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Lesson Plan
Florida International University

Simulating Microgravity with Buoyancy

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Buoyancy

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
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...
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Activity
1
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Teach Engineering

Buoyant Boats

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Eureka! Using the clay boats made in the previous lesson, learners investigate the idea of buoyancy and water displacement to finish the last installment of five in a Floaters and Sinkers unit. Their observations during the activity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating Fishes: How do Fishes Control Buoyancy?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Playing with balloons, water, oil, and bottles help put this instructional activity over the top! Participants use air-filled balloons in water tanks to experience gas compression. They also use oil-filled bottles to experiment with...
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Lesson Plan
American Physiological Society

How Does the Density of a Liquid Affect the Buoyancy of an Object?

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Here's a lesson plan that will really float your boat! Introduce physical science scholars to the relationship between buoyancy and density through an assortment of individual and collaborative exercises. Lab groups work together to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construct a Buoyant Scuba Diver

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Groups of young oceanographers get to use action figures to experiment with the property of buoyancy! This memorable lesson plan provides detailed background information, a link to the laboratory worksheet, and thorough instruction...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Archimedes' Principle

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Archimedes' principle worksheet, students answer 13 questions about the concepts of Archimedes' principle such as water displacement, buoyancy and force. The answer questions from a lab they did in class to simulate Archimedes'...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buoyant Force

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate the scientific concept of why some objects float when put in a liquid solution. They apply the laws of motion and force while conducting classroom activities. Students also take notes and answer target questions to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buoyant Force

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students illustrate Archimedes' Principle of Buoyant Force. In this graphing lesson, students will observe that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Students will then create a graph showing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density and Buoyancy Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate why some objects float or sink in water. In this physics lesson, students calculate the density of clay ball using a mathematical equation. They write a complete lab report about the experiment.
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Unit Plan
Arizona State University

Physics of Boats

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Let's go sailing! An instructive unit includes six lessons with multiple activities to teach scholars about density, center of gravity, buoyancy, and the Archimedes Principle. They can complete the final project of building a boat on a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Buoyancy

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use materials found at a resource table to design simple devices that will house instruments to take water samples from a tub of water. They design 3 instruments, each varying in density so that one will float, one will hover...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology of the Deep: Experiments with Buoyant Forces

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students conduct a series of experiments to study the effects of temperature and salinity on the buoyancy of an object in water. They devise ways to make floating and sinking objects neutrally buoyant.
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Buoyancy Bulls-Eye

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Why does a seastar sink, but a jellyfish float? Through a fun investigation, learners examine the concept of buoyancy using simple household items. The challenge: create neutral buoyancy for an action figure in water. With ample teacher...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

How Fish Maintain Neutral Buoyancy

For Students 7th - 10th
In this buoyancy worksheet, students read about neutral buoyancy and that the downward force of gravity is equal and opposite to the upward force of water. They answer four critical thinking questions about buoyancy.
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Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Cartesian Diver

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Amaze your scholars with an activity that uses a Cartesian diver to demonstrate Pascal's Law, Archimedes' Principle, and the Ideal Gas Law. Groups then repeat the process and make their own diver move up and down in a bottle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blowing Ballast

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Oceanographers participate in a memorable hands on experience about buoyancy. They build a model of a submersible using a plastic bottle and a balloon. Afterward, they answer assessment questions. An answer key and some terrific...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Forces in Fluids

For Students 7th - 9th
In this forces in fluids activity, students answer questions as they relate to forces in fluids. Students complete a chart about atmospheric pressure.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating Fishes: Boat Sinking Lab

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Cut milk cartons in half to make boats and let investigators attempt to sink them. They add dividing walls and observe what happens if marbles are put into only one of the newly formed compartments. Vocabulary is provided: buoyant force,...
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Activity
Museum of Science

Design a Submarine

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Don't just sink the boat. Using a closed container as a submarine, pupils experiment to see what to add to the container to make it float, sink to the bottom, and hover in the middle. After finding one option, learners see if they can...
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Lesson Plan
Center for Precollegiate Education and Training

Buoyancy Boats

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What did the sea say to the boat? Nothing, it just waved. An inquiry-based lesson starts with a simple concept on the Archimedes Principle and challenges pupils to make something out of clay that floats. Then, they design an object out...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Action Figure Diver

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Will your next buoyancy lab rise to the occasion? Make a splash with action figure divers! Teams of young physicists explore the relationship between mass and buoyancy by adding weights or balloons to achieve a diver that neither sinks...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archimedes' Principle

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between density and buoyancy.  In this physics lesson students use Archimedes' Principle to complete calculations on buoyancy and a lab activity.
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Organizer
CPO Science

Physics Skill and Practice Worksheets

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Stop wasting energy searching for physics resources, this comprehensive collection of worksheets has you covered. Starting with introductions to the scientific method, dimensional analysis, and graphing data, these skills practice...