Hooked on science: Make an egg float in water

You can make an egg float in water by adding an ingredient found in the kitchen.

Materials

* Water

* Salt

* Spoon

* Transparent cup

* Uncooked egg

Instructions

STEP 1: Fill the transparent cup halfway with water.

STEP 2: Add 4 teaspoons of salt. Use the spoon to mix the salt and water.

STEP 3: Place the uncooked egg in the salt water.

Explanation

The salt in the water caused the egg to float. If you place the egg in water without salt, it sinks. This is because the egg has a greater density than the water. The salt changes the density of the water.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.