Activity
Osmotic Pressure Experiment
Cherries usually burst with flavor, but in this science experiment they burst with osmotic pressure. Help your child grasp a new science concept in this science activity that will blow your curious kid's mind!
What You Need:
- Cherries (ripe Bing cherries work best)
- Glass bowl, water
- Paper, pencil
- Plastic lid to cover bowl
What You Do:
- Have your child make a hypothesis of what she thinks might happen to cherries if they are left overnight in a bowl of water. She might think they would shrivel and wrinkle, for example, or she might hypothesize that water will not affect the cherries. Making a hypothesis is an important part of the scientific method.
- Have your child draw “before” pictures of cherries so she can compare them to what the cherries will look like after being soaked in water.
- Have your child place 2 or 3 ripe cherries in the glass bowl and fill the bowl with tap water. Leave the cherries in the bowl for about 8 hours (overnight, for example). Place the plastic lid on top of the bowl, which will add more humidity for the cherries.
- After the time has passed, look at the cherries. What changes does she notice? She’ll probably see some split seams and cracks in the cherries, which have “burst” a bit after soaking in water.
- Next, have her draw an “after” picture of the cherries. Recording the results of an experiment is also an important part of the scientific method.
- Explain to your child why the cherries burst: the cherry soaked up water through tiny pores. This is called “osmosis” and is the way that plants absorb water, but water cannot get out through the same tiny pores it came in from. The water builds up inside the cherries, and the pressure it created, called “osmotic pressure,” caused the cherries to burst open. Farmers have observed this effect in cherries even in rain or high humidity!
Related learning resources
All About Air Pressure
Science project
All About Air Pressure
The goal of this science fair experiment is to demonstrate the effects of air pressure on objects and analyze applications of air pressure principles.
3rd grade
Science project
Balloon Air Pressure Magic
Activity
Balloon Air Pressure Magic
Get your sense of humor ready for this fun science experiment that demonstrates the fundamental physics of air pressure.
3rd grade
Science
Activity
Barometric Pressure
Science project
Barometric Pressure
Science fair project examining barometric pressure, and how it can be used to predict the weather. How does atmospheric pressures relate to weather conditions?
3rd grade
Science
Science project
Triboluminescence Experiment
Activity
Triboluminescence Experiment
Stir up some enthusiasm for experimentation with this candy-cracking science experiment!
3rd grade
Science
Activity
How Does Pressure Change Minerals?
Science project
How Does Pressure Change Minerals?
In this science fair project, students learn how pressure can make the minerals in a rock line up in the same direction and form bands and foliation.
1st grade
Science project
Transpiration Experiment
Science project
Transpiration Experiment
In this enlightening transpiration experiment, kids will explore how the loss of water from plants through transpiration contributes to the water cycle.
3rd grade
Science project
Sunscreen Experiment
Activity
Sunscreen Experiment
Try this experiment to find out.
3rd grade
Science
Activity
Ivory Soap Experiment
Science project
Ivory Soap Experiment
In this classic Ivory soap experiment, kids learn what happens to different types of soap in the microwave, and why!
3rd grade
Science
Science project
Capillary Action Experiment
Science project
Capillary Action Experiment
No...it's the amazing, gravity-defying capillary action experiment! Kids will love this dramatic and enlightening science fair project.
3rd grade
Science project
Melting Ice Experiment
Science project
Melting Ice Experiment
Kids will find out by performing this cool melting ice experiment.
3rd grade
Science project
Gymnosperms: Pine Cone Experiment
Science project
Gymnosperms: Pine Cone Experiment
Check out this simple pine cone experiment to learn about the process!
3rd grade
Science project
Make Gak: Experiment with Polymers
Activity
Make Gak: Experiment with Polymers
In this 3rd grade science activity, you'll experiment with the little-known fourth state of matter: polymers! Mix borax with white glue and watch what happens.
3rd grade
Science
Activity