Mrs. Nowak’s 5th Grade Scientists at Work!

Blog by Mrs. Nowak:

Mrs. Nowak’s 5th Grade class investigated the effect of salinity and temperature on the density of water.  Using clear plastic shoe boxes, filled with about 700 ml of room temperature water as ocean basins, we added 60 ml of water prepared in different densities.  The green water was prepared by adding one tablespoon of salt to room temperature water.  The red water was hot and the blue water was ice cold.  As we poured each type of water into the ocean basin, we watched as the colored water stayed together and separated into layers.  Can you guess which type of water was the densest? We were surprised where the salt water rested.