This sugar rainbow density tower is not only a fun project to make, but it also teaches kids about the density of sugar.
Keep reading to learn how to make your own sugar density tower!
It’s a fun way to learn about liquid density for kids!
How to Turn a Sugar Rainbow Density Tower into a Science Experiment
Most kids will be delighted to learn that simply by changing how much sugar is in a liquid, they can change it’s density, so that the layers of this experiment remain apart until the glass is shaken!
Sugar rainbow experiment hypothesis:
My girls were not convinced that we could make a rainbow from just water and sugar.
They thought once the liquids were added together, they would form one gross brown color.
The hypothesis was that it was impossible to make a liquid rainbow.
Sugar density experiment:
This experiment is a variation on the density tower. Typically, different liquids are used to make each layer, like oil and honey. But for this experiment, we used sugar and water only.
Sugar Rainbow Experiment Results:
The color layers remained separated because their density was different. Sugar water is slightly different than other types of density experiments because if shaken, the entire mixture will combine.
But if added in careful layers, the differing density of the liquids will keep the colors separated and unicorn-friendly.
The kids were delighted to see the layers remain separate during this experiment.
Sugar Density Tower Lesson Plan
Get the complete 11-page lesson plan for this experiment complete with quiz, worksheets, supply list, printable directions, and more!
What you need for the sugar density tower experiment:
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- Sugar
- Food coloring
- 6 small cups
- Safety goggles
- Beaker
- Pipettes
- Stove and small pot
- Tablespoon
How to Make a Sugar Density Tower
Kids should also wear safety goggles when completing science experiments.
After donning safety goggles, heat 36 tablespoons of water until boiling on the stove.
When the water is boiling, add six tablespoons of water to each cup.
In the first cup, put no sugar. In the second cup, put one tablespoon of sugar. In the third cup, put two tablespoons of sugar and so on until the last cup has five tablespoons of sugar.
Add red food coloring to the cup with no sugar, orange to the cup with two tablespoons of sugar, and so on. Stir until all sugar is dissolved.
The next part is tricky, and takes some time. Pour the purple liquid into the glass beaker. Next, add the colors in reverse rainbow order using a pipette.
Squeeze the color onto the side of the beaker and let the liquid run down into the cup. This prevents the liquid from mixing and keeps the layers separated.
Once all layers are added, carefully transfer the rainbow density tower to a windowsill and examine the layers. Can you see all the layers?
Another experiment you can try is to add a drop of water to the bottom layer with a pipette. Watch as the drop of water slowly rises through the layers to the top.
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