Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
A massive steel ship can float across the ocean, carrying cargo and people, while a small solid block of steel sinks immediately when dropped into water. Both objects are made of steel, yet they behave very differently in water. Scientists explain this difference using density, a property that depends on both mass and volume.
Diagram 1.
Source:
https://classnotes123.com/class-5-chapter-11-weight-volume-and-density-notes/
Density is a physical property of matter that describes how much mass is packed into a given volume. It is calculated by dividing mass by volume. Every material has a characteristic density that does not change even when the amount of the material changes.
Steel is denser than water, which is why a solid block of steel sinks when placed in water. The steel block has a large mass packed into a small volume, giving it a high density. Because its density is greater than that of water, it sinks.
A steel ship, however, is not a solid block of steel. Ships are designed with large hollow spaces filled with air. This greatly increases the ship’s total volume without adding much mass. When the mass of the entire ship is divided by its much larger volume, the ship’s overall density becomes less than the density of water.
Because the ship’s average density is lower than water, it floats. This does not mean the steel itself has changed density. The steel in the ship is still denser than water, but the combination of steel and air makes the ship less dense overall.
Scientists use density as evidence to identify materials and explain their behavior. By comparing calculated densities, scientists can determine whether an object will float or sink and identify the type of material it is made from. Density remains the same for a given material regardless of size, making it a reliable property for identifying samples of matter.
Diagram 2.
Source: https://carmensscience.weebly.com/homework/some-diagrams1
Table 1.
Object | Mass (kg) | Volume (m |
|---|---|---|
Steel Block | 7800 | 1 |
Steel Ship | 78000000 | 100000 |
Graph of Information - Figure 1.
Table 2.
Object | Density (kg/m | Floats or Sinks |
|---|---|---|
Steel Block | 7800 | Sinks |
Steel Ship | 780 | Floats |
Water (reference) | 1000 | Floats |
Graph of Information - Figure 2.
Using Table 1, compare the mass and volume of the steel block and the steel ship.
Even though both objects are made of steel, one floats and one sinks. Explain how volume affects the behavior of the steel ship in water.
Which statement best explains why the steel ship floats while the steel block sinks?
How do the atomic-level properties of steel stay the same in both objects, even though their overall densities are different?
Using Figure 2, how does comparing the density of water to the density of each object help predict whether the object will float or sink?
How does density explain why a steel ship floats while a steel block sinks, even though both are made of steel?
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