Lesson 4 of 10
Float or sink?
Show on a big screenA steel nail sinks. A steel bowl floats. Both are steel. Why?
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The idea
The bowl floats because it is light for its size.
Floating depends on how heavy something is for its size. Compare a thing's weight with the space it takes up. Then compare it with the same space of water. If the thing is heavier, it sinks.
A small thing can sink if it is heavy for its size. A big thing can float if it is light for its size.
A bowl is hollow, which means empty inside. Shaped as a bowl, steel takes up more space than a lump. So the bowl is light for its size.
Step 1 of 4
- A steel nail and a steel bowl, both above the water.
- The nail sinks.
- The bowl floats.
- Both are steel. The hollow bowl is light for its size.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.