Fun with Gelatin!

With darkened days we tend to retreat to comfortable surroundings often spending more time in the kitchen creating delectable goodies to carry us through. It takes a hardened soul to turn away from the fruity flavor of jello salads and gumdrops. Ever play with the sweet stuff? Here are a couple of ideas to try (just promise you’ll help with clean-up when you’re done).

Gelatin Stalagmites
Who knew geology formations could be found using physics and a little kitchen wizardry?

What you need:
Balloon (inflated with any old air)
Gelatin (flavored or unflavored)
Bowl or baking dish
Something made of wool (or your own hair)

What to do:
Blow up your balloon and tie it off. Pour your gelatin into the dish—don’t be shy, layer it up to an inch deep. Rub your balloon against the wool, not too hard; is your hair standing up yet? Now touch the balloon to the gelatin and gently lift the balloon. See the gelatin clinging to the balloon and dish? You may even see the gelatin fly up the balloon, cool huh?! The structures sticking up from the bottom of the dish are called stalagmites. Those that cling from the balloon are called stalactites (they have to hold on tight, get it?). What do you call a structure that bridges both dish to balloon? A column!

Obviously, this is static electricity at work, but it also lets us see some cave formations in the warmth of our own homes. Couple that with edible science and we all win!

Gelatin Gumdrops
Done with the balloon? Still want to have a little fun? Let’s try a little chemistry now.
What you need:
Gelatin (pick your favorite flavor!)
Baking dish
Medicine dropper
Fork
Water

What to do:
Pour the gelatin into the dish making sure it is about 1 inch deep. Using your medicine dropper filled with water add one drop of water to the gelatin. Once it is absorbed, add a second drop of water to the same spot making sure it gets absorbed. Continue until about 6 drops have been added. Using your fork, scoop under the spot and lift upward. You will find you’ve made a gumdrop. The gelatin mixed with sugar and flavoring has the unusual property of swelling and holding water in a network of protein fibers. The gumdrop you’ve made is actually a liquid suspended in a solid! Want a little more challenge? Use more or less water, what happens? Use unflavored gelatin, add coloring and your own flavorings to create a personalized treat.

These ideas come courtesy of Mr. Wizard, who definitely still has it! Want to be a wizard yourself? Help us plan this year’s science fair. Contact Amy Oliver (amyroliver@gmail.com) or Anca Stepan (ancastepan@gmail.com) who will teach you the spells. The science fair is coming quickly—6 April 2012!