Dancing Raisins

I have done so many simple science experiments, but I think this is by far the simplest. All you need for this experiment is sparkling water and raisins. Watching the raisins in this experiment dance around a glass is so mesmerizing and is sure to keep children entertained.

What you need:

• a clear glass
• raisins
• sparkling water (club soda or any other clear soda works as well)

Steps:

• Pour the sparkling water into the glass

• Put raisins in the water (make sure they are not stuck together)

• Watch the raisins dance around in the glass!

What makes the raisins dance?

The raisins initially sink to the bottom of the glass because they have a higher density than the sparkling water. However, the sparkling water has been infused with carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide bubbles latch to the rough surface of the raisins. The bubbles pull the raisins to the surface of the water due to an increase in buoyancy.

When the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface of the sparkling water, they pop and the gas is released into the surrounding air. The raisin loses its buoyancy and falls back down to the bottom of the glass. Eventually, the raisins stop dancing when all of the carbon dioxide has been released from the sparkling water.