Have you ever made a Density Tower before? If not, this is a MUST do! Not only is it educational, but it’s really cool to look at and explore different densities of liquids as well as weights of different objects that we drop into the density tower itself.
For an even more cool effect, we added effervescent tablets! Check out my video below (it’s a bit long, a little over 3 minutes) but it is so worth it to really see how this experiment is made successfully. This experiment requires a lot of patience but it comes out so beautiful when it’s done, and it just really gives a visual on learning about density.
And if you haven’t already, grab your Halloween STEAM Calendar Printable here so you can circle your favorite projects and come back to see when we complete them!
What Is Density?
Density is the measurement of the amount of matter in an object compared to its volume.
How Do You Build A Density Tower?
My first tip for this is to set up your materials in the order that you will use them and add color to them. Having everything pre-arranged before doing any science experiment is a must!
So for this classic science experiment, we used corn syrup (Karo syrup), dish soap, water, oil, and rubbing alcohol, in that order (it’s most dense to less dense). You can color the liquids in any color you wish, but the lighter the colors, the easier it is to see the different layers.
Another tip, is to use a turkey baster, or a pipette, when pouring the liquids. It’s also important to pour to the sides, NOT straight down the middle.
In my video below, I show you how we poured the liquids- slow and steady and off to the side.
Materials To Build A Spooky Density Tower
-5 cups or Test Tubes to pour equal amounts of liquids
-A tall clear glass to hold the liquids
–Food coloring (red, orange, green, blue)
-Turkey Baster or Pipette
–Dawn Dish Detergent or Any Dish Detergent (Blue)
-Water
–Oil
-Random objects (ping pong ball, eraser, toy spider, skeleton)
Directions
1- Set the liquids in order you will pour them into the glass: high density to low density: Corn Syrup, Dawn Dish Detergent, Water, Oil, and Rubbing Alcohol. (*if you use blue dish detergent then you don’t need to add blue coloring to it).
2-Pour each liquid in its own cup or test tube. I like using test tubes because I can measure the same volume of all the liquids.
3-Add the food coloring: corn syrup (red), water (green), and rubbing alcohol (orange).
4- Pour the Karo (corn) Syrup into the tall glass first. It is okay to pour it in the middle ONLY for this liquid.
5- Then tilt the glass and carefully pour the dish soap along the side of the glass, so it can sit on top of the karo (corn) syrup.
6-Then using the turkey baster or pipette, squeeze and pour the water carefully through the baster and into the tall clear glass along the side. This will take the longest time as you have to go really slow.
7-Next, using the turkey baster or pipette, squeeze and pour the oil carefully through the baster and into the tall clear glass along the side.
8-Finally, using the turkey baster or pipette, squeeze and pour the rubbing alcohol carefully through the baster and into the tall clear glass along the side.
9-Add in the random toys. Observe and document what you see!
10- For an even spookier potion-like appearance: Take out the toys, and place in broken pieces of effervescent (or alka-selzter) tablets. Watch it bubble up!
Simple Explanation #1 Density Tower: Each liquid has its own density. In placing objects of different weights in the liquids, we can see which ones will float or sink.
Simple Explanation # 2 Added Effervescent Tablets: Alka-selzter tablets are much denser than rubbing alcohol, oil, water, but it starts to slow down when it reaches the soap layer (due to almost similar densities). It barely touches the corn syrup layer.
When alka-selzter and water combine, they release carbon dioxide bubbles, and this is what we see floating to the top of of the density tower. These bubbles are also what allow the alka-selzter tablets to float up and down through the density tower. Pretty cool, right?!
I really hope you enjoyed this science experiment/tutorial. Please leave a comment below if you have tried this or will try it! You can check out our other Halloween activities that we’ve done so far: Witches and Wizards Brew and Skeleton Toothpaste
How To Make A Density Tower Video
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