DENSITY TOWER ACTIVITY

Directions
1. Ask your young scientist to rank each liquid based on how dense they think it is.
Note their predictions on the paper.
2. Carefully add the liquids to the clear container in order of their density.

(NOTE: The following instructions will show you how to add all 8 of the suggested
liquids in order. You don’t have to use all 8, just use what you have available. You
can also let your scientist put them in the order they predicted, but if any are out of
order, it may take some time for the liquids to settle into their own layers.)
1. First add the honey to the bottom of the clear container, being careful not to
get it stuck on the sides as it is poured.
2. Then slowly pour the corn syrup on top of the honey, again being careful
not to get it stuck on the side of the container.
3. Then slowly pour the maple syrup on top of the corn syrup, also being
careful not to get any stuck on the side of the container.
4. Next, add the milk. It’s easiest to use a turkey baster to slowly drop the milk
on top of the maple syrup. Try to keep the baster above the center of the
container for best results.
5. Next is the dish soap layer. Also use the turkey baster to slowly drop the
soap on top of the milk, trying to keep the baster near the center of the
container.
6. The next layer is colored water. Add a few drops of food coloring to your
water and mix it together before adding this layer to the density tower. Using
the turkey baster, put the tip against the side of the container to let the water
pool on top of the dish soap.
7. Next, is the vegetable oil. Also use the turkey baster tip on the side of the
container trick for this liquid.
8. Last is the rubbing alcohol. Mix in a few drops of a different food coloring to
differentiate it from the other layers. Use the turkey baster to slowly let the
liquid flow down the inside of the container to make the final layer.
3. Have your scientist review their predicted order of the layers. Did the actual order
surprise them at all? Why or why not? What do they observe about each layer?
4. Now gather your sink or float objects. Have your scientist predict which objects
they think will sink or float on each layer. Write down the predictions on the paper.
5. Now the magic happens! Slowly drop your objects into the density tower. Which
items sink to the bottom? Which items stay on the top? Experiment!