Squidycartesian Diver

This fun version of the Cartesian diver is a colorful friendly squid named Squidy that you assemble and test yourself using the components of the kit. Learn about fluid dynamics and the concept of density and pressure as you make Squidy swim up and down inside a plastic soda bottle just by squeezing it. Kids can’t help but ask, “How does that work?” Detailed instructions explain the science behind the fun. Squidy is a fun, educational, and hands-on toy kit for the engineering and marine biology-minded scientist. Science Principles explored in this kit: Physics, fluid dynamics NOTE TO PARENTS: This is a great kit for kids who like to build things themselves. The easy to follow instructions (pictures are included) will help your young scientist develop science smarts and confidence alike. The hands-on nature of the calibrating of the instruments is precisely the kind of science work that scientists do every day. Squidy is a great way to introduce kids to concepts of density, pressure, and fluid dynamics, as the visual and hands-on nature of the project will make these concepts come alive. Squidy LEARN MORE! A lot of science is based on finely tuning (scientists say calibrating) the precise instruments that they use to perform their experiments. In this kit, you’ll be doing exactly that, almost exactly like the scientist who originally thought of this experiment. His name was René Descartes, and he lived in France in the 1600s and made many contributions in math, science and philosophy. Your kit improves on Descartes’ design because it isn’t made of delicate glass vials that can easily break, and besides, your version is a cool, colorful, glittery squid! After you make your Squidy diver using the kit, you’ll “finely tune” it to have just the right amount of water. Amazing! Someone really should be paying you for your awesome science skills. Afterward, have fun with the science toy you built yourself. It works because of the small amount of air in the Squidy diver. Air compresses much more easily than water (a liquid) or solid things, so when you squeeze the bottle, the air in the diver shrinks down into a smaller space (you’ll be able to see the water level in the diver rise.) This makes the diver seem heavier (it is more dense) and it shoots to the bottom of the bottle. Cool! Your instructions have even more information. Have fun! Ages 8 and up