The Mystery of Floating and Sinking
The Mystery of Floating and Sinking
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The Mystery of Floating and Sinking
What do you already know about why things float or sink?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will be able to investigate buoyancy, make predictions, conduct an experiment, record results, and explain why some objects float and others sink.
What is Buoyancy?
Buoyancy is the force that makes things float in water or other liquids. If an object is buoyant, it pushes back against gravity and stays above the water.
Forming a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a sensible guess about what will happen. Our hypothesis: 'Objects made of wood will float, while metal objects will sink.'
Prediction and Method
1. Collect objects (wooden stick, metal spoon, plastic toy, stone, apple). 2. Fill a tub with water. 3. Place each object in the water. 4. Observe and record what happens.
We predict if we put a wooden stick in the water, it will float. If we put a metal spoon in, it will sink.
Method
Prediction
Recording Results
Record in a table which objects float and which sink. Write down your observations carefully.
Results Table Example
Object | Prediction | Float or Sink? --- | --- | --- Wooden stick | Float | ____ Metal spoon | Sink | ____ Plastic toy | Float | ____ Stone | Sink | ____ Apple | Float | ____
Conclusion
Most objects floated or sank as we predicted. Things that are less dense than water float. Things that are more dense, like metal or stone, sink. Buoyancy helps us understand why boats float and rocks sink!
Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.
Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.
