Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi. We have added a twist to the candle and water experiment by using liquids with different densities. What we have seen is that liquids with low densities like oil rises higher in the beaker than liquids with lower densities. Why is this?

Hi CharmaineM,
I am sorry to say that I am not familiar with this experiment and can't seem to locate it on the sciencebuddies site. Can you post the link to it please?

In regards to your question, I can only try to answer in very general terms. Liquid with a higher density than water will sink while liquid with a lower density than water will float. When you place an object, in this case wax, the liquid exerts a buoyant force and, depending on the density of liquid, the height of the "float" will occur at different spot in the beaker.

Please take a look at this:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/phy ... le-article

Hopefully, I am not too far off from what you are trying to do in your experiment.
Good Luck and please post again if we can be of any further help.
Willey