The science of a Root Beer Float

What you need to know:
Matter is everywhere, even in a root beer float!
You can find solids, liquids and gasses in a root
beer float.
Solid: ice cream
Liquid: root beer
Gas: The ice cream and root beer mix and
create bubbles called carbonation. Those
carbonated bubbles are trapped gas.
Did you know states of matter can change?
A liquid becomes a solid when it freezes.
A solid becomes a liquid when it melts.
A gas becomes a liquid though the process of
condensation.
A liquid can become a gas through the
process of evaporation.
Can any of those changes happen in a root beer
float?
What you will do and learn:
You will understand the three types of matter
and observe these three states in a root beer
float. You will also discover whether the three
states of matter in a root beer float can change.





Materials needed:

❏5-ounce plastic cups (1 per
participant)
❏Root beer
❏Ice cream
❏Ice cream scoop
❏Spoons (1 per participant)



Instructions
1. Begin by using a small amount of hand
sanitizer.
2. Using the ice cream scoop, put a small
amount of ice cream in the cup.
3. Fill cup ¾ full with root beer.
4. Observe and discuss:
Can you identify the solid (ice
cream)? Liquid (root beer)? Gas
(fizzing and popping of air bubbles
on top of the root beer)?
What happens to the states of
matter when the ice cream melts?
Describe using the terms solid,
liquid and gas.
What happens to the states of
matter if we placed the cup in the
freezer? Describe using the terms
solid, liquid and gas.
Observe that when the ice cream and
pop mix, they create bubbles. Those
carbonated bubbles are trapped gas.