Liberty Science Center 9th
Grade:
Grade Level:
9th grade
Science Standards:S51-S58
Purpose:
This lesson is designed to allow students to experiment with the actions of
a submarine.
Pre-Visit:
Students will be instructed to identify which areas of the tour relate to
the concept of density(directly or indirectly).
Motivation:
Students will do a three minute free write listing substances that float on
water. They will also be required to explain what all those substances have
in common.
Learning Objective: Students
will be able to understand and explain why less dense substances float on more dense substances.
Activity: Cartesian
Diver
Materials;
Eyedropper, glass, empty clear plastic bottle (1 or 2 liter soda bottle with
a screw top), water, plastic cup.
Procedures:
1-Begin lesson
by having students make observations about the dropper assembly.
2- Ask students
what they know about the dropper assembly( is it more or less dense then water).
3- Brainstorm with
students how the density of the dropper changed by squeezing the sides of
the bottle.
4-Have students
observe the water level in the dropper to confirm that it goes up when the
bottle is squeezed.
5- Compare the
action of the dropper assembly to that of a submarine.
Evaluation:
Have each student construct his/her own Cartesian diver. Discuss with students
reasons why the dropper assembly sinks and rises.
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