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Name: Harvey
Status: educator
Grade: n/a
Location: CT
Country: USA
Date: Spring 2012
Question:
I am trying to create a teaching tool that shows how blood separates in a centrifuge. I want to be able to shake up three liquids in a sealed jar and then have them separate into three component levels after a minute or so--like blood does in a centrifuge. I can do this with water and red food coloring (representing red blood cells) and vegetable oil (representing blood plasma), but I can't figure out what a third white liquid or substance (representing white blood cells) would be. Any ideas?

Replies:
How about a fine sand? I know it's not a liquid, but it will suspend readily, and settle slowly... and cells aren't a liquid either...

Hope this helps, Burr

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