And its sunk – Absorption

The full effect of wonder when a sponge moves over a wet surface and leaves it dry is best experienced for the first time as a child. So just what is it about the sponge that allows it to make the fluid disappear from sight? It is the property of absorption. The sponge has a million little holes into which the liquid seeps in and allows the surface to get dried up. And here is a fund science experiment for you to do using the same principle of absorption.

Take a hollow dish about 5 inches tall and a piece of sponge. In the dish add some water to cover about 4 inches height and put the piece of sponge gently into it on top of the water. Does it sink or does it float? It will float. Then after five minutes take a look at the same sponge is it floating or has it sunk? It will have sunk. Or at least it would be closer to the bottom of the dish than to the top.

Why did this happen? Because the piece of sponge is absorbing the water as it is kept afloat on the water. Then it gradually becomes heavier as the volume of water in the sponge increases and now it can no longer float on the water and begins to sink. This is why it will gradually sink to the bottom of the dish. Try out some more science experiments here.