Sci-box_That sinking feeling

			That sinking feeling


		Investigating whether materials and objects float or sink.

		You should always be careful when using water more than a few centimetres deep.

PLAN	Collect a lot of different items made of different materials. See if they float or sink.			I WILL NEED	A large sink or bowl. Lots of different items made of different materials. Pencil and paper.
				I MAY NEED	Items made of the same material but of different shape.
				FAIR TEST	Does it matter if the items are different sizes? Does it matter if they have different mass (weight)? Does the shape of the material affect whether it floats? (After all, ships are made of metal - which normally sinks.)

	PREDICTION	What do you think might happen? Why do you think so? Does this connect to any science you have done or heard about previously?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY	What did you do? How did you choose the items you used? What did you observe? Can you explain this? Did you encounter any problems? What did you do to overcome these?			COLLECT DATA	You may need to record the size, shape and mass of each item as well as the material it is made of.
				ANALYSE DATA	What factors cause an item to float or sink? Can you explain this?
				PRESENT FINDINGS	What is the best way to show what you did? Would diagrams make things clearer? Is it possible to give a demonstration - or video part of the investigation? Could you take some photographs?

	EVALUATE INVESTIGATION	If you were going to do this investigation again, what would you do to improve it?

	If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website. It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post. Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.
		Floating & sinking experiments		Why boats float