Pour the soda water into the container.
Gently add the sultanas one at a time to the soda water.
Watch them float to the surface and drop down over and over again.
When will this movement stop? Why?
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Why Does This Happen?
Soda water contains a large amount of dissolved carbon dioxide. Pouring the soda water into the container helped to release this gas in the form of bubbles. The bubbles are less dense than soda water, so they rise to the surface.
The bubbles connect themselves to the sides of the sultanas, providing a buoyant force to help to raise the sultanas to the surface. On reaching the surface the bubbles pop, thereby reducing the buoyant force on the sultanas and they fall back down again.
Variables to test
- Try dried sultanas, cranberries, blueberries, apricots and other dried fruit and compare the difference.
- Does it matter which carbonated drink you use?
- Can you make this observed effect work with materials other than dried fruit?
Applications
- Marine archaeologists fill bags with gas so they can raise shipwrecks and sunken treasure!
- Teaching about Newton’s laws? Check out the Forces, Friction & Movement workshop!
Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Working with Water
Years K to 2
Maximum 30 students
School workshop (NSW & VIC)
60 or 90 minutes
Online Class Available
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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