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Worksheet
Curated OER

Why is the Ocean Salty?

For Students 6th - 10th
In this ocean salt instructional activity, students read about the processes that have lead to the salt content in the ocean. Then students complete 5 short answer questions.
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eBook
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Understanding Density and Buoyancy

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger resource called "Getting started in Chemistry," this page examines various topics related to density and buoyancy. Included in the study are definition of density and buoyancy, measurements, applications, and examples.
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Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Buoyancy

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive simulation that teaches about buoyancy and density by applying various forces and modifying the properties of objects and fluids. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and includes handouts, lesson...
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Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: General Science: Density

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on density as a physical property of matter. Discussion incorporates historical references as well as formulas. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the topic.
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Handout
University of California

University of California: Seawater Density & Salinity [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: "Does It Float?" an Inquiry Based Activity Investigating Buoyancy

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Density: Determined by Using Mass and Volume of a Substance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Eureka! Or Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore material properties in hands-on and visually evident ways via the Archimedes' principle. First, they design and conduct an experiment to calculate densities of various materials and present their findings to the class....
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating the Effects of Density and Volume of a Cartesian Diver

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this instructional activity, young scholars will investigate why the Cartesian diver dives and rises in a 2 liter bottle. They will also, through their own discovery, come up with a question and then change one variable and record...
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Interactive
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology: Buoyancy Simulation

For Students 9th - 10th
By choosing the mass, size, and time, students can experiment with whether the block floats or sinks in this simulation. Students have the option to display the forces and add a second block to the tank. Density is also shown to allow...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Buoyancy

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of buoyant force and how weight and density relate to buoyant force and the ability to float.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs: Buoyancy Basics

For Students 3rd - 8th
NOVA explores the basic principle of buoyancy. Also included at this site are some interesting brain-teasers related to the topic.
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Lesson Plan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Blossoms: Will an Ice Cube Melt Faster in Freshwater or Saltwater?

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Ap Physics: Fluid Statics: Archimedes' Principle

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to define buoyant force, state Archimedes' principle, understand why objects float or sink, and understand the relationship between density and Archimedes' principle.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Physics: Archimedes' Principle

For Students 11th - 12th
From a chapter on Fluid Statics in a Physics textbook. This section of the chapter provides a detailed discussion of Archimedes' principle, buoyant force, floating and sinking, and the role of density. Includes questions, problems and...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Buoyancy, Density, and Fluid Principles: Make Mini Submarine

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lab, students will use the scientific method to design an experiment that explains how/why a submarine floats and sinks.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Buoyancy of Floating Cylinders

For Students 6th - 8th
This project presents an interesting puzzle. A disk of wood will float face-up, that is, with its circular cross-section parallel to the surface of the water. A long log of wood, however, floats with the circular cross-section...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Buoyant Boats

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students learn about displacement, density and buoyancy then apply their knowledge to build a floating object.
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Buoyancy Brainteasers: Boat in Pool Puzzler

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive brainteaser from the NOVA: "Voyage of Doom" Web site challenges you to figure out what happens to the water level when a rock is resting in a boat and when it is submerged in water.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Sinking Water: Glaciers, Ocean Currents and Weather Patterns

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A instructional activity 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...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Floating and Falling Flows

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover fluid dynamics related to buoyancy through experimentation and optional photography. Using one set of fluids, they make light fluids rise through denser fluids. Using another set, they make dense fluids sink through a...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Eyedropper Hydrometer

For Students 9th - 10th
Deepen the students' understanding of density by constructing a simple hydrometer that can be used to compare the densities of different solutions.
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: How to Find Volume With Water Displacement Method

For Students 4th - 8th
Tells the story of how Archimedes discovered the Archimedes Principle and his water displacement method for determining the volume and density of an object. Provides an explanation and several examples of how it is done.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Through this curricular unit, students are introduced to the important concept of density. The focus is on the more easily understood densities of solids, but students may also explore the densities of liquids and gases. Students devise...

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