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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.
Plot the Dot: A Graphical Approach to Density
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In this activity, learners work in groups to determine the mass and volume of four samples: glass marbles, steel washers or nuts, pieces of pine wood, and pieces of PVC pipe.
Rainbow Density Experiment
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In this colorful activity (page 6 of the PDF), learners will make a multicolor density column by using different concentrations of sugar solutions.
How Can Gravity Make Something Go Up?
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In this activity, learners use cheap, thin plastic garbage bags to quickly build a solar hot air balloon. In doing so, learners will explore why hot air rises.
Linear Functions: Mystery Liquids
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In this math lesson, learners analyze the density of liquids in order to explore linear functions.
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.
Pressing Pressure
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In this activity, learners compare water pressure at different depths. Learners discover that water pressure increases with depth.
Submersibles and Marshmallows
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In this activity, learners discover the difficulty of ocean exploration by human beings as they investigate water pressure.
Weighty Questions
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In this activity about humans and space travel (page 1 of PDF), learners compare and contrast the behavior of a water-filled plastic bag, both outside and inside of a container of water.
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.
Gassy Lava Lamp
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In this activity, learners use oil, water, food coloring and antacid tablets to create a bubbling lava lamp. Use this activity to introduce concepts related to density, hydrophobicity vs.
Balloon Flinker
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In this activity, learners make a helium balloon "flink"--neither float away nor sink to the ground. Use this activity to introduce physics concepts related to gravity, density, and weight.
Float Your Boat
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In this physics activity, learners will explore buoyancy.
Oh Buoy!
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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.
Design a Submarine
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Learners act as engineers and design mini submarines that move in the water like real submarines.
Volcanic Material Catapult Investigation
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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.
What is in the Water?
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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.
Cooling Off
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In this activity, learners are introduced to challenges of maintaining temperatures while living in space.
Buoyancy Bulls-Eye
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In this hands-on activity, learners will construct a scuba diver that can float in order to explore how sea creatures stay neutrally buoyant in the ocean and to see what kinds of forces might be influ