Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
How can you make the evening more fun for the whole family?
Equipment: transparent bottle (0.5 L or 16.5 fl oz) with cap, star confetti, water, glycerol (0.25 L or 8.25 fl oz).
Fill a bottle with water, pour some star confetti into it, cap it, and shake – the sparkles swirl up but rapidly settle to the bottom. Carefully pour out about half of the water and top the bottle up with glycerin. Close the bottle and shake it again – this time the confetti settles much more slowly, creating a real blizzard!
The higher the viscosity of the liquid, the more the friction force slows down the movement of the confetti in it. Water has relatively low viscosity, so the confetti quickly settles to the bottom. However, you can significantly increase the friction force by adding a much more viscous liquid that mixes well with water – glycerol. Now the confetti settles much more slowly, and you can trace how each tiny star moves in this starry blizzard!
More fun experiments for the whole family await you in the MEL Kids subscription!
Warning! Only under adult supervision.
How can you make the evening more fun for the whole family?
Equipment: transparent bottle (0.5 L or 16.5 fl oz) with cap, star confetti, water, glycerol (0.25 L or 8.25 fl oz).
Fill a bottle with water, pour some star confetti into it, cap it, and shake – the sparkles swirl up but rapidly settle to the bottom. Carefully pour out about half of the water and top the bottle up with glycerin. Close the bottle and shake it again – this time the confetti settles much more slowly, creating a real blizzard!
The higher the viscosity of the liquid, the more the friction force slows down the movement of the confetti in it. Water has relatively low viscosity, so the confetti quickly settles to the bottom. However, you can significantly increase the friction force by adding a much more viscous liquid that mixes well with water – glycerol. Now the confetti settles much more slowly, and you can trace how each tiny star moves in this starry blizzard!
More fun experiments for the whole family await you in the MEL Kids subscription!
Warning! Only under adult supervision.
