Walking water science experiment

two boys doing science experiment

Do you know how to make water walk? Practise your reading in English with this science experiment.

Help

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.

Reading text

Science experiment: Walking water

Try this science experiment to make water 'walk'. You can even make rainbow colours!

Before you start

Ask an adult if you can do the experiment.

What you need

  • three empty glasses
  • water
  • food colouring
  • paper towels

How to do it

  1. First put a few drops of yellow food colouring in a glass.
  2. Then put a few drops of blue food colouring in another glass.
  3. Next fill the glasses with water.
  4. Put an empty glass in the middle.
  5. Fold a paper towel to make a long thin piece.
  6. Put one end in the yellow water and the other in the empty glass.
  7. Then fold another paper towel.
  8. Put one end in the blue water and the other in the empty glass.
  9. Wait for an hour or two.
  10. Finally look at the glass in the middle. What can you see?

How does it work?

This experiment works because of something called 'capillary action'. Usually water only flows down, because of gravity. But as the spaces between the fibres of the paper towel are so small, the water actually moves up, against gravity!

Did you know?

Trees also use capillary action. Water moves up the roots to feed the whole tree!

Now try…

Did you see green water in the middle glass? That's because yellow and blue make green. You can do the experiment using different colours. Try using seven glasses to make a 'rainbow'!

Discussion

Do you like science? Do you know any other experiments? What experiments would you like to do? Tell us about it!

Average: 4.8 (6 votes)

English courses for children aged 6-17

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