Science Projects on an Egg's Density
Science projects using eggs demonstrate concepts like density using easily accessible items. Eggs are inexpensive and can be manipulated by using them raw or hard-boiled, or by using fresh or stale eggs. Other household items like water, salt and sugar can be used as variables. Egg density experiments can be done simply for younger students or made to be more complex for an older student.
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Floating Egg Project
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Determine the density of a raw egg compared to the density of water by placing a raw egg into a glass of tap water. The raw egg will sink in tap water since the egg is more dense than water. Students can make water more dense by adding salt or sugar. Salt and sugar add mass to the water without changes to volume, which increases the density of water. Adding approximately 4 tbsp. of kosher salt to 2 cups of water will make the water dense enough for an egg to float.
Experiment by changing other variables in the experiment. Compare raw eggs to hard-boiled eggs. Use sugar instead of salt to see which makes water denser.
Density of Fresh and Stale Eggs
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Students can determine if a fresh egg is less dense or more dense than a rotten egg. Students can prepare a salt water solution and test the density of a fresh egg until it floats. Place a stale egg that has surpassed the sale-by date into the same solution and observe if the egg floats or sinks.
Older students may determine the density of the salt water solution using a scale and flask that measures volume. For example, students may fill a 10 ml graduated cylinder with the solution and measure the mass of the filled cylinder on a scale. The mass of the cylinder when empty must be subtracted from the mass of the full cylinder to determine the mass of the solution. The density of the solution can be found by dividing the mass by the volume.
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Serial Dilutions and Egg Density
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Find the salt solution that an egg best floats in by using serial solutions. A stock solution can be made by dissolving a cup of salt into a quart of water. Use 5 separate cups for the serial dilutions. The first cup will contain 3/4 cup of stock solution. In the second cup, combine 3/4 cup of stock solution and 3/4 cup of water. In the third cup, measure 3/4 cup of the solution from the second cup combined with 3/4 cup of water. In the fourth cup, measure 3/4 cup of the solution from the third cup along with 3/4 cup of water. The fifth cup should contain tap water only. Place a raw egg in each solution until it floats.
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References
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