American Chemical Society
Inquiry in Action: Changing the Density of a Liquid: Adding Salt
In this activity, students will see that a carrot slice sinks in fresh water and floats in saltwater. Considering the placement of the carrot slice in water and salt water, students will infer that the density of salt water must be...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Blossoms: Will an Ice Cube Melt Faster in Freshwater or Saltwater?
Engage students in the study of the ocean and saltwater with these activities. Students will see that saltwater has different physical properties than freshwater - mainly density. This lesson can serve as a springboard into other...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Density of Salty Water
An experiment to test what happens when ocean water hits a freshwater estuary. Each step is demonstrated with photographs and the difference between salinity and density is explained.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: How Dense Is Salt Water?
Disappearing Wetlands: Explore the relationship between mass, density, and salinity by measuring the mass and volume of four saltwater solutions of increasing strength.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Density Differences
Learners investigate differences in ocean water density, and record density data from salt, ice, and hot water samples in their notebooks. Students then simulate ocean water temperature levels in a simulation.
![University of California: Seawater Density & Salinity [Pdf] Handout](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "University of California: Seawater Density & Salinity [Pdf] Handout")
University of California
University of California: Seawater Density & Salinity [Pdf]
Describes the properties of seawater and the variations depending on its location, e.g., near a shoreline, in an estuary, or as sea ice. Discusses the instruments scientists use to measure the density of water and explains other...
SEDL
Oceans [Pdf]
This large PDF file integrates math, science, and language into several lessons about characteristics of the oceans. Topics include ocean currents, tides, density, marine life, and pollution.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Discovering Density Through Lava Lamps
Learners first predict, then mix several liquids and then add salt to the mix, simulating a lava lamp.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Ocean Currents
Students map the patterns of the major ocean currents, and learn about the influences of wind, water temperature, landmasses, and water density on currents.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Ocean Currents Change Our Earth
Middle schoolers learn about the factors that drive ocean currents by measuring the density of ocean water and tap water.
US Navy
Onr: Saltwater vs. Freshwater, Which Is Denser?
This site contains an experiment on how to find out which has more density -- freshwater or saltwater.
Utah STEM Foundation
Utah Stem Action Center: Floating on the Great Salt Lake
Through exploring the phenomenon that it is easier to float on salt water than on fresh water, students will develop a conceptual model for molecules and how the arrangement of molecules affects density.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Go With the Flow: An Ocean Currents Game
You are in a submarine and need to fix the currents to take you where you want to go. You want to get the key to the treasure chest full of gold!
University of Southern California
Usc: The Composition of Ocean Water
This site gives background information to ocean water and its contents. It has a link to an detailed chart showing the minerals and their content amount in ocean water. It also has links to activities.