• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • New? Start Here
    • Learn More About Us

Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling in Canada

  • Homeschool Resource Centre
    • 2021 Ultimate List of Secular Homeschool Curriculum
    • Book Recommendations for All Ages
    • Curriculum and Resources
    • Google for Homeschoolers
    • Homeschool Resources – What We’ve Used and Use
    • Homeschool Help
    • Natural Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Mom Care
  • Kids Activities
    • DIY Summer Camp at Home
    • Gardening with Kids
    • Kids in the Kitchen
    • Learning About Animals in Your Homeschool
    • Science Experiments for Kids
  • Our Box of Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes to Start the Day Right
    • Snack Recipes
    • Main Course Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Condiment Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
      • Mini Donut Maker Recipes
      • Single Serve Desserts & More!
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout

Temperature and Water Density Science Experiment

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

Science experiment fun is the best, fun way to learn. And a fun activity to do outside in the beautiful spring weather. The perfect thing to do this time of year is to spend time outside. This temperature and water density science experiment is the perfect experiment to take outside.

Temperature and Water Density

Temperature and Water Density Science Experiment

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

When you are stuck home and bored, you do science experiments that you have always wanted to try but always figured would be a huge mess. But again, bored means just doing it no matter what.

This science experiment is easy to do, but does pose the risk for making a mess. Embrace it, or go outside where you won’t worry about the mess.

What you need:

  • cold water
  • hot water
  • two Mason jars
  • food color
  • index card

What you need to do:

  1. Fill one jar with cold water and add food color.
  2. Fill the other jar with the hottest water you can while still being able to touch the jar. Add a different color of food coloring to the water.
  3. Place the index card over the opening of the color water jar.
  4. While holding the index card in place flip the jar over and on top of the jar of hot water.
  5. Quickly remove the index card and watch what happens.
  6. Redo the experiment but instead placing the jar of hot water on top.

Scroll down to find a printable version of the directions.

How to Do this Temperature and Water Density Experiment

cold water on the top, heat molecules rise.

I had a towel under the jars because I was prepared to make a huge mess. I was fully expecting the whole jar of cold green water to pour everywhere. BUT I was surprised with only a few drops of water being spilled.

Temperature and Water Density

Thanks to my school supply stash, I had everything for this science experiment including the index cards. I placed an index card on the top of the jar of cold water, holding it in place, I quickly flipped it over on to the top of the jar of warm water, and pulled the index card out from between two.

Temperature and Water Density

You will see the warm water on the bottom quickly rise and mix into the cold water. The cold water jar on the bottom, barely mixes with the warm water on top.

Science Experiment E-Book

Shop now

What’s Happening

The molecules in hot water move faster than those in cold water. Hot water molecules bounce around and leave gaps. This makes hot water slightly less dense than cold water.

Cold water on the bottom, the denser cold water stays there.

Cold water on the top, heat molecules rise. 

Temperature and Water Density

Water Density

Prep Time: 1 minute
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

The molecules in hot water move faster than those in cold water. Hot water molecules bounce around and leave gaps. This makes hot water slightly less dense than cold water.

Materials

  • cold water
  • hot water
  • food color
  • index card

Tools

  • two mason jars
  • index card

Instructions

    1. Fill one jar with cold water and add food color.
    2. Fill the other jar with the hottest water you can while still being able to touch the jar. Add a different color of food coloring to the water.
    3. Place the index card over the opening of the color water jar.
    4. While holding the index card in place flip the jar over and on top of the jar of hot water.
    5. Quickly remove the index card and watch what happens.
    6. Redo the experiment but instead placing the jar of hot water on top.
© Ashley Mullen
Project Type: Science Experiment / Category: Experiments
Resource Library Sign Up
Make sure that you sign up to receive emails from me with new activities, including more science experiments, and more!

Similar posts you may be interested in:

Balloon Rockets STEM Experiment

Shark Buoyancy – Animal Science Experiment

Arctic Animals – Science Experiment

Filed Under: Experiments, Kids Activities Tagged With: hands on science, science experiment

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

A Little About Me

I'm Ashley, a Canadian secular homeschool mom of 3, living in Nova Scotia.

I share our adventures in homeschooling and parenting.

You can usually find us at the library surrounded by books.
Read More…

Looking for Something?

Science Experiment E-Book

Footer

Forgetful Momma – Ashley Mullen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

  • Disclosure Policy
  • Terms of Use and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • You Can Contact Me Here

Copyright © 2021 · ForgetfulMomma.com