Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Buoyant Bubble [Pdf]
Learn about density in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what makes an object float or sink. [PDF]
California State University
Csudh: Chemistry: Converting Densities
An exercise in converting densities expressed in the metric system.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Lab: That Sinking Feeling
Simple experiments dealing with water temperature and density that you can complete in the lab and at home.
University of California
Ucla K 6 Physics/astronomy: Mass, Weight, and Density
This website provides explanations of mass, weight, and density with directions for building simple scales and balances. Provided as encouragement to teach these concepts to young children, it offers a good review for older students.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: I Am Your Density
In this activity you will: Model data using a linear equation; interpret the slope and intercept values from a linear model; identify a characteristic property of a substance; and examine the relationship between mass, volume, and density.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: You're So Dense Ti 83
Students investigate the relationship between density of an object, its mass and its volume. They use mass and volume measurements to determine the density of pennies. They compare the density of pre-1983 and post-1984 pennies.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Ph Et: Interactive Simulations: Plate Tectonics
Students studying plate tectonics will better understand its concepts with this virtual experiment that tests how plates move on the surface of the earth. Temperature, composition, and thickness of plates can be changed to create new...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mineral Density: Teaching Accuracy, Slope, and Percent Error
Learners explore the meaning of density and use their math skills to graph mass/volume data, write an equation for a line, and interpret the slope of the line. Students also find the density of two unknown mineral samples and use those...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploring the Properties of Liquids, With an Emphasis on Density
Students experiment with liquids; comparing and contrasting, and creating a density tower leading to a beginning understanding of density.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Rainbow Challenge Lab
In this inquiry lab activity, students will attempt to layer 6 different kinds of soda pops in a large test tube using their knowledge of density and other physical properties of liquids.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Density of Solid Objects
In this science inquiry, students investigate whether volume or density of objects determine the floating or sinking in water. Using a rock and a block of wood teachers engage students in the discussion of density, mass and volume.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Density: Determined by Using Mass and Volume of a Substance
In this activity, students investigate the history of density, its uses, and applications. Students will generate and calculate data applying it to a graph. They will be looking at the relationship between mass and volume.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Density of a Penny
Students learn how to measure the volume and mass of an object and use that to compute density. They will then use that density to talk about experimental errors and accuracy of measurements.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Sinking and Floating Water
An experiment in density where colored water, both hot and cold, are poured into containers of water at room temperature. Students will observe that the warm water rises and the cold water sinks due to their different densities.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Solid and Liquid Density Investigation
For this activity, students investigate whether objects and liquids float or sink when placed in water. As they proceed, they will develop an understanding of what density is. Student handouts are provided.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Discovering Density Through Lava Lamps
Students first predict, then mix several liquids and then add salt to the mix, simulating a lava lamp.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Floating and Sinking: Density
This investigation introduces the concepts of volume, mass, and density and how they interact. Students will make predictions of whether an object will float or sink after finding mass and volume of an object.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Water Activity
Students investigate water by estimating how long it takes to freeze, then see if the ice cube will float in water, and eventually work with other items to see if they sink or float in water.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: "Does It Float?" an Inquiry Based Activity Investigating Buoyancy
This is an inquiry-based activity in which students will need to work together as a class to solve the following problem: they must construct a "boat" entirely out of modeling clay that is capable of supporting 150 grams of cargo without...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Charles' Law and Ivory Soap
With this activity students will observe and record the properties of various types of bar soap. They will discover that due to the ingredients some soaps are denser than others, and ivory soap will actually float. Students will see a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Sinking Water: Glaciers, Ocean Currents and Weather Patterns
A lesson where students learn how warm water is less dense than cold water, and what this means for global climate change as ice from the polar regions melts. Students will do experiments in buoyancy and water density when hot or cold,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Chromatography: Selecting Variables
In this lab, students will demonstrate observation skills as they design an experiment to separate colors of various water-based pens in order to learn about mixtures and solutions. Students will determine a variable to test and complete...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Floating Foods and Underwater Eruptions: An Exploration of Density
Students explore the concept of density by investigating how several solids and liquids interact. Through hands-on activities and a teacher demonstration, they develop a greater understanding of density by using their observational...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Density Differences
Students 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.