Article Written by Isabella Granara
This capillary action experiment can take a little time but is totally worth it in the end. It will demonstrate to kids how celery stalks can carry water up their stems and to then to their leaves. This process mimics the way blood travels throughout the body and is super fun to try. It’s perfect for all ages and only requires a few items.
For this experiment you’ll need:
- Water
- Cup
- Celery
- Food coloring
Follow these steps:
- Fill your cup up with water about halfway.
- Drop a few drops of your favorite color of food coloring into your cup and mix.
- Cut the stalks of celery and stick them in the glass of water.
- Wait a few hours and see how the celery leaves change color!
Capillary Action
Plants carry nutrients from their roots up into their stems and then into their leaves for survival. Where humans have veins and arteries that carries blood throughout our body, plants have xylem. Celery is great for demonstrating capillary action because its stalk has a lot of xylem tubes. The food coloring in this experiment dissolves and moves with the water through these tubes into the stalk and therefore to the leaves.
For more information about capillary action and the experiment, visit Science World’s “Capillary Action”.
