The Tricolor Glass
Most of us, if not all, know that if wine is carefully poured on water, it floats on the surface, but not every one knows how to place the wine at the bottom of the glass with the water above it, and this without mixing the two liquids. For this experiment make use of the different densities of hot and cold water.
Take an ordinary glass (moistened first with hot water to prevent its cracking) and pour some boiling water into it.
Then by means of a funnel placed almost to the bottom of the glass, pour in some wine which has previously been cooled by ice. By working carefully you will see the wine form in a red layer at the bottom of the glass ([Fig. 4]).
Fig. 4.—The wine at the bottom of the glass.
Fig. 5.—The tricolor glass.
Now gently remove the funnel, and pour on the surface a bluish liquid lighter than water (for instance, alcohol colored with ink) ([Fig. 5]).
You will now have a layer of blue on top, thus completing the tricolor glass, which will by the aid of a light project the three colors of the flag on the wall. The tricolor glass may also be used for illumination purposes.
To make it represent fireworks is even more entertaining.
If you allow the water in the glass to cool by placing it in a vessel containing cold water, the wine will rise from the bottom of the glass in the form of thin threads, strongly resembling rockets ([Fig. 6]).
The different liquids mix, and the descending columns of blue, mixed with the ascending columns of red, produce a curious spectacle like that of fireworks in a glass of water.
Fig. 6.—Water rockets.
Fig. 7.—Changing water into wine.