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Density Slice SE

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8th grade Cuber :l
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6 views

Density Slice SE

Y

Uploaded by

8th grade Cuber :l
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________

Student Exploration: Density Experiment: Slice and Dice

Vocabulary: density, mass, matter, volume

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What do you think would happen if you threw a block of polystyrene (Styrofoam™) into the

water? ___________________________________________________________________

2. What would happen if you broke the Styrofoam up into lots of pieces, then threw the pieces

into water? ________________________________________________________________

3. What would happen if you threw a big rock into water? _____________________________

4. What would happen if you broke the rock into little pieces, then threw the pieces into water?

_________________________________________________________________________

Gizmo Warm-up
The Density Experiment: Slice and Dice Gizmo
allows you to compare different-sized pieces of the
same material.

1. Check that Polystyrene is selected. Drag the


whole polystyrene piece into the water.

Does it sink or float? _____________________

2. Click Reset, and then click Slice to cut the


polystyrene into pieces. Drag each piece into the
water and then back to the block.

What happens? _________________________

3. How do you think the amount of a material affects its tendency to sink or float? __________

_________________________________________________________________________

2019
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
 Click Reset. Check that Polystyrene is selected.
Slice and dice
 A calculator is recommended for this activity.

Introduction: The density of a material is the amount of mass per unit of volume. Density is
calculated by dividing an object’s mass by its volume.

Question: How does density depend on the amount of material?

1. Form hypothesis: How do you think cutting up a material will affect its density? __________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Collect data: Click Slice. Choose a piece of polystyrene and drag it onto the Material
investigation tray. Record the mass and volume, then calculate the density by dividing the
mass by the volume. Replace the piece, and then repeat for the remaining pieces.

Piece Mass (g) Volume (cm3) Density (g/cm3)


1
2
3
4
5 (if available)

3. Analyze: What do you notice about the density of the polystyrene pieces? ______________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Predict: What do you think is the density of the whole block of polystyrene? _____________

5. Test: Click Reset. Drag the whole (uncut) block of polystyrene onto the Material
investigation tray. Record its mass and volume and calculate the density.

Mass: _____________ Volume: _____________ Density: _____________

6. Apply: An archaeologist finds a golden figurine. How could she determine if the figurine is

solid gold without cutting it? ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2019
Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
Sink or float?  Click Reset.

Question: The density of water is 1.0 g/mL, which is equivalent to 1 g/cm 3. How does an
object’s density affect whether it sinks or floats in water?

1. Form hypothesis: How do you think an object’s density relates to whether it sinks or floats?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Collect data: Measure the mass and volume of each known material, and calculate its
density. Then drag each material into the water to see whether it sinks or floats.

Material Mass Volume Density Sinks or floats?


Polystyrene
Aluminum
Wood
Slate

3. Analyze: How does an object’s density determine if it will sink or float? _________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Apply: Find the density of Unknown A and Unknown B. Based on their densities, predict
whether each will sink or float. Then, test your prediction using the Gizmo.

Sinks or floats? Sinks or


Material Mass Volume Density
(prediction) floats? (actual)
Unknown A
Unknown B

5. Extend your thinking: Compare the three floating materials. How does the density of each

material relate to how high it floats in the water? __________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2019

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