Going Fishing

Density

Lesson Plan
Guiding Question: W
​ hat makes an object sink or float?

Overview: ​In this simulation, students learn how the density of a material determines rather an object floats or sinks in
water. Additionally, students can create their own materials!

Learning Goals:

● Predict whether an object will sink or float in water based on its density—when an object is denser than water it
sinks, and when it is less dense it floats.
● Define density as the ratio of the mass of an object to its volume.
● Identify density as an intensive property that is unique for a given material at a given temperature.
● Observe that different states of matter have different densities.

Key Concepts: D
​ ensity, Matter, Mass, and Volume, Archimedes' Law, Buoyancy

Link to Simulation: ​https://interactives.ck12.org/simulations/chemistry/density/app/

Background Video
When you go fishing, you use bait to lure a fish onto your fishing line. But to do
this the fish has to see the bait first! Because most bait floats, it needs some help
sinking in the water so a fish will see it and bite it. Sinkers are used for just this
purpose. A sinker is attached to a fishing line in order to sink the hook and bait
down to the fish. Not all sinkers are created alike. Can you find a material or
create a material that would be a good sinker?

Teacher Guide | Page 1

 Simulation Overview

Materials or Make a Material Make a Material Options

This toggle allows you to test out different materials of Mass
known densities by clicking the ​Materials toggle. You can
This slider adjusts the mass of the material you are
also create your own material with any density using the
creating. Mass is the amount of matter or “stuff” present.
Make a Material​ toggle.

Volume
This slider adjusts the volume of the material you are
creating. Volume is the amount of space taken up by
matter.

Materials Options
Material
This slider adjusts the material attached to the fishing
line. Different materials have different densities.

Mass
This slider adjusts the mass of the material sample. Mass
is the amount of matter or “stuff” present.

Volume Graph of Mass vs. Volume

This slider adjusts the volume of the material sample.
This graph shows the density of the sinker attached to
Volume is the amount of space taken up by matter.
the fishing line. The dotted line at 1 g/mL indicates the
density of pure water. Click on a given point to see the
point’s coordinates and see the slope of the line.

Teacher Guide | Page 2

 ​Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ______________

Going Fishing
Density and Buoyancy

Exploration Questions

Challenge Me Questions 1-7: ​As you explore the simulation, answer the following questions.

1. What happens to the density of an object if the volume increases, but the mass stays the same?

The desnsity will decrease.

2. If a material has a high volume and floats in water, what can you do to the mass to make the object sink in water?

Increase the mass so that it sinks.

3. What would happen to the density of an object if the mass is increased, but the volume does not change?

The object would become more dense and sink in water

4. The density of honey is 1.42 g/mL. If you pour honey into a glass of water, would the honey float on top of the
water or sink to the bottom?

sink to the bottom.

5. What variable(s) affect whether or not the fishing weight will float?

The mass of the fishing weight

6. Can you determine the equation for density?

D=M/V or Density=Mass/Volume

7. What does the slope of the line on the graph represent?

Not sure

Exploration Worksheet | Page 1

 ​Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ______________

Check My Understanding

Questions 8-15:​ Circle the choice that best answers each question.

8. Which materials float on top of water. ​Hint: There 12. If the mass of an object is 2 g and the volume is
is more than one correct answer. 4 mL, will the object sink or float in water?
a. Rubber a. Float
b. Wooden Ball b. Sink
c. Ice
d. Egg 13. Which material has a density most similar to the
e. Granite density of water?
f. Titanium a. Rubber
b. Titanium
9. Which materials sink in water? ​Hint: There is c. Ice
more than one right answer. d. Egg
a. Rubber e. Granite
b. Wooden Ball f. Titanium
c. Ice
d. Egg 14. This simulation uses red dots to represent
e. Granite particles inside an object. As you increase the
mass of an object, what happens to the red dots
f. Titanium
inside the object and the density of the object,
respectively?
10. If the mass of an object increases, how must the a. The number of red dots decreases, and
volume change in order for the density of the the density increases
object to remain the same? The volume must
b. The number of red dots decreases, and
___________.
the density decreases
a. increase
c. The number of red dots doesn’t change,
b. decrease but the particles are more spread out,
c. stay the same and the density decreases
d. The number of red dots increases, so the
11. Do the blue dots on the graph represent an object particles become more closely packed,
that sinks or floats in the water? How do you and the density increases
know?
a. Floats because the blue dots are all 15. Which variable ​alone ​determines if an object will
above​ the line with a slope of 1 g/mL. sink or float?
b. Floats because the blue dots are all a. Shape of object.
below​ the line with a slope of 1 g/mL. b. Mass of object.
c. Sinks because the blue dots are all ​above c. Density of object.
the line with a slope of 1 g/mL.
d. Depth of water.
d. Sinks because the blue dots are all ​below
e. Volume of object.
the line with a slope of 1 g/mL.

Exploration Worksheet | Page 2