Egg Floating Experiment

This simple egg floating experiment is a great food science activity for kids. By comparing an egg in regular water and an egg in salt water, children can see how density changes whether an object sinks or floats.

This activity is part of our Food Science Experiments collection where you can explore kitchen chemistry, density, buoyancy, and other hands-on science activities connected to food.

What You Need

by Disha Khullar, India

• 2 eggs
• 1 glass of plain water
• 1 glass of water mixed with 3–4 tablespoons of salt

How to Do the Experiment

1. Fill two glasses with water.
2. Leave one glass with plain water.
3. Add 3–4 tablespoons of salt to the second glass and stir until it dissolves.
4. Place one egg into the plain water and observe what happens.
5. Place the second egg into the salt water and compare the result.

Another way to try the experiment is by using two larger containers. Fill both with water, then slowly add about 1 cup of salt to one container. Place an egg in each container and observe the difference.

What Happens?

The egg sinks in plain water because the egg is denser than the water around it. In the salt water, the egg floats because the salt makes the water denser. A denser liquid can support the egg more easily.

Why It Matters in Cooking

This experiment helps kids understand that adding ingredients can change the properties of a mixture. In cooking, salt does more than add flavor. It can affect texture, moisture, and how ingredients behave in liquids.

• Kids see that dissolved ingredients can change water
• They learn how density affects floating and sinking
• It connects science to kitchen ingredients they already know
• It builds comparison and observation skills

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Questions to Ask Kids

• Why did the egg sink in plain water?
• Why did the egg float in salt water?
• What changed when you added salt?
• Do you think more salt would make a difference?
• What other objects might float differently in salt water?

Ways to Extend the Experiment

• Compare different amounts of salt to see when the egg begins to float.
• Test other small objects in plain and salt water.
• Try warmer and colder water to compare results.
• Keep a simple science journal with predictions and results.

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