Magic Tea Light
Embark on an exciting journey into the world of science! Conduct a magical experiment where a tea light seems to magically draw in water. Doesn’t that sound thrilling? You’ll not only see something cool but also learn why it happens. Before you start the tea light experiment, it’s super important to do this together with an adult. Experiments with fire are exciting, but fire can also be dangerous. So, grab an adult and let’s get started!
What you'll need
- A tea light
- A plate
- Water
- A glass
- Blue food coloring
- A lighter
How it works
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Fill the plate with a little water. Not too much, just enough to cover the bottom.
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Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water. Do you see how the water changes color? It looks like a little ocean!
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Place the tea light in the center of the plate and carefully light it. (Only with the help of an adult when working with fire.)
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Watch the flame. What do you see? The flame warms the air.
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Now carefully place the glass over the burning tea light. Be careful not to burn yourself.
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Now comes the magical part! Watch closely! What happens to the flame? And what happens to the water?
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A burning tea light consumes the oxygen under the glass and goes out. The air cools down, contracts, and the resulting vacuum pulls the water into the glass as if by magic. The experiment excitingly shows you how fire, air, and water interact.
What kids learn from this
- Curiosity & scientific thinking
