Description
This diving sub toy is a fantastic gift for curious kids and is part of a large range of science kits & resources. Use for engaging science at home or in the classroom!
How does a Diving Submarine Toy work?
- Add a small amount of baking powder into the bottom of the sub.
- Allow the sub to sink underneath the water
- Wait a couple of seconds… the submarine rises again!
This experiment is all about density & buoyancy.? You’ll notice that there is a small hole in the compartment where you place the baking soda. As the submarine sinks, the baking soda becomes wet which releases carbon dioxide gas. This is because baking soda contains both?baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and a dry acid (tartaric acid). When water is added to a baking recipe, these two ingredients react to form bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.
This carbon dioxide gas creates just enough buoyancy for the submarine to rise again. The carbon dioxide gas is then released once the submarine surfaces, which then sends the submarine back underwater again to repeat the process! By itself, the plastic submarine is too dense to float on the water.
Balanced equation for the Baking soda and Water reaction
NaHCO3+ KHC4H4O6 > KNaC4H4O6 + H2O + CO2
In words…
Sodium bicarbonate + Tartaric Acid reacts to produce Potassium sodium tartrate, water and carbon dioxide.
History of the Diving Sub Toy
In 1953, Benjamin and Harry Hirsch noticed that you could use baking powder to make small toy submarines to rise and fall in water. They sold this idea to the Kelloggs who in 1954 exchanged over a million diving subs in with consumers who had sent in 25c and one cereal boxtop.
Teaching Ideas with a Diving Sub Toy
- Try different amounts of baking powder in your submarine. What is the minimum amount of baking powder needed for the sub to float?
- Compare baking soda vs. baking powder. Why does the baking soda not work and yet baking powder does?
- Compare this diving toy with the cartesian diver you can make yourself
School science visit related to this science toy
I just wanted to pass on how much the staff and students really enjoyed it and how perfect it was to launch our science week activities. The students were enthralled, educated and entertained – a perfect trifecta!
-Caulfield Grammar School – Big Science Big FunThanks so much for presenting at our school on Monday. Our students enjoyed the show.
-Greenvale Primary School – Big Science Big FunFizzics Education curated a thoughtful and hands-on experience for the children, incorporating practical, skill-based learning activities and followed by a science presentation at the end of the event involving liquid nitrogen. This was delivered safely and effectively, capturing both the children and the parents for the duration of the presentation.
-Macquarie Bank – Family Fun DayFizzics Education ran a show today at our school and it was wonderful. He was a great facilitator and the show was age appropriate and well done.
-Mount Zion Early learning centre – Little Science Big FunI just wanted to pass on how much the staff and students really enjoyed it and how perfect it was to launch our science week activities. The students were enthralled, educated and entertained – a perfect trifecta!
-Caulfield Grammar School – Big Science Big FunThanks so much for presenting at our school on Monday. Our students enjoyed the show.
-Greenvale Primary School – Big Science Big FunFizzics Education curated a thoughtful and hands-on experience for the children, incorporating practical, skill-based learning activities and followed by a science presentation at the end of the event involving liquid nitrogen. This was delivered safely and effectively, capturing both the children and the parents for the duration of the presentation.
-Macquarie Bank – Family Fun DayFizzics Education ran a show today at our school and it was wonderful. He was a great facilitator and the show was age appropriate and well done.
-Mount Zion Early learning centre – Little Science Big Fun