Name of the Experiment: Archimedes' Experiment
Performed by:________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________
The Problem: How does the weight of an object compare to the weight of the water it displaces when it floats?
The Hypothesis:
The Experiment: You will need a postage scale (or other scale that measures ounces), a cake pan, a plastic bowl, a plastic cup, aluminum foil, 25 pennies, and water. Set a plastic bowl full of water in the cake pan. Dribble extra water into the bowl until it is so full that the water heaps up. Mop up any water that spilled into the cake pan. Make a "wide-bottom boat" with high sides from aluminum. Carefully float the boat in the bowl and add about 20 pennies. If the boat sinks, begin again and add only the number of pennies that will allow the boat to remain floating. Remove the boat from the bowl, then remove the bowl from the cake pan without spilling any water. Pour the water from the cake pan into the plastic cup, and record the weight of the cup and water on the chart below. Empty the cup, dry it, and weigh it again with the boat and pennies inside. Record this weight on the chart below. Repeat the experiment several times until you get consistent results. You may change the number of pennies as well.
Observations:
---------------------------------------------Trial #1-------Trial #2------Trial #3
Weight of the Cup that is filled with Water: ________ ________ ________
Weight of the Cup, Pennies, and the Boat: ________ ________ ________
Interpretation:
Conclusion: