Name__________________________________________
Date______________
Period_______________
Buoyancy and Density
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to determine how density affects buoyancy.
Hypothesis
The egg will float in salt water because…
Materials
1. Balance
2. Beaker
3. Salt
4. Egg
5. Spoon
Procedures
1. Calculate the density of egg.
a. Measure the egg’s mass on the balance.
b. Use volume displacement to calculate the egg’s volume.
2. Calculate the density of fresh water.
a. Measure the mass of the empty graduated cylinder.
b. Measure the mass of the graduated cylinder with 10mL of fresh water.
c. Calculate the density of the fresh water.
3. Make egg float by adding salt to water.
4. Calculate the density of salt water, as you did for the fresh water.
Data
Name__________________________________________
Date______________
Mass (g)
Volume (mL)
Period_______________
Density (g/mL)
(mass ÷ volume)
Egg
Fresh water
Graduated
cylinder +
fresh water
Graduated
cylinder alone
Net mass of
fresh water
10 mL
Salt water
Graduated
cylinder +
salt water
Graduated
cylinder alone
Net mass of
salt water
10 mL
Data Analysis
Write a paragraph describing your results, including the calculations you did in order to get
these results. Compare the density of the egg with the density of the fresh water and the salt
water.
Conclusion
Paragraph 1: Explain the purpose of the lab, and your hypothesis. Summarize your results.
Paragraph 2: Explain why the egg floated in the salt water and sank in the fresh water. By
explaining the significance of your results answer the essential question: how does density affect
buoyancy?