Cornell University
Buoyancy
Swimmers know to float by turning their bodies horizontally rather than vertically, but why does that make a difference? In an interesting lesson, scholars explore buoyancy and the properties of air and water. They test cups to see which...
American Chemical Society
Finding Volume: The Water Displacement Method
We have formulas for finding the volume of geometric shapes, but what if the shape is irregular? Lesson describes how to find volume through water displacement. After a demonstration, scholars practice in small groups. Then analysis...
Exploratorium
Descartes' Diver
Pique interest in water pressure, demonstrate buoyancy, and explore water displacement concepts with a homemade Cartesian diver. You may want to change the name of the toy, however, as is is not documented the Rene Descartes actually...
Curated OER
2001 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Part III
Here is a comprehensive method for assessing chemistry learners' knowledge; have them approach two laboratory problems, plan their methods of solving each, and then actually carry out the experiments to find the answers. Both the...
DiscoverE
Foil Boats
How many pennies can an aluminum foil boat hold? That is the challenge in a collaborative activity designed to explore the concept of buoyancy. Learners use aluminum foil to build makeshift boats and test the weight they hold before...
Florida International University
Simulating Microgravity with Buoyancy
How do astronauts know how to live and work in a weightless environment? It doesn't come naturally! Junior physicists conduct experiments to examine the link between buoyancy and microgravity. Each activity illustrates a different aspect...
NOAA
Ocean Waves
Surf's up! What causes the constant motion of Earth's oceans? Scholars discover the origins and types of waves in part nine of a 13-installment series. The resource illustrates wave behavior, their destructive power, and current research...
Santa Monica College
The Density of Liquids and Solids
There are underwater rivers that flow on the ocean floor thanks to a difference in density. Scholars learn about the density in both liquids and solids in the second lesson of an 11-part series. They then determine the density of water,...
Balanced Assessment
Bathtub Graph
Represent the relationship between independent and dependent variables through a modeling situation. The activity expects learners to graph the volume of water in a bathtub during a given scenario. The graph should result in two areas of...
Teach Engineering
Density Column Lab - Part 1
Mass and density — aren't they the same thing? This activity has groups use balance beams and water displacement to measure several objects. The pupils use the measurements to calculate the density of the objects.
Curated OER
Water Experiment
Here is a great lesson designed for very young scientists. In it, they act out the famous Aesops fable, "The Crow and the Pitcher." In doing this, they get to experience water displacement first-hand. Some terrific extension activities...
Illustrative Mathematics
Computing Volume Progression 4
This resource was written for the younger math learner, but finding the volume of an irregular solid is also a problem for algebra and geometry students. Based on Archimedes’ Principle, one can calculate the volume of a stone by...
Curated OER
What Floats Your Boat?
This open-ended boat building exercise is meant to be part of a three-lesson series on ships. Links to the other two lessons are included. This particular part is mostly a group lab activity in which they build a boat, find its load line...
Curated OER
Volume Lab
How can we find volume if it a shape isn't easy to measure? Investigate methods for determining this as the volume of regular and irregular objects is explored in several stations. Learners discover that when the standard formula for...
Curated OER
Displacement of Water
To calculate the volume of a stopper by using the method of water displacement., students work with a web animation. They observe the method and then click a button to gather information about the calculations for the stopper dropped in...
Curated OER
Move that Tower
Students investigate ways to find the density of irregular shaped objects. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate density using its mass and volume. They explain why some objects float or sink in water.
Curated OER
Volume by Water Displacement
In this measuring volume learning exercise, students are given 2 diagrams for 24 problems. In the first diagram they are given a graduated cylinder with an initial volume of water. In the second diagram they are give a graduated cylinder...
Curated OER
Barge Building: What Floats Your Boat?
Students construct aluminum foil boats that float while holding the greatest number of pennies. They investigate the concept of water displacement, record their results, and watch a Bill Nye video on buoyancy.
Curated OER
Mass and Density of an Irregular Solid
In this physics worksheet, students determine the density of irregular solids using water displacement method to complete 7 problems and short answer questions.
Curated OER
Volume
In this volume lab instructional activity, students are guided through an experiment to determine volume of a liquid. Students determine water displacement. Students use a formula to calculate volume of a solid figure.
Curated OER
Rising Waters
Fourth graders rank balls by size from smallest to largest and from lightest to heaviest and then by how much they made the water rise. They then discuss why certain balls make the water rise higher than do other balls.
Curated OER
Concrete Canoes
Learners explore and analyze the relationship of buoyancy and displacement needed to make an object float. They examine various boat designs, then design and build clay and aluminum boats that hold a cargo of marbles.
Curated OER
Water Displacement to Determine Volume
Sixth graders explore the water displacement method to determine the volume of solid objects such as rocks, nails, and marbles.
Curated OER
Volume of Irregular Objects
Fifth graders experiment using a Meniscus. In this volume lesson, 5th graders identify the volume of irregular objects using the process of water displacement. Students record data and draw conclusions.