According to the Archimedes Principle, boats float because
water pushes up on them with a force equal to their weight. This is called
buoyancy. Using pieces of modeling clay and other simple materials, you’ll be exploring
how size and shape affect a boat’s ability to float. You’ll also get to see
just how much weight your boat can hold and which design works the best.
MATERIALS
Tank of water or large mixing bowl
Modeling clay
Pennies
PROCEDURE
1. Mold the clay into several different shapes until it
floats. Determine what shape produces the most buoyancy. Once you do that,
you’re ready to begin loading your boat with cargo.
2. Place pennies in your boat until it sinks. Keep track of
how many pennies it held.
3. Test several shapes to see which holds the most pennies
before sinking.
THINK ABOU IT
1. What characteristics of the winning boats helped them
support the most weight?
2. Does this idea apply to large ships that carry thousands
of tons of cargo? How do they stay afloat if they are made of metal?
Happy Homeschooling!
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