Emily Miller (Bracey)
Forming a Hypothesis with the Density of Candy
Objective: The goal of this experiment is to show kids how to form a hypothesis,
or an educated guess about the density of candy bars. Things more dense than
water (like lots of sugar) will sink in water, but things that are less dense than
water will float. Two of the candies out of the five will float while the rest will
sink to the bottom. My students will make their predictions and then we will test
out our experiment!
Materials Needed: (Per Student)
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Small clear plastic cups
Miniature candy bars
Water
Pens
Paper
Blue and red crayons
Directions:
1. Create prediction papers by drawing a graph with three columns and five
rows.
2. Label columns: Candy, Prediction, and Sink or Float
3. Place a miniature candy bar in each row.
4. Fill each student’s plastic cup with water halfway.
5. Start with the first candy bar, Twix for example and ask the class whether
they think it is more dense than water, or if they think if will sink or float.
6. Have students write sink or float in prediction column.
7. Unwrap the Twix and place in the cup of water.
8. Observe the candy bar and see if it sinks or floats.
Emily Miller (Bracey)
9. In the sink or swim column write sink in red if it sunk, or write float in blue
if the candy floated.
10.Repeat steps five through nine until all of the candy bars have been used.
The candies with more air in them are less dense than water, allowing them
to float.
What we learned:
We learned that out of our five candies only two float because they are less dense
than the water. This is because they have more air in them because they have
less compacted sugar. We also learned how to make a hypothesis, prediction, or
educated guess.