Floaters and Sinkers: Curricular Unit

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Author:

Mary R. Hebrank

Subject:

Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Duke University

Collection:

TeachEngineering

Grade Level:

Secondary

Abstract:

This curricular unit introduces students to the important concept of density. The focus is on the more easily understood densities of solids, but students can also explore the densities of liquids and gases. Students devise methods to determine the densities of solid objects, including the method of water displacement to determine volumes of irregularly-shaped objects. By comparing densities of various solids to the density of water, and by considering the behavior of different solids when placed in water, students conclude that ordinarily, objects with densities greater than water will sink, while those with densities less than water will float. Students then explore the principle of buoyancy, and through further experimentation arrive at Archimedes' principle, which states that a floating object displaces a mass of water equal to its own mass. They may also be surprised to discover that a floating object displaces more water than a sinking object of the same volume.

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

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Resources may be used on a nonprofit, non-commercial basis by educators, without any fee or cost to access, link to and use, or in any manner alter, revise, copy, edit, translate or digitize.

Copyright Holder:

Duke University