Density Tower Lab
You probably already know that a cork floats in water because it is less dense than water. You can use this
principle to make a density column and to determine the relative densities of different objects.
Materials
• tall clear glass or plastic container (like a beverage
container) - must be able to be tightly closed
•
Due Date
small clear plastic cups
• tablespoon measure
January 15, 2016
• liquids:
° vegetable oil
° dark Karo® corn syrup
° rubbing alcohol
° Dawn® or other dishwashing liquid
° water (addition of 1 or 2 drops of food coloring is optional)
• solids (use at least 3; must be small enough to fit container):
° ball bearing or BB ° plastic bead ° rubber stopper ° cork ° super ball ° pine chip (part of a craft stick
works) ° any other solids you wish to test
Exploration
Step 1 Place two tablespoons of one of the liquids listed above in the small plastic cups. Then add two
tablespoons of one of the other liquids. What happens? How can you tell which one has the greater density?
Step 2 Repeat this experiment several times using different liquids from the list. The densities of the liquids are:
0.87 g/mL, 0.91 g/mL, 1.00 g/mL, 1.26 g/mL, and 1.37 g/mL. Try to match up each density with its respective
liquid based upon your results.
Step 3 Now that you know the densities of each of the liquids, slowly pour two tablespoons of each of the
liquids into the clear glass or plastic container in order of decreasing density (the highest density liquid on the
bottom) to create a larger density column. How does your density column look?
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Step 4 Drop each of the solids into the density column that you created in Step 3. What happens to each of the
objects? Explain what the position of each object in the density column means. Can you tell what the density of
each object is? Try other household liquids and objects if you wish. Include their estimated density in your
results section.
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__________________________________________________________________________________________
Name - _________________________________
Results
Estimate the densities of the liquids and solids used
Layer Position (top to bottom)
Approximate Density (g/ml)
1. ______________________
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2. ______________________
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3. ______________________
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4. ______________________
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5. ______________________
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6. ______________________
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7. ______________________
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8. ______________________
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9. ______________________
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10. _____________________
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11. _____________________
______________________
12. _____________________
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Displaying Your Tower
On an index card or paper, please:
• Write your name (first and last)
• List the liquid substances that you have used (in the order they are suspended)
• List the solid substances that you have used (in the order they are suspended)
• Attach the card to the water bottle using string (I can help you with this)
Please remember:
• Ask permission before obtaining your substances
• Be careful, only use substances that are safe
• Clean up any messes you may make Name:
Check off when complete:
◻ Gathered materials (asked permission)
◻ Substances in bottle with lid taped closed
◻ Index card/paper neatly written
◻ Cleaned up my mess
Density Tower Rubric: You will be graded according to the following rubric and completion of the
activities above. It is your responsibility to make sure each step is complete.
Category Contents 5 Between 5 – 7
liquid layers and
3 – 5 suspended
objects.
4 Between 5 – 7
liquid layers and
3 – 5 objects. Not
all objects
suspended
correctly.
Neatly written
with all substances
(liquid and solid)
in proper order.
With description
of the order.
3 Between
5 – 7 liquid
layers and
less than 3
suspended
objects.
Written with
all substances
(liquid and
solid) in
proper order.
With
description of
the order.
2 Less than
5 liquid
layers and
3 – 5
suspended
objects.
Written with
all substances
(liquid and
solid). No
description
of the order.
1 Less than 5
liquid layers
and less than 3
suspended
objects.
Index Card Neatly written
with all substances
(liquid and solid)
in proper order.
With correct
description of the
order.
Quality of Work Student created
his/her best work.
Project is fully
completed.
Student created a
great project.
Project is fully
completed.
Student
created a good
product.
Project is
completed.
Student put
forth effort in
his/her
product.
No effort shown
to create a good
product. Project
is incomplete.
Creativity Use of multiple
resources/materials
and showed
‘thinking outside the box’ Use of different
resources/materials
to create a
creative tower.
Put forth
effort to
create a
creative
tower.
Showed
effort in
creativity of
their tower.
No effort
shown to
create a
creative tower.
Comments:
Total:
Not written
with all
substances
(liquid and
solid). No
description of
the order.