Happy Victoria Day long weekend!
Today marks the birthday of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria is well known as the woman who redefined Britain’s monarchy. She was in power for 63 years!
To celebrate Victoria Day, Canadians often take the day off work, host parades, and let off fireworks. Our fun and simple DIY STEM activity is going to show you how you can make your own fireworks at home!
Materials:
- Warm water
- Liquid food coloring (The more colours the better)
- Vegetable oil
- Tablespoon
- Fork
- Large mason jar
- Small glass jar or bowl
Steps:
- Fill the large mason jar about ¾ full with warm water.
- In the small glass jar add 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- In the same glass jar add in a drop of each color of food coloring. Use a fork to slowly mix around the food coloring. This should split the coloring up into smaller drops. Do not try to mix the two solutions together.
- Slowly pour the oil and food coloring mixture on top of the water.
- Check out what is happening in the jar! What are the colours doing? Why do you think this is happening?
- Try the experiment again but with cold water! Does this change the fireworks?
The STEM Behind The Fun!
This STEM experiment shows principles of liquid density. It combines physics and chemistry! So why don’t the oil and water mix? Well interesting enough, liquids have different weights and densities. This is because their molecular structures are different. The water stays on the bottom of the oil because it is a heavier liquid.
The “fireworks” fall through the water because it can dissolve in it, but not oil. The coloring is heavier than oil which is also why it separates from the oil.
