Dancing Raisins Experiment
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Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.
Performance Objectives: Students will be able to explain the physical processes involved in the transfer, change, and conservation of energy.
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Demonstration/Background Information: First, the teacher will define density and buoyancy. She will give visual examples of each. The Dancing Raisins experiment increases the students understanding and helps to demonstrate how different elements, such as gasses, work together to make something happen. It also helps to show what happens when one of those elements (gas) is removed from the equation. As we learn more about the role of solids, liquids, and gasses, think about this experiment and about how all elements had to work together to create one result. Without one of those elements, a very different result is created.
Activity: In this activity, students will investigate how different elements work together.
Materials: Raisins, clear, carbonated drinks, such as 7-Up or Sprite, clear glasses
Safety Considerations: No horseplay; no ingestion of materials; avoid spilling liquids; read all instructions and follow directions.
Procedure: Students will work in pairs. They will gather materials and follow this procedure to make raisins dance:
1. Pour the clear liquid drink into the glass (observe the bubbles in the glass)
2. Place several raisins in the drink. They are denser than water and will sink. Wait a few minutes and watch what happens.
3. The carbon dioxide gas that makes the drink carbonated will attach some of its bubbles to the raisins and increase their buoyancy. This will lift the raisins up
in the liquid, until they get to the top and the bubbles pop.
4. Then they'll sink back down and start the dance over.
Effective Questions:
After this experiment, you’ll have a better understanding of the interconnectivity between different states of matter.
1. What other things may change when one element is taken away? For example, what happens to a glass of ice water when the water melts? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What happens to vinegar when you add baking soda to it? Remember: the chemical and physical interactions between different elements can change a great deal with very small alterations, such as carbon dioxide bubbles evaporating!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude:
1. What other materials besides raisins could be used as a test substances in this experiment?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What do you hypothesize would happen if you used these other materials?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
(The Teacherscorner.com, 2013)
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.
Performance Objectives: Students will be able to explain the physical processes involved in the transfer, change, and conservation of energy.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Demonstration/Background Information: First, the teacher will define density and buoyancy. She will give visual examples of each. The Dancing Raisins experiment increases the students understanding and helps to demonstrate how different elements, such as gasses, work together to make something happen. It also helps to show what happens when one of those elements (gas) is removed from the equation. As we learn more about the role of solids, liquids, and gasses, think about this experiment and about how all elements had to work together to create one result. Without one of those elements, a very different result is created.
Activity: In this activity, students will investigate how different elements work together.
Materials: Raisins, clear, carbonated drinks, such as 7-Up or Sprite, clear glasses
Safety Considerations: No horseplay; no ingestion of materials; avoid spilling liquids; read all instructions and follow directions.
Procedure: Students will work in pairs. They will gather materials and follow this procedure to make raisins dance:
1. Pour the clear liquid drink into the glass (observe the bubbles in the glass)
2. Place several raisins in the drink. They are denser than water and will sink. Wait a few minutes and watch what happens.
3. The carbon dioxide gas that makes the drink carbonated will attach some of its bubbles to the raisins and increase their buoyancy. This will lift the raisins up
in the liquid, until they get to the top and the bubbles pop.
4. Then they'll sink back down and start the dance over.
Effective Questions:
After this experiment, you’ll have a better understanding of the interconnectivity between different states of matter.
1. What other things may change when one element is taken away? For example, what happens to a glass of ice water when the water melts? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What happens to vinegar when you add baking soda to it? Remember: the chemical and physical interactions between different elements can change a great deal with very small alterations, such as carbon dioxide bubbles evaporating!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude:
1. What other materials besides raisins could be used as a test substances in this experiment?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What do you hypothesize would happen if you used these other materials?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
(The Teacherscorner.com, 2013)