Did you know that you can have fun with science even in the bathtub? There’s a cool trick you can try that will amaze you and your friends. Imagine taking a sock, putting it underwater, and when you take it out, it’s still dry! Sounds like magic, right? But it’s actually science, and you can do it too!
To get started, ask a grown-up to help you find a tall glass or cup and one of your socks. You can also use some tissue or anything small that can fit snugly into the bottom of the cup. You’ll also need a big container of water. If you can’t wait until your next bath, you can use a sink or a big bucket. Just be careful with the water!
First, don’t put the sock on your foot. Instead, stuff it tightly into the bottom of the cup. Make sure it’s in there tight enough so it won’t fall out, even when you turn the cup upside down.
Next, hold the cup upside down over the water, keeping it straight up and down. Slowly push the cup down into the water without tipping it. Push it all the way to the bottom, then lift it slowly back out, keeping it straight.
Now, when you turn the cup over and take out the sock, you’ll see that the sock is completely dry! It’s not magic—it’s science!
Let’s think about what happened. Before you put the cup into the water, it was filled with air. Air is made of matter, just like everything else around us, including you, me, the sock, and the cup. Matter takes up space, so the air inside the cup needed room.
When you pushed the cup into the water, there wasn’t much room for the water to get inside because the air was already taking up space. So, the water pushed the air to the bottom of the cup, keeping the sock dry.
If you want to see more, try the experiment again but this time, tilt the cup to one side when it’s underwater. You’ll see a big bubble come out! That’s the air escaping from the cup. When the air leaves, water fills the space, and the sock gets wet.
So, the bathtub is not just for getting clean—it’s also a great place to have fun with science experiments! Thanks for joining us on this adventure. If you have any questions, ask a grown-up to help you send us an email or leave a comment. We hope you enjoyed learning with us, and we’ll see you next time!
Experiment with Different Objects: Try the experiment with different small objects instead of a sock. Use a small toy, a piece of sponge, or a crumpled piece of paper. Predict what will happen to each object when you submerge the cup in water. Will it stay dry or get wet? Discuss why some objects might behave differently.
Create Your Own Air Bubble: Fill a small plastic bottle with water and put the cap on tightly. Submerge the bottle in a large container of water and slowly unscrew the cap while it’s underwater. Watch the air bubbles escape! Talk about how this is similar to the air escaping from the cup in the original experiment.
Observe Air in Everyday Life: Look around your home or school for examples of air taking up space. Can you find a balloon, a bicycle tire, or a beach ball? Discuss how air helps these objects keep their shape. Draw a picture of one of these objects and label where the air is inside it.
