• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Menu
  • Science Experiments for Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Science Questions
  • Fun Science Facts for Kids
  • Science Worksheets
  • About Us
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Science Sparks
    • Cookie Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Science Sparks logo

Menu
  • Science Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology for Kids
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry for kids
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science

Firework in a Jar

November 2, 2011 By Emma Vanstone 33 Comments

As it is nearly Bonfire night in the UK we thought was should do a firework experiment. A firework in a jar is totally safe, very easy and looks just like a firework without the bang and sparkle.

firework in a jar
Firework in a Jar

What you need to make a firework in a jar

A tall jar

Warm water

Oil

Food colouring

How to make a firework in a jar

  • Fill the jar about 3/4 full of warm water and then add a layer of oil.
  • Carefully drop the food colouring into the oil.
  • Watch what happens.

Why does it work?

Oil and water do not mix!  Also oil is less dense than water (meaning there is less of it in the same volume) and therefore floats on top of water in a nice layer.

The food colouring we used was water based and therefore does not mix with the oil, instead it sinks through the oil into the water below.

Food colouring is heavier than the water and so sinks to the bottom of the jar leaving trails (resembling fireworks) as some of the colour diffuses into the water.


We noticed that some blobs of food colouring sank to the bottom and then after a few moments shot up (resembling a more conventional firework) – Why do you think this might have happened?*

*We think this might be because an oil droplet was trapped inside a food colouring droplet and sank, but as the edges of the food colouring droplet diffused into the water suddenly the drop became lighter than the surrounding water (thanks to the less dense oil at the centre) and floated upwards quickly… 

Firework in a glass - science activity for Bonfire night or new year
Tweet

Filed Under: Chemistry for kids, Early Years Science, Holiday Science, Sensory and Messy Play Tagged With: Firework, Firework in a glass, make a safe firework

Previous Post: « How strong is paper? Taken from Cracking Chemistry
Next Post: Making Bread – Respiration in action! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ChocOrangeCityMum

    November 3, 2011 at 12:22 am

    This looks like great fun for small kids, will try it with my Boy.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Multiple Mummy

    November 3, 2011 at 9:06 am

    Very cool! Love this! x

    Reply
  3. Rashmie @MommyLabs

    November 3, 2011 at 10:30 am

    Emma,
    What a coincidence! We too enjoyed a similar experiment in bottles. We added fizz tablets that cause really firework-like reactions. Just linked it up above.

    Reply
  4. Smallgood

    November 3, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    The video was great! I had never seen this done before.

    Reply
  5. Brooke @let kids create

    November 4, 2011 at 2:58 am

    So cool, I love the second blast that comes up at the end. I’ve got to do this with my girls.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 7, 2011 at 1:49 pm

      Oooh let us know how you get on. xx

      Reply
  6. Beth

    November 6, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Very cute idea! We are going to have to try that. I wanted to invite you to come link up at TGIF Linky Party – http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties & I’ll link up too!
    Beth =-)

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 7, 2011 at 1:49 pm

      oh yes, of course. I will check it out now. xx

      Reply
  7. Almost Unschoolers

    November 6, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    Bonfire night? I have to go look that one up! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Almost Unschoolers

    November 6, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    …aw, Guy Fawke’s Night! My husband is actually descended from Tresham’s who came to the US after their relatives failed involvement with the Gunpowder plot – maybe we should light a bonfire too 🙂

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 7, 2011 at 1:45 pm

      oooh really? How interesting. You should join in the celebrations. xx

      Reply
  9. Liberty

    November 8, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    This is wonderful!!! I cannot wait to do this with my little one. Your site is amazing – Thank You!!!

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 9, 2011 at 6:02 pm

      I’m so glad you like is, thank you. xx

      Reply
  10. Carrie

    November 9, 2011 at 7:26 am

    This site is great! My son loves science, and I am always looking for ways to foster that! Pinned, and your newest GFC follower!

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 9, 2011 at 6:01 pm

      I’m so glad you like us, thank you. xx

      Reply
  11. maggy,red ted art

    November 9, 2011 at 5:36 pm

    Wow! Looks absolutely fabulous! Don’t you just LOVE SCIENCE 🙂

    Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!!

    Maggy

    Reply
  12. creativejewishmom/sara

    November 10, 2011 at 7:39 am

    looks great, love all your experiments and you’re filling such an important little spot in our party that was empty until you came along! thanks so much for stopping by regularly to share on Craft Schooling Sunday, i really appreciate it!

    Reply
  13. Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

    November 14, 2011 at 3:39 am

    so cool – will be doing this at some point for sure!

    Thanks for linking to the Sunday Showcase! Can’t wait to see what you share with us this week.

    Bern
    http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Showcase

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 14, 2011 at 12:12 pm

      So glad you liked it! x

      Reply
  14. Hot Cross Mum

    November 21, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Cool – love this little experiment!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Cloud Dough Exploration | TinkerLab says:
    November 3, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    […] post is shared on Science Sparks, It’s PlaytimeRelated posts:Easter in AugustGoopy CornstarchPhoto Documentary with […]

    Reply
  2. Fireworks in a glass « chocorangecitymum says:
    November 3, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    […] Boy is not yet three I haven’t done any science experiments with him yet but when I read the Fireworks in a Glass post yesterday I thought it looked like a nice easy activity which he would enjoy. So here are our […]

    Reply
  3. Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » Olympic Crafts: 20+ Crafts, Activities & Ideas to Inspire says:
    May 1, 2012 at 6:46 am

    […] certain that we will be seeing lots of fireworks at the end of celebrations. How about checking out Science Sparks and making some fascinating “Fireworks in a Glass”? Cool or […]

    Reply
  4. Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive New Year's Eve Crafts says:
    November 1, 2012 at 7:07 am

    […] fireworks? Fear not, this New Year’s Eve science craft will have your kids oohing and aahing: Fireworks in a Glass from Science […]

    Reply
  5. Fun Ideas for a Happy New Year at Best Blog for Kids Who Hate to Read says:
    December 28, 2012 at 9:01 am

    […] Fireworks in a Glass  […]

    Reply
  6. Another Firework in a Glass - Science Sparks says:
    October 24, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    […] made a firework in a glass before, but considering it’s almost bonfire night and my 3 year old is desperate to do […]

    Reply
  7. Ten Olympic Crafts for Kids says:
    February 18, 2014 at 11:00 am

    […] 10. Why not end things with a bang with fireworks in a glass? […]

    Reply
  8. 31st December | Around the World with the Kids says:
    December 30, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    […] silent underwater fireworks,make a wishing tree for New Year’s […]

    Reply
  9. 20 Firework crafts and treats roundup - Mum In The Madhouse says:
    November 1, 2015 at 7:33 am

    […] fireworks in a glass – Science sparks […]

    Reply
  10. Edubabble – How to teach … Guy Fawkes says:
    November 2, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    […] a bit of sparkle to your science lessons with some Guy Fawkes-themed experiments. You could try making a firework in a glass using water, oil and food colouring, or looking at the chemistry of fireworks and how they work. You’ll find more ideas […]

    Reply
  11. New Year's Eve Activities for Kids - TinkerLab says:
    December 25, 2015 at 6:07 am

    […] Science for Kids: Fireworks in a Glass, Science Sparks […]

    Reply
  12. Fizzy Science | Educational Activities says:
    October 30, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    […] 3. Firework in a glass […]

    Reply
  13. Easy Bonfire Night Party Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe and Instructions says:
    November 1, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    […] Fireworks in a Jar from Science Sparks […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

What are you looking for?

Snackable Science Book

Footer

ELF STEM Challenges
Catapult for Santa
Halloween Shadow Puppets
Halloween chia seed slime
TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

Copyright © 2019 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cookies are used on Science Sparks so that we may improve our site. These cookies feedback information to our analytics and advertisers. We use the information to track views of the site, where you go and to know if you are a regular visitor or brand new as well as provide a personalised experience where possible. You can switch off these cookies easily if you wish. Follow the Read More link for more information.OkRead more