Other
National Engineers Week Foundation: Flinker
Students investigate with common objects to see if they can make something that neither floats nor sinks, but rather "flinks" in the middle.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Ap Physics: Fluid Statics: Archimedes' Principle
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.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Density: Sink and Float for Liquids
Students determine whether a liquid will sink or float in water by comparing its density to the density of water.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Density of Solid Objects
In this science inquiry, learners 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 in Solutions: How Can You Make an Egg Float?
In this activity, students will learn about density by determining how to make an egg float in water. By the end of the instructional activity, students will understand that density and weight are different and that density matters in...
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.
PBS
Pbs: Buoyancy Basics
NOVA explores the basic principle of buoyancy. Also included at this site are some interesting brain-teasers related to the topic.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Beneath the Sea: Blowing Ballast
Explore the use of ballast to manipulate buoyancy in submarines by building a model of a submersible using two-liter bottles and balloons. Describe the balance of forces that is responsible for the surfacing and diving of submersibles.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Design a Submarine
Become an engineer, and design a submarine that moves in the water like a real submarine. Try making it sink, float, and hover in the water.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Bowling Balls Float or Sink?
In this experiment, you test whether two different bowling balls will float or sink, then determine the density of each of the balls to see if they are less than that of water.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Floating and Sinking Sorting in Science
Students sort objects according to whether they sink or float.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Does Coke Float?
Sixth graders predict if different types of coke will float or sink.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Density in Relation to Float and Sink
Students find the densities of objects based on sinking or floating in this activity that demonstrates Archimedes Principle.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Sink or Float: All Liquids Do Not Have the Same Density
An experiment in density. After a review of floating and sinking of different materials, students test four bottles, all holding four ounces of water, to see if they will float or sink. They each contain a different density of sugar...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Sink or Float? Inquiry Investigation
For this activity, learners make predictions about whether different objects float or sink, then test them. They are asked to record their observations and results for each, and compare their results to others'.
Michigan Reach Out
University of Michigan: Paper Clip Sailing
Basic experiment that helps learners learn about surface tension.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:mysteries of the Deep: Leaky Seal
Investigate the mystery of the sinking of the Confederate submarine Hunley. Explore the mechanics of waterproofing a seal, and compare and contrast the effectiveness of a metal-to-metal seal versus one that uses a rubber gasket.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Sesame Street: Sink or Float Educator Guide
This is an educator's guide for a unit on things that sink or float. It includes lesson plans, experiments, and activities. Students apply the scientific method as they investigate whether objects sink or float.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Sink or Float?
This lesson plan is designed to have young children explore the concept of sinking vs. floating by using the skills of prediction, observation and classification.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Sinking and Floating Soda Cans
An experiment to determine if either a regular or a diet can of soda will float or sink when placed in water, and what causes this.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye: Eggs Speriment
Try this at-home science experiment to learn if salt affects the way things float.