Mr. Cantwell’s 4th Class did some really cool experiments for Science Week 2020! The boys loved the “Dancing Raisins” experiment, where they learned about buoyancy. When the boys dropped the raisins in a fizzy drink, they sank to the bottom of the glass because they are more dense than the liquid. But the carbonated soda releases carbon dioxide bubbles and these bubbles cling to the surface of the raisins. They are like lifebelts! They act as tiny floatation devices that lift the raisin to the surface of the water. This is because of an increase in buoyancy. Then, once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface, they pop and the gas is released out into the air. This makes the raisin lose buoyancy and fall back down to the bottom of the glass. The raisins keep dancing until all of the carbon dioxide has escaped and the liquid is flat.

The boys also tested for the effects of sugar on teeth. Using eggs, the class tested the effects of different drinks, such as Iron Bru, Coke and water, to see if it did anything to the eggs. The boys were shocked to see what happened to the eggs!

Great work and fantastic hands on, active learning from the boys in Mr. Cantwell’s Class. Check out their photos below: