Ocean Currents in a Jar Lab | Science Experiment
Ocean Currents in a Jar Lab
You will create warm and cold water layers and watch how temperature drives movement — the same big idea behind real ocean currents.
What You Need
- 1 clear jar, bowl, or glass container
- Warm water (not hot)
- Cold water
- Food coloring (two colors if possible)
- Spoon or small cup for pouring
- Optional: ice cubes for making colder water
Safety
- Adults handle hot taps or kettle water.
- Warm water should be safe to touch.
- Protect surfaces from food coloring.
Required Action Steps
- Fill your container halfway with cold water.
- Add 2–3 drops of food coloring to the cold water. Stir gently.
- In a separate cup, prepare warm water and add a different color.
- Slowly pour the warm water into the container so it sits above the cold layer. Pour gently against a spoon or the side of the container.
- Watch for 60 seconds and observe how the colors move.
- Repeat the test using a bigger temperature difference (make the cold water colder with ice, or make the warm water slightly warmer but still safe).
- Compare the two results.