Dancing Raisins

Multi-Media Science Fair Keren Standley

Question

What will happen when objects are placed in Carbonated Soda? Will the same thing happen to all objects placed in the Soda?

Hypothesis:
When placed in Carbonated Soda, some objects will rise to the top.

Materials:

A Glass Stop Watch Paper & Pencil to record results Clear Carbonated Soda (Sprite/7-Up) Raisins Cranberries Prune Chocolate Chip Cashew Whatever you want to try!

Procedure
Pour

some of the Carbonated Soda in the

glass Add a raisin or two Use the stopwatch to see how long it takes for something to happen. Record your results Do the same thing for the other items.

Results:
18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Fruit Raisin Cranberry Cashew Prune Chocolate Chip

Results:
The items floated to the top, then sank again. The cashew rose the quickest, then the cranberry, followed by the raisin. The chocolate chip took the longest, and the prune never did rise.

Conclusion:

When items are initially placed into the soda they sink, as they are denser than the soda. But then carbon dioxide bubbles (what makes soda fizzy) attach to them. Once there are enough bubbles attached, the item is lifted up to the surface, where the bubbles pop and so the object once again sinks, and the whole process can begin again!