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Dancing Raisins Experiment

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Dancing Raisins Experiment

Investigate why raisins seem to dance in fizzy water. Work with an adult. You will need two clear glasses, water, plain sparkling water, and 4–6 raisins. Pour equal amounts of each liquid into the glasses. Add the same number of raisins to each. Observe for 5 minutes. Keep the glasses on a steady surface, and do not drink the experiment liquids.

Plan and predict

A fair test changes one thing at a time. Here, the liquid changes; use the same number of raisins and the same amount of liquid in both glasses.

1.Which liquid do you predict will make the raisins move more: sparkling water or still water? Give one reason for your prediction.

2.Name one thing that should stay the same in both glasses to make this a fair test.

Observe like a scientist

Watch closely at the start, then again after 1 minute and 5 minutes. Use the table to record what you actually see. Raisins can behave differently, so do not copy someone else’s result.

Time

Sparkling water: what are the raisins doing?

Still water: what are the raisins doing?

At the start

After 1 minute

After 5 minutes

3.In which glass did you see more movement? If there was little or no movement, write that too.

4.A raisin is a solid. What evidence from its behaviour or shape supports this?

5.Sparkling water is a liquid, but it contains a gas. Which gas forms the bubbles?

Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Water vapour

6.In the sparkling water, bubbles stick to a raisin and lift it towards the surface. What may happen when the bubbles reach the surface and pop?

The raisin may sink again
The raisin turns into a gas
The glass becomes heavier
The raisin dissolves straight away

7.Put these events in a sensible order by writing 1, 2 and 3: ___ bubbles attach to a raisin; ___ the raisin rises; ___ bubbles pop or detach and the raisin sinks.

8.Hana says, “The raisins are alive because they dance.” Is her conclusion supported by the experiment? Explain using evidence.

9.Raisins often move in sparkling water, but yours stayed still. Give one possible reason and one change you could try in a repeat test.

10.Write a conclusion using this frame: “In my test, the raisins ______ in sparkling water and ______ in still water. I think this happened because ______.” Use your observations and the idea of bubbles.