Name: Kolbe Date:
go thru class link-----> Student Exploration: Density Laboratory ( pg. 1 of 4)
PLEASE ANSWER BY HIGHLIGHTING YOUR ANSWER OR WRITE IN A CONTRASTING COLOR
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Of the objects below, circle (
drawing tool.
✏️) the ones you think would float in water. Click on the image and select EDIT to use the
2. Why do some objects float in water, while others sink in water? Some objects float because they are more dense and
others sink because they are least dense.
Objects float in water when it is more dense than the water. Therefore, the water weighs less than the object
does.
Objects sink in water when it is least dense then the water. Therefore, the water weighs more than the object
does
Gizmo Warm-up
The Density Laboratory Gizmo allows you to measure a variety of objects, then drop them in
water (or other liquid) to see if they sink or float.
1. An object’s mass is the amount of matter it contains. Mass can be measured with a
calibrated scale like the one shown in the Gizmo. Drag the first object onto the Scale. (This is
object 1.)
What is the mass of object 1? 19.5 grams
2. An object’s volume is the amount of space it takes up. The volume of an irregular object can be measured by how
much water it displaces in a graduated cylinder.
A. What is the initial volume of water in the cylinder? 400 ML or 0.0 cm
B. Place object 1 into the cylinder. What is the volume in the cylinder now? 414.2 ML or 14.2 cm
C. What is the volume of the object? 14.2 cm
Note: While milliliters (mL) are used to measure liquid volumes, the equivalent unit cubic centimeters (cm3) are used for
solids. Therefore, write the volume of object 1 in cm3. ( use Ctrl + “.” to show the exponent 3)
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Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● Drag object 1 back to the shelf.
Float or sink?
● Check that Liquid density is set to 1.0 g/mL.
1. Observe: Experiment with the different objects in the Gizmo. Observe the mass and volume of each object, then drag
it into the Beaker of liquid to see if it floats or sinks. (Notice a pin holds objects in the graduated cylinder, whether
they sink or float.) Try to determine what the floating objects have in common and what the sinking objects have in
common.
2. Form hypothesis: Compare the floating objects, then do the same for the sinking objects.
A. What do the floating objects have in common?
B. What do the sinking objects have in common?
3. Collect data: Measure the mass and volume of objects 1 through 12, and record whether they float or sink in the table
below. Leave the last column blank for now.
Object Mass (g) Volume (cm3) Float or sink? Find the object's density ( D = Mass / Volume)
1 19.5 14.2 sink 1.37
2 11.1 9.7 sink 1.14
3 4.3 5.6 floats 0.76
4 134.8 7.8 sink
5 3.9 3.5 sink
6 78.7 29.2 sink
7 2.3 20.8 floats
8 24.4 25.7 floats
10
11
12
4. Analyze: Look carefully for patterns in your data.
A. Does mass alone determine whether an
object will float or sink? Explain:
B. Does volume alone determine whether an
object will float or sink? Explain:
C. Compare the mass and volume of each
object. What is true of the mass and volume
of all the floating objects? (What's the pattern?)
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D. What is true of the mass and volume of all
the sinking objects? (What's the pattern?)
5. Analyze: Compare the density of each object to the density of the liquid, 1.0 g/mL. This is the density of
water.
A. What do you notice about the density of the
floating objects?
B. What do you notice about the density of the
sinking objects?
6. Draw conclusions: If you know the mass and volume of an object, how can you predict whether it will float
or sink in water?
8. (HIGHLIGHT THE CORRECT CHOICE) -- Because we can MEASURE the mass and volume to find
density, this makes density a:
a) Physical Property of Matter OR b) Chemical Property of Matter
Extension: Get the Gizmo ready:
King Hieron’s ● Drag all the objects back onto the shelf.
crown ● Set the Liquid density to 1.0 g/mL.
Introduction: In the third century B.C., King Hieron of Syracuse asked the famous mathematician Archimedes
to determine if his crown was made of pure gold. This was a puzzling problem for Archimedes—he knew how
to measure the weight of the crown, but how could he measure the volume?
Archimedes solved the problem when he got into his bath and noticed the water spilling over the sides of the
tub. He realized that the volume of the displaced water must be equal to the volume of the object placed into
the water. Archimedes was so excited by his discovery that he jumped out of the bath and ran through the
streets shouting “Eureka!” ( Greek word meaning “ I’ve found it”)
Question: How can you tell if a crown is made of solid gold?
1. Think about it: Gold is one of the densest substances known, with a density of 19.3 g/cm3. If the gold in the
crown was mixed with a less-valuable metal like bronze or copper, how would that affect its density?
2. Observe: Drag each of the crowns into the liquid. Based on what you see, which crown do you think is
densest? Explain why you think so.
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3. Measure: Find the mass, volume, and density of each of the three crowns.
Crown Mass (g) Volume (cm3) Density (g/cm3)
A
B
C
4. Draw conclusions: Which of the three crowns was made of gold? Explain:
5. COMPLETE THE ASSESSMENT BELOW THE SIMULATION. Just put in your answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How many of the 5 did you get correct?
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