Activity 7.2
Comparing the density of an object to the density of water
How can you predict whether an object will sink or float in water?
In this activity, students use tealight candle holders and a student-made balance to compare the weight
of equal volumes of wax, water, and clay. Students then apply their understanding of density from
Activity 7.1, to predict whether the wax and clay will sink or float. Students will discover that since the
wax weighs less than an equal volume of water, it is less dense than water and will float. And since the
clay weighs more than an equal volume of water, it is more dense and will sink.
Materials needed for each group
Water
1 Clear plastic cup or container
2 Tealight candles in metal containers
Ruler
Tape
Pencil
Permanent marker
Clay
Notes about the materials
Be sure you and the students wear properly fitting goggles.
It may be difficult for students to pour water into the small metal container of a tealight candle.
Using a small cup or a squirt bottle filled with water makes filling this small container easier.
● It is best to use tealight candles in which the wax comes all the way to the top and has a flat surface. Some have rounded tops, which make it difficult to match the height of the wax with an equal height of water in another container.
●
●
Preparing materials
E
ach group will need 1 ball of clay. Roll the clay into a ball bigger than what will be needed to
completely fill the metal container of a tealight candle.
● If you plan to do this activity again, there is no need to pull the clay out of the metal containers.
Store the clay-filled containers in a plastic bag until the next use.
●
Activity sheet
Copy Activity sheet 7.2—Comparing the density of an object to the density of water, pp. 406–408, and distribute one per student when specified in the activity.
Assessment
An assessment rubric for evaluating student progress during this activity is on pp. 437–439. For this formative assessment, check a box beside each aspect of the activity to indicate the level of student progress. Evaluate overall progress for the activity by circling either “Good”,
“Satisfactory”, or “Needs Improvement”.
402 Investigation 7. Density
© 2007 American Chemical Society
Activity 7.2
Comparing the density of an object to the density of water
Question to investigate
How can you predict whether an object will sink or float
in water?
1. Have students construct a simple balance scale.
Distribute Activity sheet 7.2—Comparing the density of an object to the density of water. Tell
students that in order to predict whether an object will sink or float in water, they will have to
know about the density of the object compared with the density of water. Tell students that a balance scale,
like the kind they will make, will help them compare these densities.
Procedure
1. T
ape the pencil down as shown. Roll two small pieces of tape so
that the sticky side is out. Stick each piece of tape to the opposite
ends of the ruler.
2. R
emove both candles from their
metal containers. Place an empty
metal container on each piece of
tape. Be sure that the edge of the
metal container lines up with the
end of the ruler as shown.
3. Lay the ruler on the pencil so that it
is as balanced as possible. (Don’t worry if you can’t make it
balance exactly.) The spot on the ruler directly above the
center of the pencil is your balance point. Mark the ruler with
a pencil or permanent marker at this point.
© 2007 American Chemical Society
Investigation 7. Density 403
2. Have students compare the weight of equal volumes of wax and water.
Procedure
1. C
arefully place one of the candles back into its metal container
on one end of the ruler. Make sure the same balance point is
directly over the center of the pencil.
2. C
arefully pour water into the metal container on the other end
of the ruler. Be sure to fill the container with water to the same
height as the wax fills the other container.
Note: If using a tealight candle with a rounded top, judge how much
water to add to the other candle container. This extra volume of wax
should be taken into account and a little extra water should be added to attempt to match the actual volume of the wax.
Expected results: The water weighs more than an equal volume of wax and is therefore more
dense than wax.
3. Discuss student observations.
Ask students the following questions:
● Which weighs more, the wax or an equal volume of water?
● Which is more dense, wax or water?
4. Ask students to predict whether wax will sink or
float in water.
Once students have made a prediction, ask them to explain their
reasoning. Then have students test their prediction by placing the
wax in a cup of water.
Expected results: The wax floats in water. This is because
wax is less dense than water.
Remind students that the density of an object has two parts: the volume of the object and how much the
object weighs. Tell them that they weighed the same volume of wax and water. Since the wax weighed less
than an equal volume of water, the wax is less dense. When students put the wax in water, they noticed
that it floated. Objects that are less dense than water will float. The density of an object compared with the
density of water will determine whether or not an object will sink or float.
404 Investigation 7. Density
© 2007 American Chemical Society
5. Have students determine whether clay will sink or float in water.
Procedure
1. S
et up the ruler balance with the empty metal containers on each end.
Check your balance point.
2. F
ill one metal container with clay and replace it on the end of the
ruler. Make sure the balance point is centered on the ruler.
3. Slowly and carefully add water to the empty container until it is filled.
Expected results: The clay weighs more than an equal volume of water and is therefore more
dense than water.
6. Discuss students’ observations and ask them to
predict whether clay will sink or float in water.
Ask students questions like the following:
Which weighs more, the clay or an equal volume of water?
●
Which is more dense, clay or water?
● Do you think clay will sink or float in water? Why?
●
Students should have some clay left over after filling the metal container.
Have students test their prediction by placing this left-over piece of clay in
a cup of water.
Expected results: The clay sinks in water. This is because clay is more dense than water.
Note: If some students suggest that the clay could be made to float by changing its shape, tell them that
they will investigate the effect of changing an object’s shape in Activity 7.7.
7. Have students explain, in terms of density, why a very heavy object like a log floats
and why a very light object like a pebble sinks.
Ask students:
●
Use what you know about density to explain why a heavy object like a log floats and why a very
light object like a pebble sinks.
●
How could you predict whether or not an object will sink or float?
Students should recognize that a log will float because wood is less dense than water. If you could weigh a
large amount of water that has the same volume as the log, the log will weigh less than the water. Therefore,
the log floats. A pebble will sink because rock is more dense than water. If you could weigh a small amount
of water that has the same volume as the pebble, the pebble will weigh more than the water. Therefore, the
pebble sinks.
Students should realize that if an object weighs more than an equal volume of water, it is more dense and
will sink; and if it weighs less than an equal volume of water, it is less dense and will float.
© 2007 American Chemical Society
Investigation 7. Density 405
Student activity sheet
Name:_ ______________________________
Activity 7.2
Comparing the density of an object to the density of water
How can you predict whether an object will sink or float
in water?
Procedure
Build a balance
1. Tape the pencil down as shown. Roll two small pieces of
tape so that the sticky side is out. Stick each piece of
tape to the opposite ends of the ruler.
2. Remove both candles from their metal containers.
Place an empty metal container on each piece of
tape. Be sure that the edge of the metal container
lines up with the end of the ruler as shown.
3. Lay the ruler on the pencil so that it is as balanced as
possible. (Don’t worry if you can’t make it balance exactly.) The spot on the ruler directly above the center of the
pencil is your balance point. Mark the ruler with a pencil or permanent marker at this point.
Compare the weight of wax and water
4. Carefully place one of the candles back into its metal
container on one end of the ruler. Make sure the same
balance point is directly over the center of the pencil.
5. C
arefully pour water into the metal container on the other
end of the ruler. Be sure to fill the container with water to
the same height as the wax fills the other container.
Which is heavier, the wax or the water? _ ______________________________________
Make a prediction. Do you think the wax will float or sink in water?_________________
406 Investigation 7. Density
© 2007 American Chemical Society
Student
activity sheet
Activity 7.2
Name:_ ______________________________
Comparing the density of an object to the density of water
(continued)
6. Pour water into a plastic cup until it is about 3/4 filled. Then place the wax in the water to find out whether it
sinks or floats.
Write the word “floats” or “sinks” on the line beneath the illustration to describe what happens when you place the wax
candle in water.
Compare the weight of clay and water
7. Set up the ruler balance with the empty metal containers
on each end. Check your balance point.
8. F
ill one metal container with clay and replace it on the
end of the ruler. Make sure the balance point is centered
on the ruler.
9. S
lowly and carefully add water to the empty container
until it is filled.
Which is heavier, the clay or the water? _________________________________________
Make a prediction. Do you think the wax will float or sink in water? _ ________________
10. You had some clay left over after filling the metal container.
Place that piece of clay in the water to find out whether clay
sinks or floats.
Write the word “floats” or “sinks” on the line beneath the illustration to describe what happens when you place the clay in water.
You made sure that you poured the same amount of water as wax
and the same amount of water as clay. Since the amount of space
each material took up was the same, you compared equal volumes
of wax and water and equal volumes of clay and water. “Equal volume” is a more accurate way of saying the “same amount”.
© 2007 American Chemical Society
Investigation 7. Density 407
Student activity sheet
Name:_ ______________________________
Activity 7.2
Comparing the density of an object to the density of water
(continued)
Density has two parts: the amount of space a substance takes up (volume) and the weight
of the substance. If something is more dense than water it will sink, and if it’s less dense
than water it will float.
1. Fill in the blanks below with “more dense” or “less dense”.
● If a substance weighs less than an equal volume of water, it is__________________ than water.
If a substance weighs more than an equal volume of water, it is__________________ ●
than water.
Whether or not an object sinks or floats in water has to do with its density compared to the
density of water.
2. Fill in the blank with “float” or “sink” to help predict if an object will float or sink.
● If a substance is more dense than water, it will_ _____________________________.
● If a substance is less dense than water, it will _______________________________.
3. An ice cube will float in a cup of water.
hat would you expect if you compared the weight of the ice cube to the weight of an
W
equal volume of liquid water?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Use evidence from your experiment to justify your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
408 Investigation 7. Density
© 2007 American Chemical Society