El Huevo Flotante

Earth Science Experiments, Floating Eggs

These Earth Science Experiments use fresh eggs for a fun and easy science activity. In this experiment you will learn how eggs can actually float in waterinstead of sinking. After getting your eggs to float you will try floating an egg between fresh and salty water.

Materials

Fresh egg Water glass Water Salt Tablespoon

Directions

1. Fill aclear glass a little over half full of water. 2. Carefully place an egg in the glass. It should lay on the bottom of the glass if it is fresh. Eggs that stand on end or float to the surface are olderand should not be used for this experiment. 3. Remove the egg from the glass and begin stirring in salt. Stir in one tablespoon of salt at a time. Continue adding salt to the water until it issaturated and salt crystals collect on the bottom of the glass. Place the egg again into the water and see if it will float. 4. The egg should float on or near the surface of the water. If it doesn't try theexperiment again but use warmer water because more salt will dissolve in warm water than cold water. Keep trying if a first you don't succeed.

Try these science experiments

1. Take your egg outof the salt water. Pour out enough water so the glass is half full of salty water. 2. Slowly and carefully add fresh water to the glass by spooning in the water onto the surface. 3. When your glassis about two-thirds full return the egg to the glass. The egg should float suspended in the water. 4. Empty the salty water out of the glass and fill it with water. Add sugar instead of salt to thewater just like you did in the first experiment. 5. When you cannot dissolve any more sugar in the water see if your egg floats.

Science behind the experiment

In these Earth Science Experiments youfound that eggs are denser than fresh water so they sink when placed in fresh water. Dissolving salt in the water increases its density.

The density of the salty water gives it more lifting...