Exploring Density with Community Central

test tube with layers of fluids
Can you guess which fluids are here?

Youth across Lewiston have been exploring the density of fluids, including experimenting to see how many fluids they could stack on top of one another.

At the Root Cellar, Lewiston Housing Authority, and the Boys and Girls Club, the youth had five fluids to stack on top of one another. In the test tube above the stacks included: dark corn syrup (brown), dish soap (green), water (blue), vegetable oil (clear), and rubbing alcohol (red).

In past weeks youth had explored hydrophilic and hydrophobic natures of various fluids and why oil and water won’t mix together. What do you think happened when we shook our test tubes? What happened to our neatly stacked layers?

Maisy holding cup with fluids stacked by density
Community Education Assistant, exploring fluid density.

Each week, Community Central staff prepare sessions tailored to classroom science themes and youth interest. We’re having fun preparing for the end of our current theme, stay tuned!

This material is based upon the work of 4-H Community Central Maine, a project supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture, through a cooperative agreement with The University of Maine under award number 2014-41520-22235
General information about the CYFAR grant program can be accessed on the
Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) page (USDA website).

For further information about the CYFAR-funded project highlighted in this publication, contact:

CYFAR Project Name: 4-H Community Central Maine
Principal Investigator: Kristy L  Ouellette
Email Address: kristy.ouellette@maine.edu
Website: 4-H Community Central