Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Ready to make some raisins dance?? Although you won’t need to buy them dancing shoes, once you give your raisins some soda pop, they’ll start dancing for you with every bubble!

In this easy science experiment, your young scientists will learn about the effects of density and buoyancy. Below you will find a demonstration video, a supply list, and printable instructions. Suitable and fun for all ages.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• Clear Drinking Glass
• Clear Pop like Sprite or 7Up
• Raisins

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Gather your materials together and begin by pouring the pop into the cup. Pour until it is about 3/4 of the way full. 

As you are pouring the pop, take a moment to make observations. What did you notice as you poured the pop into the cup? Did you see anything interesting happen? Did you hear anything as you poured the pop into the cup?

What do you think will happen if you place the raisins into the cup? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then continue the experiment to test it out and to find out if you were correct.

Step 2 – Next, take a handful of raisins (approximately 10-15) and carefully place them into the cup. Then take a step back and look through the side of the cup to watch what happens.

Step 3 – What initially happened to the raisins? Did they sink to the bottom? Did they float to the top? As you observe the cup for a few minutes, did anything else happen? Was your hypothesis correct? 

Do you know what caused the raisins to “dance” and move up and down in the pop? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below. It also contains ideas on how you can expand on the experiment.

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Video Tutorial

Watch the Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Step by Step Instructions

How Does the Science Experiment Work?

Why Do the Raisins Dance?

When you first place the raisins in the soda, they sink to the bottom because the raisins are more dense than the soda.

Soda contains a gas called carbon dioxide. Tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide form in the soda and attach to the wrinkled surface of the raisins. When enough bubbles collect on a raisin, the bubbles help the raisin float upward.

The upward force that helps an object float in a liquid is called buoyancy. The bubbles make the raisins more buoyant, allowing them to rise to the top of the soda.

When the raisins reach the surface, some of the carbon dioxide bubbles pop and escape into the air. Without as many bubbles attached to them, the raisins become less buoyant and sink back to the bottom.

As the raisins sink, more carbon dioxide bubbles attach to them. The raisins rise again, and the process repeats. This makes the raisins look like they are dancing in the soda!

More Science Fun

Try this same experiment with objects that do not have a wrinkled surface like blueberries or grapes. Do they rise in the soda the same way the raisins did?

Instead of using soda like 7Up or Sprite, try using baking soda dissolved in water and vinegar. Dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda into a half cup of water. Add 6-7 raisins to the baking soda/water solution. Slowly pour a tablespoon of vinegar into the mixture and watch the raisins dance! (This version of the experiment could make a mess, so put your cup into a shallow dish, like a pie pan, before adding the vinegar).

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Print

Materials

• Glass Drinking Glass
• Clear Pop like Sprite or 7Up
• Raisins

Instructions

1. Fill the drinking glass with pop
2. Put in a handful of raisins
3. Watch the raisins “dance” and move up and down in the glass.