Why Things Float?
What is the science behind objects floating in water? 
The ability of an object to "float" when it is placed in a fluid is called buoyant force, and this is related to density. If an object is less dense than the fluid in which it is placed, it will float. If the object is more dense than the fluid, it will sink. Density which is a physical property of matter expresses a relationship of mass to volume, thus the more mass an object contains in a given space, the denser it is.
The formula: Density=Mass/Volume
Density of water= 1.00(g/cm3) centimeters cubed
History: There is a well-known tale in which Archimedes was given the task of determining whether King Hiero's goldsmith was stealing the gold while assembling a wreath dedicated to the gods, and replacing the gold with a alloy. Archimedes knew the wreath could be crushed into a cube and the volume could be calculated easily and compared with the mass. The king did not approve of this idea. Archimedes decide he would take a bath as he immersed into the water in the tube the water rose and splashed out of the tub. Archimedes realized he could calculate the weight of the wreath by the displacement of water. Allegedly Archimedes forgot himself and ran naked through the streets yelling "Eureka!" Eureka!" This is said to be where we get the word "Eureka!" when we have a bright moment.
The ability of an object to "float" when it is placed in a fluid is called buoyant force, and this is related to density. If an object is less dense than the fluid in which it is placed, it will float. If the object is more dense than the fluid, it will sink. Density which is a physical property of matter expresses a relationship of mass to volume, thus the more mass an object contains in a given space, the denser it is.The formula: Density=Mass/Volume
Density of water= 1.00(g/cm3) centimeters cubed
History: There is a well-known tale in which Archimedes was given the task of determining whether King Hiero's goldsmith was stealing the gold while assembling a wreath dedicated to the gods, and replacing the gold with a alloy. Archimedes knew the wreath could be crushed into a cube and the volume could be calculated easily and compared with the mass. The king did not approve of this idea. Archimedes decide he would take a bath as he immersed into the water in the tube the water rose and splashed out of the tub. Archimedes realized he could calculate the weight of the wreath by the displacement of water. Allegedly Archimedes forgot himself and ran naked through the streets yelling "Eureka!" Eureka!" This is said to be where we get the word "Eureka!" when we have a bright moment.
Interesting history note :)! Great experiment!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative!
ReplyDeleteI love the extra information you put on your blog. I like the explanations and the story about Archimedes. Students could used this in glass to weigh objects, and then use a scale to weigh the same object. They could then compare and contrast the weights.
ReplyDeleteDensity is a difficult concept to explain, I think it will help so much to have a visual explanation. It will a fun experiment to try with different materials to compare.
ReplyDeleteThe information that was provided at the end of your post about floating was very helpful because when someone looks back at your blog they get a refresher course about what you explained during your presentation. I also thought it really explained a lot about your experiment. Nice work :)
ReplyDelete