1. Teacher set up: (for teacher’s eyes only)
Set out 7 different trays below is what you put on each tray for each team to experiment with. (one pipette per substances)
Tray/ Team #
Substances 1
One test tube, Lamp oil, rubbing alcohol, & Veggie oil 2
One test tube, Corn syrup, rubbing alcohol, & milk 3
One test tube, Veggie oil, water, & dish soap 4
One test tube, water, lamp oil, and milk 5
One test tube, dish soap, milk, & maple syrup 6
One test tube, maple syrup, honey, & milk 7
One test tube, Corn syrup, maple syrup, & honey

2. Density Lab
Research:
Before we start look up the answers to the 2 questions below:
What is density?
What is mass?
How do you calculate density?

3. Goal: Through experimentation, determine the order of most dense to least dense substance.
Substances: Water, Whole milk, Vegetable oil, lamp oil, corn syrup, maple syrup, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, & honey
Hypothesis: On your paper use your prior knowledge hypothesize the order from most to least dense.
If we put all of the substances in a graduated cylinder, then we would see that the order from most to least dense is _____, _______, _____,
_______, ____, ______, _____, _____, & _____.

4. Data Chart: Copy in notebook
3 Substances Given:
My prediction:
Results:
Final classes order w/ all substances: 1. 2. 3.
1. (Most dense)
3. (Least Dense) 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

5. P r o c e d u r e s
Teacher sets up materials for each group and demos procedures with veggie oil and water.
Students will put on safety goggles.
Each team will be given 3 of the substances, 3 pipettes, and a test tube (one pipette per chemical, DON’T MIX)
Each team will then guess which substance is most dense. Using the pipette WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SIDES OF THE TEST TUBE drop no more than a cm high of the substance into the tube.
Then guess the 2nd most dense and repeat step 4.
Watch! IF the substance sinks then it is more dense, but if it stays floating then it is less dense.
Repeat step 4 and 6 with the 3rd substance.
Record data.

6. Group Share Group 1: ______, _______,_____

7. Stop and Think:
Which of the substance has particles that are more spaced out? How do you know?
Which of the substance has particles that are least spaced out? How do you know?

8. Now as a class lets come together and share our data
Now as a class lets come together and share our data. Based on our class’s data we should be able to put the 9 substances in order from most to least dense. So lets figure out the order and put all the substances into one large graduated cylinder to make sure we are RIGHT!

9. Reflection Qs
You made a prediction based on some property of the liquid. How accurate were your predictions? Why do you think there were errors in your predictions?
Which liquid in our class tower has the greatest density? What did you see in the experiment that supports your statement? Why did this happen in your experiment?
Which liquid in our class tower has the least density? What did you see in the experiment that supports your statement? Why did this happen in your experiment?

10. Reflection Qs continued
Think about what you see when you watch a lava lamp. Does the lava in a lava lamp change? How do you know?
Ice in a solid. Is ice more or less dense than water? How do you know?

11. Reflection Qs continued
Look at the picture. There are items that have been dropped into to tower. What statement about density could you make about the ping pong ball?
What statement about density could you make about the popcorn kernel?

12. Reflection Continued
To the right is the Earth and it’s layers. Thinking about the lab we just did why do you think the Earth has layers?

13. Reflection Continued Order the layers from most to least dense.
How do you know that is the correct order?