Small Liquid Oil Timer

Make watching the minutes pass both colourful and fun. Not only does this make an interesting addition to any desk, the Small Liquid Oil Timer is also the perfect accessory for games or activities that require timekeeping. Even if you don't have a particular use in mind, you'll probably find it oddly soothing to watch the coloured oil droplets make their journey to the bottom of the timer. 

This unique timer features coloured oil droplets in a surrounding liquid. Since the droplets have a higher density than their surrounding liquid they take advantage of gravity to wind their way down the timer's ramp. Pretty, practical, educational and a little bit hypnotic, this is the timer you need when a plain old stopwatch or smartphone timer just isn't special enough.

Age: 8+

What you get

One small liquid oil timer, 12cm tall, in a box.  Colours may vary from image.

How does it work

The droplets of colored oil are more dense than their surrounding liquid, so with the help of gravity they make their way down the timer's ramp to mark the passage of time. In addition to being more dense than their surrounding liquid, the oil droplets are also hydrophobic or 'water fearing' which guarantees they won't mix with the surrounding water based liquid and will instead remain intact as beads of oil. 

Teach

• Liquid densities
• Hydrophobia
• Time