Free PDFGrade 5 · Science · 30 min
Fireworks in a jar
Shine a light through turmeric water and watch it sparkle.
I can explain how tiny particles scatter light and how water bends light.
A science experiment video with a free worksheet and answer key for teachers
About the video
In the video a phone light shines up through a jar of turmeric water and the grains sparkle like fireworks. At home your child fills two jars with 400 ml water each, adds salt and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric to one, and compares both jars on a phone flashlight in a dark room.
Salt dissolves into pieces too small to see, so salt water stays clear, but turmeric stays as tiny floating grains. Each grain sends light out in many directions, which is called scattering, and light also bends a little as it passes from air into glass and water, which is called refraction.
What your child learns
- Tell apart things that dissolve and things that do not
- Explain how tiny grains scatter light
- Use the words scattering and refraction correctly
What's on the worksheet
- 1Predict first
- 2Record what you see
- 3What did you see?
- 4The science behind it
- 5Match the words
- 6True or false
- 7Dissolves or not?
- 8Light maths
- 9Draw and label it
You need
2 clear glass jars (about 500 ml each), 800 ml warm tap water, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric, 1 spoon, 1 phone with a flashlight and a dark room.
Safety
Turmeric stains clothes and tables. Do not drink the water. Dry the phone if it gets wet.
Tip for the adult
Put a towel under the jars, because turmeric stains and the phone must stay dry.
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