13.1 Fluid Pressure
13.2 Forces and Pressure in Fluids
13.3 Buoyancy
What Makes Something Sink or Float?
Procedure
Predicting Record your prediction of whether a wooden toothpick and a piece of clay will float on water.
To test your predictions, fill a bowl almost to its rim with water.
Place a wooden toothpick in the water. Shape a piece of clay into a cup and place it in the water. Record your observations.
Remove the clay from the water, dry it with a paper towel, and then tightly roll it into a small ball. Place the ball of clay in the water and record your observations.
Think About It
Evaluating Which of your predictions were correct?
Observing What effect did rolling the clay into a ball have on its ability to float?
Formulating Hypotheses What property of the clay did you change by rolling it into a small ball? Explain how this change affected the clay's ability to float.