Curated OER
Helium Balloon Race
Students determine the force of a helium balloon that allows it to rise a specific distance. In this helium lesson students calculate the amount of paper needed to construct a weight and determine the density of a piece of...
Curated OER
Energy and Matter
A review of a full unit on energy and matter, this slide show starts with basic definitions of states of matter and their mass. It then develops the ideas of the forces that that matter can exert. Details about bonding within matter and...
Curated OER
I've Got That Sinking Feeling
Students design a simple boat and predict how much weight it can carry. They should also discover why objects float or sink and how this can be determined experimentally. A great lesson on buoyancy!
Curated OER
Staying Up
Young scholars will explain the Archimedes's Principle. In this lesson on plankton, students will describe three factors that can affect the buoyancy of plankton. This lesson contains extensive background information, extensions, and...
Curated OER
Creating the Ideal Cargo Boat
Students build boats out of clay to test the buoyancy of the boat in water. Students break into pairs and construct their boat to specific guide lines, then experiment with their boat in the water.
Curated OER
Buoyant Force
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...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Taking a Bath Led to Archimedes' Principle
This video explains how the early Greek mathematician Archimedes discovered the principle relating density, volume, and displacement of water. [3:01] Includes a brief quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.
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.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Physics: Archimedes' Principle
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...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Mg Archimedes and the King's Crown
The King of Syracuse reportedly requested Archimedes' advice for determining if a crown was made with the appropriate mixture of gold and silver. The problem asks young scholars to find the amount of water displaced in Archimedes'...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Eureka! Or Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle
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....
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers
This lesson introduces students to the important concept of density. The focus is on the more easily understood densities of solids, but students can also explore the densities of liquids and gases. Students devise methods to determine...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Floats Your Boat?
Learners use modeling clay, a material that is denser than water and thus ordinarily sinks in water, to discover the principle of buoyancy. They begin by designing and building boats out of clay that will float in water, and then refine...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Fluids
In this interactive module you will be introduced to a unit on fluid dynamics. Learn how an object's density relates to its mass and volume by completing various activities and interactives.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Buoyancy, Density, and Fluid Principles: Make Mini Submarine
In this lab, students will use the scientific method to design an experiment that explains how/why a submarine floats and sinks.
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.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Floaters and Sinkers
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rock and Boat
Students observe Archimedes' principle in action in this challenge where a toy boat is placed in a container of water and a rock is placed on the floating boat. Students must explain why the water level rises/falls/stays the same based...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Cartesian Diver
Students observe Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle, and the ideal gas law as a Cartesian diver moves within a closed system.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Up, Up, and Away in Your Own Hot Air Balloon!
In this science fair project, students will make hot-air balloons using a toaster and dry-cleaning bags, and see how the size of the balloon affects its flight. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an...
Science Struck
Science Struck: How to Find Volume With Water Displacement Method
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.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Buoyant Force
In this Physics lab, students learn about Archimedes' Principle. An object is submerged in water and vegetable oil and the buoyant force and height are measured at different levels. The slope of the graph Buoyant Force vs. Height is the...
Other
Ganoksin.com: Specific Gravity of Gemstones
Specific gravity is defined and explained. Practice problems are given and solved. Illustrations included as well.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: How Much Sugar Is Really in That Soda?
In this science fair project, use a precision hydrometer to measure the amount of sugar in soda. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on...