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In this activity, learners visualize the differences in water density and relate this to the potential consequences of increased glacial melting.

Learners work in pairs to design, construct, and test a device that exhibits positive, neutral, and negative buoyancy. They test a number of different objects in water to see if they sink or float.

In this quick activity (located on page 2 of the PDF under GPS: Balloon Fiesta Activity), learners will see the effects of convection and understand what makes hot air balloons rise.

Learners act as engineers and design mini submarines that move in the water like real submarines.

Build a hydrometer (measures the density of a liquid) using a pipet or eyedropper.

In this activity, learners watch a figure "magically" float up through the air.

This activity (located on page 3 of the PDF under GPS: Lava Flow Activity) is a full inquiry investigation into the relationship between an object’s mass and the distance it is thrown by a catapult.

In this activity, learners use open inquiry to learn about the process of science as well as gain experience regarding the Law of Conservation of Mass, dissolution, and density.

In this activity, learners create a water prism to break light into the seven colors of the rainbow.

In this chemistry activity (on page 2 of the PDF), learners make a layered drink with liquids of different densities.

Learners assemble a hot-air balloon from tissue paper. The heated air (from a heat gun) inside the balloon is less dense than the surrounding air and causes the balloon to float.

In this quick activity, learners observe how salinity and temperature affect the density of water, to better understand the Great Ocean Conveyor.

In this chemistry activity, learners explore density by using four solids and 6 liquids to create colorful, layered rows.

Visitors observe a graduated cylinder with a golf ball floating about halfway in liquid. The bottom half of the cylinder contains a concentrated solution of salt.

In this activity (on page 4), learners create a submarine using a plastic sandwich bag. This is a fun way to learn about buoyancy and how captured gas can cause objects to float.

Learners observe a tank of water containing cans of diet and regular sodas. The diet sodas float and the regular sodas sink. All the cans contain the same amount of liquid and the same amount of air.

Learners investigate the properties of the liquids in two bottles. One contains layers of oil and water, and one contains oil, water, and soap.

In this activity about water solubility and density, learners use critical thinking skills to determine why water can dissolve some things and not others.

In this activity, learners identify different plastics in a mystery bag. Learners discover that plastics are classified #1 through #7.

Focus sound through a balloon! In this Exploratorium activity, you'll use dry ice to create a balloon that's a sound lens.