Homeschool Programs – Ketchup or Down
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Getting Started
Who said that playing with your food can’t be scientific? With this simple science experiment, you’ll learn more about how your food is packaged in a project that will complement your homeschool programs. Moreover, this experiment is a great way to learn more about physics regardless of the level of the different types of homeschool programs you’re enrolled in.
If you’re ready to get started, then you’ll need to gather together a few materials:
• 1 packet of ketchup (such as the type of packet that might come in a fast food order)
• Water
• 1 clear plastic 2-liter bottle
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Free Homeschool Science activities and experiments. Complete science kits and programs include all materials, step-by-step videos and unlimited support.
Procedure
Once you have these materials gathered together, you’re ready to get going! Here are the steps you’ll need to take:
• First, you need to make sure that the ketchup packet floats by testing it. To test it, simply place it in a cup of water. If it floats, you’re ready to get going with the experiment. If it doesn’t float, then try another packet (you may also need to check to make sure that it’s still closed and has no holes in it). You ideally want to use a packet that only just barely floats.
• Once you have the ketchup packet that just barely floats, place the ketchup packet in a clear plastic bottle. You may need to fold the ketchup packet to get it through the opening.
• Fill the bottle with water to the brim. Once it’s filled, screw on the cap tightly.
• Once the ketchup packet is in the bottle with the cap tightly shut, squeeze the bottle on both sides.
• Record your observations.
Understanding what you saw
You may have noticed that when you squeezed the plastic bottle, the ketchup packet responded to your squeezing by floating or sinking within the bottle. This is because squeezing the plastic bottle increases the pressure inside of the bottle. When you compress the air inside of the bottle, you also compress the air inside of the ketchup packet.
By the way, you might want to download a free copy of the Homeschool Science Experiment Guide and workbook to find more great experiments.
Conclusion
When the air inside of the ketchup packet is compressed, the ketchup packet will become denser than the water. When this happens, the ketchup packet will sink to the bottom of the bottle. After all, whenever an object is denser than water, the object will sink in water. When you release the air pressure on the bottle by stopping your squeeze, the ketchup packet will become less dense as the air expands in it and it will float back to the top of the bottle.
What does this experiment teach you about air pressure and how it can interact with other things? Can you think of a way to apply this lesson from your homeschool programs to other areas of your life? If for nothing else, this experiment makes a wonderful trick to show friends and family!
