Simple Viscosity Experiment For Kids

The fun thing about science experiments for young kids is that you can set them up easily and quickly with what you already have! This simple viscosity experiment with a Valentines Day theme is perfect for a little bit of kitchen science. We love simple science activities because they are so much fun and very festive!

VISCOSITY FOR KIDS

Valentine’s Day science experiments can be quite simple but also very educational. I love science activities that feel like play time too. It’s a wonderful way to introduce science to younger kids. Your little scientist will love these ideas!

ALSO CHECK OUT: Easy Physics Experiments For Kids

This easy viscosity experiment looks at different liquids from around the house and compares them to each other. Add colorful little hearts to really get a good look at what viscosity is all about.

WHAT IS VISCOSITY?

Viscosity is a physical property of fluids. The word viscous comes from the Latin word viscum, meaning sticky. It describes how fluids show resistance to flow or how “thick” or “thin” they are. Viscosity is affected by what the fluid is made of and the temperature of it.

For example; water has a low viscosity, as it is “thin”. Hair gel is much more viscous that oil, and especially more than water!

ALSO LEARN ABOUT… Liquid Density

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS

Kids can certainly help to set up this Valentines Day viscosity experiment. Talk about what is viscosity and provide examples (see above).

YOU WILL NEED:

Small clear plastic cups
Small plastic hearts (or similar)
Various liquids (water, dish soap, oil, liquid glue, hair gel, corn syrup etc.)
Paper and pencil

HOW TO SET UP LIQUID VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

STEP 1: Have your kids search around the house for a variety of liquids. If you want to try this with a class, you can provide a variety of liquids kids can choose from.

STEP 2: Kids can help pour liquids too. Pouring the liquids is a great opportunity to really check out their viscosity! Less viscous liquids will pour faster than more viscous liquids.

Add a different liquid to each cup.

Optional: Label each cup in order of low viscosity to high viscosity.

STEP 3: You can also take it a step further by dropping in these little hearts. Put one heart in each cup. It’s for Valentine’s Day after all?! Don’t have any hearts, why not try this with paper clips!

Do the hearts sink or float?
Which liquid suspends the hearts the best?
Do those liquids have high or low viscosity?

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT: Valentines Day Slime Science

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT RESULTS

Our favorite liquid for this viscosity was the hair gel {extra hold gel}!

The corn syrup was pretty good too, but our hearts are pretty light. Even if we poked them down into the corn syrup, they would slowly rise up over time.

The dish soap and glue were so-so. One heart sank and one floated. My son found it delightful to poke the hearts down into the thicker liquids to see what they would do. These little hearts can also be used in this early learning Math activity.

Most of the liquids can be saved and poured back into the appropriate containers, so there is very little waste. Quick and easy science! I love science experiments I can whip up in minutes but also gets us thinking and exploring.

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