBC:

Parts of the UK are facing soaring levels of air pollution as African dust mingles with city
pollution, prompting health officials to issue warnings to vulnerable people.
Officials believe that the dust in the U.K.'s blood rain originated in the Sahara desert more
than 2,000 miles away.

Even though it's easily explained nowadays, ancient civilizations literally thought it was raining
blood, which, understandably, really freaked them out. According to BBC:

In ancient times 'blood rain' was believed to be actual blood and considered a bad omen,
heralding death and destruction. It is mentioned in Homer's Iliad and in Geoffrey of Monmouth's
tales of King Arthur.

The Anglo Saxon Chronicle records that in 685, "there was a bloody rain in Britain. And milk
and butter were turned to blood. And Lothere, king of Kent, died."

Thankfully, we have a full understanding of blood rain now and no longer believe it is a sign of
death and destruction. However, experts do believe that people suffering from asthma and other
lung problems should remain inside during the phenomena because the storms cause so much
dusty air pollution.

(h/t BBC)

Read the original article on Modern NotionCopyright 2015

SEE ALSO: Scientists can’t explain the milky white rain that fell in Washington
state
CHECK OUT: Why does rain smell?
NOW WATCH: Popular Videos from Insider Inc.
Share This Post

* Copyright © 2018 Insider Inc. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes
acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
 Sitemap

 Disclaimer

 Commerce Policy

 Made in NYC

 Stock quotes byfinanzen.net

 International Editions:

 UK

 DE

 AUS

 IN
 MY

 SG

 PL

 SE

 NL

 FR

 IT

 JP