Have you ever seen water “walk”? Try this magical science trick at home!
WHAT YOU NEED: - 6 clear cups or glasses - Water - Paper towels - Food coloring (red, yellow, blue) - A little curiosity!
HOW TO DO IT:
1. Line up your 6 cups in a row.
2. Fill cups 1, 3, and 5 halfway with water. Leave cups 2, 4, and 6 empty.
3. Add food coloring: - Cup 1: Red - Cup 3: Yellow - Cup 5: Blue 4. Fold 6 paper towels into strips (about 1 inch wide).
5. Place a paper towel strip between each cup, with one end in a cup of colored water and the other end in an empty cup.
6. Watch closely! Over the next hour, the water will “walk” up the paper towels and mix in the empty cups, creating NEW colors right before your eyes!
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Water travels up the paper towel by capillary action—the same way plants pull water up from their roots! And when colors meet, they blend to form orange, green, and purple.
TRY THIS:
- Mix up your color order and see what new colors you can make!
- Try with different kinds of paper towels— does it change how fast the water moves?
Snap a photo of your rainbow and share it! Have fun being a scientist at home!
