Name: _________________________
Period: ______
Date: __________
Lab: Phet Density cubes
Part 1 : Begin by selecting “COMPARE” and on the box on the right hand side of the
screen be sure to select “SAME MASS”
1. BEFORE doing anything with the simulation...Make a prediction of which cube will
have the greatest density and which one will have the lowest density. Explain
your reasoning!
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2. Find the density of each cube using the information provided for you on the
screen. Use displacement of water to find the volume of the cubes. Be sure that
all of the cubes are fully submerged in the water tank (you may need to hold
down some cubes as they will otherwise float in the tank).
Cube Color
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density (kg/L=g/mL)
3. Was your prediction correct? Why do these densities make sense?
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4. Which cubes float? Why do these float and the others sink?
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5. What happens to the blue cube when placed in various locations in the water
tank? Why do you think that this happens?
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6. Why was it necessary to submerge the blocks that float in order to find their
volume?
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Part 2 : Same Volume ‐‐ Next select “SAME VOLUME” on the box on the right hand
side of the screen.
7. BEFORE doing anything with the simulation...Make a prediction of which cube will
have the greatest density and which one will have the lowest density. Explain
your reasoning!
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
8. Find the density of each cube using the information provided for you on the
screen. Use displacement of water to find the volume of the cubes.
Cube Color
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density (kg/L=g/mL)
9. Was your prediction correct? Why do these densities make sense?
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10.Which cubes float? Why do these float and the others sink?
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Part 4 : Mystery ‐‐Next select “MYSTERY” on the box at the bottom of your screen
11.Using the scale and water tank, find the density of each cube. After you have found
all the densities, click on the green colored “Density Table” button below the
blocks section to discover the actual substances of the mystery colored blocks.
Cube Color
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density
(kg/L=g/mL)
Mystery
substance
12.Even though ice and water are both made of the same elements, explain why ice
floats in your glass of water.
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