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Magical Vacuum

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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This fascinating science experiment for children explores the secrets of invisible atmospheric pressure.

Materials Needed

Food colouring
Candle
Glass
Cup of water
Stirring stick
Lighter (or matches)
Plate

A white rectangular tray sits on a light wood-grain table, holding several items for a likely science experiment or demonstration. These items include a small bottle of green liquid with a dropper tip, a short, wide clear glass cylinder, a taller, narrower glass containing water, a small blue tea light candle, a thin wooden stick or splint, and a red lighter. The arrangement suggests a setup involving combustion or a chemical reaction.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Add food colouring to the water and stir until well mixed.

A hand squeezes a small bottle with a dropper tip, dispensing green dye into a clear glass of water on a light wood-grain table. The green dye is visibly dispersing in the water, creating swirling patterns. This image likely depicts a simple science experiment or demonstration illustrating diffusion or solubility.

Step 2

Pour the coloured water onto the plate.

A hand pours light green liquid from a clear glass onto a white rectangular tray resting on a light wood-grain surface. The liquid spreads across the tray, forming ripples and concentric circles where it's being poured. This image likely illustrates a step in a science experiment or demonstration, possibly involving mixing liquids or observing fluid dynamics.

Step 3

Next, place the candle in the water and light it using the lighter. Be careful with the flame to avoid burns.

A small, lit blue tea light candle sits in the center of a white rectangular tray filled with a shallow layer of pale green liquid. The tray rests on a light wood-grain table. This setup likely depicts a stage in a science experiment or demonstration, possibly related to combustion, density, or the properties of liquids.

Step 4

Now, place the glass over the lit candle. Wait patiently and observe the changes happening inside the glass.

A hand holds a clear glass cylinder above a small, lit blue tea light candle sitting in a shallow pool of pale green liquid within a white rectangular tray. The tray rests on a light wood-grain table. The hand appears to be about to place the glass over the candle, likely as part of a science experiment demonstrating the effects of oxygen depletion on a flame.

The Science Behind It:

This experiment demonstrates the fascinating phenomenon of atmospheric pressure. The burning candle causes a rapid temperature change inside the glass, leading to a pressure difference. The air pressure outside the glass becomes higher than inside, which actually pushes the water up into the glass.

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