Baby it's cold outside! The freezing temperatures are a perfect time for science.
When water is in solid form, it becomes ice.
Ice is formed when water gets cold enough, 32 degrees or below. Any temperature above 32 degrees, and water will remain in its liquid form.
BASIC MATERIALS:
Water, assorted cups or bowls, salt, sugar, paper towels, spoon, ice cubes
EXPERIMENT #1: HOW WATER FREEZES
Once the temperature dips below 32 degrees, you can conduct an experiment to observe and compare how water becomes a solid. Using three cups or containers (not glass), fill halfway with water. Add two spoonfuls of salt to one container of water and mix. In another container of water, place two spoonfuls of sugar and mix. Do not add any ingredients to the last container of water. Place the three containers outside where you can observe them (you may want to label your containers if they look similar). Check in on the containers every ten minutes. What do you observe? How long did the water take to freeze? Which container took longest to freeze?
EXPERIMENT #2: HOW ICE MELTS
Using three small cups or containers, place one ice cube in each. Sprinkle two tablespoons of salt on top of one ice cube, and two tablespoons of sugar in another. Leave the last ice cubes with nothing on top. What do you think will happen? Check in on the ice every five minutes. What do you observe? Which ice cube melted first? which ice cube melted last?
When water is in solid form, it becomes ice.
Ice is formed when water gets cold enough, 32 degrees or below. Any temperature above 32 degrees, and water will remain in its liquid form.
BASIC MATERIALS:
Water, assorted cups or bowls, salt, sugar, paper towels, spoon, ice cubes
EXPERIMENT #1: HOW WATER FREEZES
Once the temperature dips below 32 degrees, you can conduct an experiment to observe and compare how water becomes a solid. Using three cups or containers (not glass), fill halfway with water. Add two spoonfuls of salt to one container of water and mix. In another container of water, place two spoonfuls of sugar and mix. Do not add any ingredients to the last container of water. Place the three containers outside where you can observe them (you may want to label your containers if they look similar). Check in on the containers every ten minutes. What do you observe? How long did the water take to freeze? Which container took longest to freeze?
EXPERIMENT #2: HOW ICE MELTS
Using three small cups or containers, place one ice cube in each. Sprinkle two tablespoons of salt on top of one ice cube, and two tablespoons of sugar in another. Leave the last ice cubes with nothing on top. What do you think will happen? Check in on the ice every five minutes. What do you observe? Which ice cube melted first? which ice cube melted last?
Did you try this experiment at home? Tell us about it and show us your results!
