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Changing the Density of a Liquid: Adding Salt
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Learners see that a carrot slice sinks in fresh water and floats in saltwater.

Comparing the Density of an Object to the Density of Water
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Learners compare the weight of equal volumes of wax, water, and clay. Learners discover that since the wax weighs less than an equal volume of water, it is less dense than water and will float.

Defining Density
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In this introductory demonstration and activity, learners are introduced to the concept of density as they explore a rock and a wooden block in water.

Changing the Density of an Object: Changing Shape
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Learners will see that changing the shape of an object, like a clay ball, that is more dense than water, can affect whether the object will sink or float.

Diet Light
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In this quick activity, learners observe how the added sugar in a can of soda affects its density and thus, its ability to float in water.

Bubble Tray
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In this activity, learners use simple materials to create giant bubbles.

Cartesian Diver
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In this demonstration, learners observe the effects of density and pressure. A "diver" constructed out of a piece of straw and Blu-Tack will bob inside a bottle filled with water.

The Liquid Rainbow
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Learners are challenged to discover the relative densities of colored liquids to create a rainbow pattern in a test tube.

Comparing the Density of Different Liquids
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Learners carefully pour vegetable oil, water, and corn syrup in any order into a cup and discover that regardless of the order they are poured, the liquids arrange themselves in layers the same way.

Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation
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In this activity, learners build a 1:140 "scale model" of NASA's X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Technology Demonstrator, and investigate how the model dimensions compare to the real vehicle.

Physics in the Kitchen: Sink or Swim Soda
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In the kitchen, learners can perform their own density investigation.

Ship the Chip
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In this activity, learners explore engineering package designs that meet the needs of safely shipping a product.

Hot Air Balloon
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In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer.

Buzzing Bee
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In this activity, learners explore sound by constructing an instrument toy that buzzes when you swing it.

What Causes Pressure?
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In this kinesthetic activity that demonstrates pressure, learners act as air molecules in a "container" as defined by a rope.

Aesop's Arithmetic
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In this activity (located on page 9 of the PDF), learners are introduced to Aesop's fable, "The Crow and the Pitcher." In the story, a clever crow drops pebbles into a pitcher to cause the water level

Handheld Water Bottle Rocket & Launcher
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In this activity, learners build handheld rockets and launchers out of PVC pipes and plastic bottles. Use this activity to demonstrate acceleration, air pressure, and Newton's Laws of Motion.

Mass, Area, Volume
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In this activity (page 18 of PDF), learners will measure the volume of impact craters created by projectiles of different masses.
Mystery Jars: Estimate Contents
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This activity puts a mathematical twist on the familiar “guessing jar.” No guesses allowed, estimates only.

Sink It
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Learners classify a variety of objects by their characteristics. They then design an experiment to determine which objects float or sink in water and add this characteristic to their classification.