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Colorful Celery Experiment

Age Group

6-12 years old

Difficulty Level

Easy

Duration

30-45 minutes

What You'll Need

  • Celery stalks with leaves

  • Cups or jars

  • Food coloring (assorted colors)

  • Water

  • Knife (for adult use)

  • Paper towels (optional)

What Will You Learn?

The purpose of this experiment is to observe how water travels through the vascular system of celery stalks and how it is affected by the presence of food coloring. By witnessing the colorful changes in the celery stalks, participants can gain a better understanding of plant biology concepts such as capillary action, absorption, and transportation of nutrients.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Fill each cup or jar with water.

  2. Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup, using different colors for each cup.

  3. Stir the water in each cup to evenly distribute the food coloring.

  4. Carefully cut the bottom of each celery stalk at an angle (adult supervision required).

  5. Place one celery stalk in each cup, ensuring the cut end is submerged in the colored water.

  6. Leave the celery stalks undisturbed for 24-48 hours.

  7. Observe and record any changes in the color of the celery stalks over time.

Safety First!

  1. Use caution when handling knives and cutting celery stalks. Adult supervision is required.

  2. Avoid consuming the celery stalks after they have been exposed to food coloring.

Watch The Experiment

Results Gallery

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FAQs

  • Why does the celery change color?The color change occurs because the colored water travels through the celery's vascular system, which is responsible for transporting water and nutrients.

  • Can you use other vegetables for this experiment?Yes, other vegetables with similar vascular systems, like white carnations or celery, work well for demonstrating capillary action.

  • What happens if you leave the celery in the colored water for longer?Leaving the celery in the colored water for longer will result in more intense color absorption and a clearer demonstration of capillary action.

Download Your Experiment Guide

You Might Also Like

  • "Rainbow Flowers: Exploring Capillary Action in Plants"

  • "Walking Water: Investigating Water Movement in Plant Tissues"

  • "Plant Transpiration: How Water Moves Through Leaves"

Tags

science experiments, plant biology, capillary action, absorption, water transportation, hands-on learning

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