Disappearing Ink
What can be more exciting than secret codes?
Secret messages, of course!
The Y2 and Y3 students used two types of pens to create their secret messages. One was a regular pen. The other was a special pen. The students wrote their secret messages with the regular pen and then disguised it using the special pen.
The secret message was revealed when the paper was subjected to heat!
Okay, okay...the special pen isn't really special. It is a pen that uses a different kind of ink that you can easily erase. For this experiment, the students used Frixion Ball Pen manufactured by Pilot.
Secret messages, of course!
The Y2 and Y3 students used two types of pens to create their secret messages. One was a regular pen. The other was a special pen. The students wrote their secret messages with the regular pen and then disguised it using the special pen.
The secret message was revealed when the paper was subjected to heat!
Okay, okay...the special pen isn't really special. It is a pen that uses a different kind of ink that you can easily erase. For this experiment, the students used Frixion Ball Pen manufactured by Pilot.
Anything you write using pen can be erased by rubbing it with the eraser tip, just the way you use a regular pencil eraser. The rubbing causes friction, hence the name "Frixion" pen. Friction produces heat. That is the secret of this pen. The ink is actually heat sensitive! When rubbing, the heat sensitive ink heats up and disappears. Cool, huh!
Now, the eraser tip of the Frixion pen is not the only heat source that can be used to make the pen disappear. What other heat sources can be used? Hairdryers. Light bulbs. Lighters. Anything that is hot!
Don't believe me?
Let's investigate!
The EXPERIMENT: Disappearing Ink
Our Objective: To investigate if other sources of heat will erase the Frixion pen ink.
Our Materials:
Procedure:
TEST 1: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST ONE” using the Frixion pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST ONE”. What happens?
TEST 2: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST TWO” using the regular pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST TWO”. What happens?
TEST 3: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST THREE” using the Frixion pen. Use another heat source. In your Science Box, a lighter is provided. At home, you can try using a hair dryer or light bulb. Heat the area of the paper behind where “TEST THREE” is written. What happens?
EXTENSION: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST FOUR” using the Frixion pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST FOUR”. What do you think will happen if you put that same piece of paper in the freezer for about a minute?
After conducting the experiment, the students had loads of fun creating secret messages using the regular and Frixion pens.
Now, the eraser tip of the Frixion pen is not the only heat source that can be used to make the pen disappear. What other heat sources can be used? Hairdryers. Light bulbs. Lighters. Anything that is hot!
Don't believe me?
Let's investigate!
The EXPERIMENT: Disappearing Ink
Our Objective: To investigate if other sources of heat will erase the Frixion pen ink.
Our Materials:
- Frixion pen
- Regular pen
- Lighter
- Other heat sources such as hair dryers or light bulbs
- Paper
Procedure:
TEST 1: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST ONE” using the Frixion pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST ONE”. What happens?
TEST 2: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST TWO” using the regular pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST TWO”. What happens?
TEST 3: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST THREE” using the Frixion pen. Use another heat source. In your Science Box, a lighter is provided. At home, you can try using a hair dryer or light bulb. Heat the area of the paper behind where “TEST THREE” is written. What happens?
EXTENSION: On a piece of paper, write the phrase “TEST FOUR” using the Frixion pen. Using the eraser of the Frixion pen, rub out the phrase “TEST FOUR”. What do you think will happen if you put that same piece of paper in the freezer for about a minute?
After conducting the experiment, the students had loads of fun creating secret messages using the regular and Frixion pens.