What Determines Whether an Object Floats or Sinks?
Overview: This lesson is designed to deal with misconceptions students have regarding whether an object floats or sinks. Students will initially work with mass and volume separately. From their simulation results, they should realize that neither mass nor volume alone determines buoyancy. They will then be led to the concept of density. The next section of the lesson has students manipulating the density of the liquid to help them recognize that floating and sinking is the result of the relationship between the densities of the two substances. Finally, an assessment piece is provided that requires students to apply their newly acquired knowledge to the Earth’s crust. Materials • Computer with internet access (I take my students to a computer lab so that each student has his or her own computer to use, however students could easily work in partners). • Student activity sheet. Note to Teachers • The use of simulations for this lesson will allow students to test several items in a short p
