Little Scholars Workshop

This simple science experiment is set up in less than 10 minutes but is bound to keep a child engaged for much longer so be prepared with several squid cut-outs!

What is the Marangoni Effect?
The Marangoni effect is a neat science trick that happens when different liquids have different surface tensions. Here, the ink has a lower surface tension than water, which pulls the squid pictures forward when placed in water.

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Materials Needed

1. Pen Ink: You can use any washable ink.
2. Laminated Squid Pictures: Draw and laminate pictures of squids. (Or print)
3. Bowl: A wide, shallow bowl works best.
4. Water: Just use regular tap water.

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Step-by-Step Process

1. Prepare Your Bowl: Fill the bowl with water, leaving some space at the top.
2. Add Ink: Carefully drop a small amount of pen ink on the ends of the squid pictures
3. Add Squid Pictures: Place the laminated squid pictures on the surface of the water.
4. Watch and Learn: As the ink moves, watch how it pulls the squid pictures along. This is the Marangoni effect in action!

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Talking to Your Kids

Here are some simple answers to common questions your little ones might ask during the experiment:

• Why does the ink move?
• “The ink is trying to find a place where it feels comfortable, and it can pull the squids along with it!”
• Can we touch the water?
• “It’s best to keep our hands out to see what happens. We don’t want to disturb the squids!”
• Why do we use ink?
• “The ink helps us see the movement better. It’s like painting a picture as it moves!”
• What is surface tension?
• “Surface tension is like a special skin on top of water. It helps small things, like tiny bugs or drops of water, stay on the surface without sinking. Imagine if you could walk on water without falling in; that’s what surface tension does! It keeps things together on the top of the water.”
• Is this how real squid ink moves?
• “Yes! When squid release ink, it creates areas of different surface tension in the water, which can cause the ink to spread and move in interesting ways. So, when squid ink is released, the surface tension in the water affects how the ink floats and spreads.”

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What Part of STEM Is This?

This experiment falls under the category of Scientific Inquiry within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). It encourages observation, questioning, and experimenting—core elements of the scientific method. Kids learn about physics through hands-on activities, enhancing their understanding of fluid dynamics and surface tension. Ultimately, it helps kids learn about properties of liquids and how they interact with each other.