Experiment: Does the Mandarin Float or Sink?
Get ready for some excitement! You're going to conduct an experiment with two mandarins! All you need is a bowl of water and two mandarins. But here's the question: What happens when you peel the mandarin? Does it float or sink? And why is that? Let's find out, and you'll be amazed at how much you can learn!
What you'll need
- Two mandarins
- A bowl or vase with water
- A bit of curiosity
How it works
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Fill a bowl with water. The bowl should be large enough for the mandarin to float. Get the mandarins ready, and you're all set!
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Gently place the unpeeled mandarin in the water. Make sure it doesn't get thrown in, but lands softly on the surface. Look closely: Does it float or sink?
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The mandarin with the peel floats! The air trapped in the peel makes the mandarin lighter and keeps it on the water.
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Now you need the peeled mandarin. Be careful not to break the pieces apart. Place the peeled mandarin in the water. The peeled mandarin sinks! Without its peel, it has no air pockets to keep it afloat. The mandarin is heavier and sinks.
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The secret lies in the mandarin. Inside the mandarin are tiny cavities filled with air. This makes it light and buoyant. When you remove the peel, those air pockets are gone, and the mandarin sinks. You've learned that the peel acts like a life jacket.
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What happens if you only peel the mandarin halfway? Does it still float or sink? Give it a try!
What kids learn from this
- Curiosity & scientific thinking
