Welcome back the elementary-education-major side of Kat’s 9 Lives.

Today we are going to do an experiment to show young minds the importance of taking care of our bones…because bones keep us upright, and no one wants to look like this:

Just pretend that you are back in fifth grade for a minute as I walk you through the steps of the scientific method.

1. Question – How do different drinks affect our bones?

2. Hypothesis – We are often told that milk is good for our bones, and we are discouraged from drinking soda.  Therefore, we hypothesize that milk will strengthen bones and soda will weaken bones.

3. Experiment – For our experiment, we will soak eggs in three different liquids: 2% milk, Coca-cola, and distilled white vinegar.  Bones and eggs are both strengthened by calcium carbonate, so any affects to the eggs’ shells are similar to what would happen to a bone.

Supplies:

• 3 eggs
• 3 seal-able plastic containers large enough to hold an egg
• 2 % milk
• distilled white vinegar (although most people do not drink white vinegar, I included this liquid out of curiosity)
• Coca-cola
• Refrigerator
• Permanent marker
• Patience

Process:

• Place all three eggs in separate containers.
• Fill each container with a different liquid so that the egg is covered.
• Seal each container, and refrigerate for several weeks.

4. Analysis – Observe the eggs at different stages over the next few weeks.  I placed the eggs in their various liquids on March 1.  Here is how they looked on later dates:

• March 6

• April 3

• April 21

 

5. Conclusion –  This experiment proved that Coca-cola can effect the composition of bones (as seen by the bumpy substance that formed on the egg shell after a month of soaking).  This experiment did not prove that milk will strengthen bones.  There was no observable change to the egg soaked in milk.