(#09) Floating and Sinking
Baby oil floats on rubbing alcohol, which floats on corn oil, which floats on water. Why do they float in that order? A candle sinks through these layers until it floats on corn oil. Why won't it sink further? Your students will discover the physics behind these phenomena by measuring mass, displacing volumes and calculating densities. They'll measure weight and buoyancy on spring balances they build themselves. In time they'll experience, like Archimedes, that flash of understanding: Eureka! Floaters float and sinkers sink because they both are buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the water they displace.
(#09) FLOATING & SINKING is part of our Self-Directing Task Card Series. It is a 64 page soft-bound book organized into three main parts:
INTRODUCTION
* A TOPS Model for Effective Science Teaching * Getting Ready * Gathering
Materials * Sequencing Task Cards * Long Range Objectives * Review / Test
Questions
TEACHING NOTES (24 lessons)
* Density of Water * Density of Other Liquids * Liquid Pairs * Predicting
Layers * Dunk the Candle * Specific Gravity * Float the Candle * How Now,
Brown Dowel * The Natural Order * Overflow Cup * Density Math * Clay Boat
* Neither Here Nor There * Three Clay Bodies * Spring Scale * Fresh Water
Weigh-Ins * Salt Water Weigh-Ins * Archimedes' Principle * Hydrometer (1)
* Hydrometer (2) * Thin Blue Line * Melting and Freezing * Fire and Water
* Floating in Air
REPRODUCIBLE LINE MASTERS
* 24 Open-Ended Task Cards * Weight Scale * Hydrometer Scales
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(#09) FLOATING & SINKING requires no special lab equipment other than 10 mL and 100 mL graduated cylinders and gram balances. (The TOPS balances improvised in #05 Weighing work beautifully.) Just photocopy the 24 task cards, gather simple materials (like baby food jars, straws, clay and birthday candles), and you're ready to explore TOPS Learning Systems hands-on.
GRADE RANGE: 7-12
ORIGINS: written by Ron Marson / illustrated by Peg Marson / copyrighted
in 1995
by TOPS Learning Systems / ISBN 0-941008-79-7
ORDERING: Please print a copy of our order form, which lists all our titles. Use this form (or scratch paper) to track your ordering preferences as you browse our website.
#09 Floating and Sinking @ $11.00
#SS109 10 mL Graduated Cylinder @ $3.50
#SS110 100 mL Graduated Cylinder @ $4.25
#SS111 Digital Gram Pocket Scale @ $14.50 (optional)
