Amazing Density Tower Experiment

There are tons of simple science experiments that are so much fun for kids! Making a density tower, density column, or layers of different liquids is a little bit of science magic for the junior scientist but also incorporates a good dose of cool physics. Explore how some liquids are denser than others with this super easy density tower experiment below!

Density Tower Experiment 

First, what is density? Density refers to the mass of a substance (the amount of matter in that substance) compared to its volume (how much space a substance takes up). Different liquids, solids, and gases have different densities.

💡 Learn more about density and find more density experiments here.

Don’t forget to have your kids make predictions and develop hypotheses. You can read more about the scientific method and find a free printable to record your observations!

Supplies:

• Syrup
• Water
• Cooking Oil
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Dish Soap
• Large, Tall Jar
• Food Coloring

💡TIP: You can also add honey, corn syrup, and even an ice cube! You will find that some density tower experiments have a particular and careful way of adding the layers, but ours is a bit more kid-friendly!

How To Make A Liquid Density Tower or Density Column

STEP 1. Add your ingredients from heaviest to lightest. Here, the heaviest is corn syrup, followed by dish soap, water (you can color the water if desired), oil, and lastly, alcohol.

STEP 2. Add the layers one at a time, and add a drop of food coloring to the alcohol layer. The food coloring will mix between the alcohol layer and the water layer, making the layers more distinct and pretty! Or make it spooky as we did here for our Halloween density experiment.

STEP 3. Check back in with your kids and see if their predictions are correct, what they observed, and what conclusions they can draw from this physics activity!

The final shot of this cool physics experiment, a layered liquid density tower.

How Does It Work?

Let’s examine the simple science behind the activity. We know that our liquid density column deals with matter, liquid matter (which also includes solids and gases).

💡 Also, learn why oil and water don’t mix.

The density of a liquid is a measure of how heavy it is for the amount measured. If you weigh equal amounts or volumes of two different liquids, the liquid that weighs more is more dense. It might be hard to imagine that different liquids have different weights, but they do!

Why are some liquids more dense than others? Like solids, liquids comprise different numbers of atoms and molecules. In some liquids, these atoms and molecules are packed together more tightly, resulting in a denser or heavier liquid like the syrup!

These different liquids will always separate because they do not have the same density! That’s pretty cool. I hope you explore science at home and test some more awesome physics concepts, too!

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Extend The Learning

Here are a few ideas for fun experiments you can set up with your liquid density tower:

• Encourage experimentation by varying the concentrations of the liquids. For example, you can try adding salt to water to increase its density or mixing water with sugar to alter its density. Observe how these changes affect the layering and stability of the density tower.

• Investigate how temperature affects the density of liquids. Prepare identical solutions of sugar or salt in water at different temperatures (e.g., hot, room temperature, and cold) and layer them in the jar. Observe any differences in layering or mixing patterns.

• Drop small objects of varying densities into the jar and observe where they settle within the density tower. Try using objects such as coins, beads, or small fruits. You can also experiment with objects that have different shapes or surface areas to see how they interact with the liquids.

• Challenge participants to mix two or more liquids of similar densities to see if they can create stable layers or if they form a homogenous mixture. This can be an opportunity to discuss concepts such as immiscibility (not capable of mixing) and miscibility of liquids.

More Fun Science Experiments To Try

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