Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
The goal of this density science experiment is to get a can to sit as low as possible in a container of water without sinking.
This is a great lab experiment that I do every year with my 7th and 8th graders. Students love this experiment because it is a challenge activity and the winner gets a prize. You will also love this activity because your students will learn important science skills such as measurement, estimation and calculating the volume of geometric shapes. Only a few basic supplies are needed so the experiment can be done in almost any setting: in the classroom, during home schooling, as an online learning demonstration or just a fun thing to do with the kids on the weekend. Students love a good challenge that mixes fun and learning.
This experiment reenforces the important concept of density. Density is defined as the amount of mass per unit of volume, i.e. the grams of mass per cubic centimeter of volume. Water has a density of 1.00 g/cm3. Objects that have a density greater than 1.00 g/cm3 will sink while objects that have a density less than 1.00 g/cm3 will float
Link for sharing this video: youtu.be/bgwREwg35zI
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Chapters:
00:00 Sink or Swim
00:45 Goal of the Challenge
01:35 Introduction to Density
03:50 Definition of Density
04:35 Calculating for the Mass
07:45 Will It Sink or Swim?
The goal of this density science experiment is to get a can to sit as low as possible in a container of water without sinking.
This is a great lab experiment that I do every year with my 7th and 8th graders. Students love this experiment because it is a challenge activity and the winner gets a prize. You will also love this activity because your students will learn important science skills such as measurement, estimation and calculating the volume of geometric shapes. Only a few basic supplies are needed so the experiment can be done in almost any setting: in the classroom, during home schooling, as an online learning demonstration or just a fun thing to do with the kids on the weekend. Students love a good challenge that mixes fun and learning.
This experiment reenforces the important concept of density. Density is defined as the amount of mass per unit of volume, i.e. the grams of mass per cubic centimeter of volume. Water has a density of 1.00 g/cm3. Objects that have a density greater than 1.00 g/cm3 will sink while objects that have a density less than 1.00 g/cm3 will float
Link for sharing this video: youtu.be/bgwREwg35zI
Link for our Teachers Pay Teacher Sink or Swim Product: tinyurl.com/etb2xjsk
Social Media for Step by Step Science:
Teacher Pay Teachers Store: tinyurl.com/y6d2cdfj
Instagram: instagram.com/stepbystepscience101
Website: stepbystepscience.com
Blog: stepbystepscience.com/blog
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/stepbystepscience
Support my channel by doing all of the following:
(1) Subscribe to get all my excellent physics, chemistry and math videos.
(2) Click the notifications bell so you don’t miss any of our amazing content.
(3) Give me a thumbs up for this video.
(4) Leave me a nice positive comment.
(5) Share this video with all of your friends.
Chapters:
00:00 Sink or Swim
00:45 Goal of the Challenge
01:35 Introduction to Density
03:50 Definition of Density
04:35 Calculating for the Mass
07:45 Will It Sink or Swim?
