Fig. 2.7. Create water layers by pouring water of a different temperature or salinity slowly down a stirring rod.
Image by Byron Inouye
Title
Further Investigations: Density, Temperature, and Salinity
Table of Contents
1. Simulate layers of water formed by differences in temperature and salinity.
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Prepare two 100 mL water samples, one of cold salt water and the other of warm fresh water. Add a different color of food coloring to each.
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Place the cold salt water into a beaker. To prevent mixing, slowly pour about 20 mL of the warm fresh water down a stirring rod or down the back of a spoon onto the cold salt water in the beaker (Fig. 2.7). Look for evidence of layering.
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Test different combinations of water temperature and salinity.
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Try to create three or more water layers in your beaker.
2. What do you think the relative density of the bag alone (empty of liquid) is in the Density Bags Activity? How might the density of the bag affect the results? Design an experiment to test your hypothesis.
