Density Stackers

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, learners investigate density as they discover how liquids separate to form density layers. Learners discover what happens when they add syrup, cooking oil, and water to a jar. They further investigate density by determining the locations where a piece of plastic, a grape, and a cork settle.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • 80-mL syrup
  • 1 glass jar
  • 80-mL cooking oil
  • 80-mL water
  • measuring cup
  • 1 small piece of plastic
  • 1 grape
  • 1 small cork
  • science journal

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Structure
      • Oceans and Water
  • Physical Sciences
    • States of Matter
      • Liquids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Mass and Weight
      • Volume and Density

Informal Categories

  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • NASA Center for Distance Learning, Office of Education at NASA’s Langley Research Center

Rights: