Density: Make a golf ball float!

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In this activity (on page 2 of the PDF), the learner places a golf ball between salt water and colored fresh water. The golf ball is not as dense as the saltwater. Therefore, the ball floats on top of the saltwater. The colored fresh water is not as dense as the golf ball, so the ball sinks in the colored water. Eventually, the saltwater and the colored fresh water mix. As the waters mix, the ball will sink. This is a take-home version of the display Floating Golf Ball in the Nature of Matter unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. This in one of three activities in the Take Home guide for the Nature of Matter unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. The other two activities are Crystals and Layered Liquids.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • golf ball
  • water
  • salt
  • a tall, thin, transparent container slightly larger than the golf ball, for example a vase
  • food coloring
  • mixing container
  • stirring spoon
  • masking tape
  • pen

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Solutions
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
      • Liquids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Volume and Density

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation