Wow! Fireworks on a Plate!
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October 22, 2024 / DIY / Stem Activities / Chemistry / Age 3 - 5 / Fireworks On A Plate
Put on a colourful fireworks display on a plate using everyday items! With just 3 simple steps, you'll not only see a vibrant visual effect but also learn about the science of surface tension!
- Age: 3-5
- Time: Less than 30 minutes
- Messiness level: Messy
Materials Needed:
- Glue
- Food Colouring
- Dropper or Cotton Bud
- Plate
- Washing-Up Liquid
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- First, pour a thin layer of liquid glue into the plate, spreading it evenly across the entire bottom.
- Choose your favourite colours and drop different food colourings onto the glue surface. You can place the colours in different spots to create more variation in your "fireworks".
- Using a dropper, take some washing-up liquid and drop it onto the food colouring. Watch closely - something magical will happen! Continue dropping different colours and more washing-up liquid into the plate, observing the different "firework" combinations.
Tip:
If you don't have a dropper, you can use a cotton bud dipped in a small amount of washing-up liquid, then gently touch it to the surface of the glue and food colouring.
The Science Behind It:
Behind this experiment is a game of surface tension. Glue and water have strong surface tension, acting like a tightly stretched "film" that keeps the food colouring in place. Washing-up liquid is a surfactant that can reduce the surface tension of liquids, breaking that "film" and allowing the colouring to spread outwards rapidly. This is why washing-up liquid can easily remove grease from plates, and also why it makes your "fireworks" spread quickly!
