How Do You Do the Floating Egg Project?

Change water density to make an egg float.

The fragility, uniformity and affordability of raw eggs make them ideal subjects for several dramatic science projects. One of the most common is the "floating egg project," which involves dropping an egg in various solutions of differing densities. Eggs sink in plain water, but adding more and more salt increases water density. Changing the density of water affects what happens when items are placed into the water.

Things You'll Need

• 6 or more identical glasses
• 6 or more chicken eggs of identical size, color and weight

Instructions

1. Fill each glass with the same amount of water and place the glasses in a line on a flat surface.

2. Drop a raw egg in the first glass. It should sink.

3. Dissolve 1 tbsp. salt in the second glass. Drop in an egg and see what happens.

4. Dissolve 2 tbsp. salt in the third glass. Drop an egg in the solution and see what happens.

5. Repeat this process, adding more and more salt to each glass in 1 tbsp. increments. Eventually, the egg should float.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using sugar, liquid soap, oil and other common household ingredients to see how they change water density.

References

• Tommy's Website: Tommy's Egg Float Project
• San Diego Zoo: Make an Egg Float