Julw-tem3

toc = __//**Floating and Sinking**//__ =

Broad Question
How does the size of an aluminum ball affect sinking?

Specific Question
Will a small, medium, or large sized aluminum ball sink more?

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Independent Variable:
Size of ball

Dependent Variable:
Depth (cm) of sinking

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:
1. Amount of water 2. Same amount of aluminum 3. Difference in size

Hypothesis:
I hypothesize that the small ball will sink most, then the medium, and last the large.

Experimental Design
I will conduct my experiment in the science class room with a teacher. I will do this experiment 9 times, 3 for each size. I will be recording the data on a spread sheet in google. My teacher will be taking pictures of the experiment.

= **Materials List** = = = = Detailed Procedure = 1. Gather all materials for experiment. 2. Set up materials for experiment. 3. Set up bowl by putting it on the table. 4. Put water in the bowl. 5. Crumple up a piece of aluminum into a ball. 6. Put the aluminum ball in the bowl of water. 7. Take a ruler and measure on how far it sinks. 8. Write down the distance and do this 2 more times making ball smaller each time (3 times for each size).
 * 1) Water
 * 2) Ruler
 * 3) Bowl
 * 4) Pencil
 * 5) Aluminum foil
 * 6) Computer
 * 7) Camera

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Background Research
- the more tightly packed something is the more density it’ll have - Density is measured in kilograms per cubic meter - the more mass the more density - the least amount of density the more it’ll float - weight depends on gravity - measured in newtons -when something sinks it moves down with gravity. -when something sinks it causes the water to rise. -something will sink if it weighs more than the water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-water displaced depends on the weight of the object. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-the shape of an object can help it float. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-the amount of air can also help the object float. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-hollow objects float better than solid objects. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-if something floats or sinks depends on mainly density and buoyancy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-weight is not the only factor of sinking and floating. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-something will float because a force equal to the weight of the water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-fluid pressure increases in depth <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-increased pressure is exerted in all directions <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-there is an unbalanced upward force on the bottom of a submerged object

Data Table
media type="custom" key="12718458"

Graph


Photos

Conclusion
The original purpose of this experiment was to figure out whether or not the size of an aluminum ball affects the depth it sinks. (Small, Medium, Large) The results of the experiment were that the size of the aluminum ball did affect the depth it sank. The greater the size of the ball the less it sank. For example the average depth of the large aluminum ball sank was 2.57 cm. The average depth the small one sank was 2.97 cm.

Discussion
My hypothesis was that the small ball would sink most, then the medium, and last the large. My results do support my hypothesis. There is a relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Some patterns and trends that my data show are that the smaller ball sank the most with an average of 2.97 cm, the medium sank the second most with an average of 3.17 cm , and lastly the larger ball sank the least with an average of 2.57 cm. I think the tests I did went smoothly. Staff assisted me in my experiment. Without assistance I wouldn’t have known what to do. Looking at my detailed procedure or more background research may have made the test run smooth without assistance. If I could improve my experiment, I would measure the mass and volume of the balls so I could get the density. Doing this would also make an interesting future study. Also, I would ask more questions on why I was doing what I was doing.