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The Density of Liquids

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

The Density of Liquids

URL:

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/k-8/inquiryinaction/fifth-grade/substances-have-characteristic-properties/density-of-liquids.html

Content Source:

Other
American Chemical Society

Type:

Lesson/Unit Plan

Overview:

In this lesson, students will be able to explain that the density of a liquid has to do with how heavy it is for the sample size. Students will also be able to explain that if a liquid is denser than water, it will sink when added to water, and if it is less dense than water, it will float. As a demonstration, the teacher will compare the weight of an equal amount or volume of water and corn syrup so students can observe that corn syrup is denser than water and sinks. Students will compare the weight of an equal amount or volume of water and vegetable oil and see that vegetable oil is less dense than water and floats. Students add corn syrup to layered oil and water and see the corn syrup sinks below both the oil and water.

Content Standard(s):

Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 5

5 ) Construct explanations from observations to determine how the density of an object affects whether the object sinks or floats when placed in a liquid.

NAEP Framework

NAEP Statement::
P4.3: Matter exists in several different states; the most common states are solid, liquid, and gas. Each state of matter has unique properties. For instance, gases are easily compressed while solids and liquids are not. The shape of a solid is independent of its container; liquids and gases take the shape of their containers.

Unpacked Content

Scientific And Engineering Practices:

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect

Disciplinary Core Idea: Matter and Its Interactions

Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:

Use data from observations to explain how the density of an object affects whether an object sinks or floats when placed in a liquid, like water.

Teacher Vocabulary:

density
volume
buoyancy
data
observe
explain
sink
float
mass

Knowledge:

Students know:

Objects are made of many tiny particles to small to be seen.
Some objects have many tiny particles compacted close together that causes the object to sink while other objects the same size may float because their tiny particles are less compact.
Some objects of the same size sink when others float.
Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float.

Skills:

Students are able to:

Predict the results of different types of objects being placed in water. Test the objects and communicate the results.
Use appropriate tools (Scale, balance, ruler, or graduated cylinder) to measure the weight, mass, and/volume of an object.
Construct an explanation to describe the observed relationship between density and the ability of an object to sink or float.
Identify the evidence that supports the explanation that density affects the ability of an object to sink or float.

Understanding:

Students understand that:

Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified and used to explain phenomenon like sinking and floating.

AMSTI Resources:

AMSTI Module:
Matter and Interactions

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards

AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.5.5- Observe how the density of an object affects whether the object sinks or floats when placed in a liquid; predict whether an object will float or sink in water.

Tags:

dense, density, float, sink, substance

License Type:

Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/terms.html
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles

Comments

This resource provided by:

Author:

Stephanie Carver

ALEX Classroom Resource

The Density of Liquids