Download Density

Target Concept: Density - Why the layers of the Earth separate.
P.S: 8-3.2 Summarize the three layers of Earth—crust, mantle, and core—on the
basis of relative position, density, and composition.
Pre - MacMODS
Donny learned in Chemistry class that water and ice are both made up of two atoms of Hydrogen and
one atom of Oxygen. If ice and water are made up of the same materials then why does ice float in
water?
1. Write an explanation, to tell Donny why ice floats in water. Try to use the words, particles, mass,
volume and density.
2. Draw a particle diagram that shows why the ice floats.
Name:
Period:
Materials:
These materials are based on making 60 samples.
180 3 oz disposable cups (Dixie Cups)
60 5 oz clear disposable cups
60 oz of Corn Syrup
60 oz of Vegetable oil
60 oz of Water
60 plastic stirrers
1 box of Food Coloring.
3 trays
Worksheet
Procedures:
Preparation
 Put 60 3 ounce cups on one tray and put 1 ounce of water in each cup
 Put 60 3 ounce cups on a different tray and put 1 ounce of vegetable oil in each cup
 Put 60 3 ounce cups on the third tray and put 1 ounce of corn syrup in each up
 Label which cup is which so the students know the difference
Lesson
 Give the students the Pre-MacMODS (good bell work)
 Break the students up into pairs
 Give each group one cup of water, a cup of vegetable oil, a cup of corn syrup, and one empty 5
ounce cup
 Also, each group should have access to food coloring.
 Have the students follow the directions on the worksheet and have them complete the
worksheet.
1. Answer questions 1 through 3
2. Put 2 to 3 drops of food coloring into the water, ONLY the water
3. Pour all three cups, the water, the vegetable oil and the corn syrup into the empty clear cup
4. Watch what happens
5. Complete the worksheet
 Give the students the Post-MacMODS
Name:
Period:
Post – MacMODS
Johnnie and Jake were playing in their swimming pool when both of them got thirsty. Johnnie likes Diet
Coke and Jake like regular Coke. Jake went to get them each their favorite soda. On his way back, Jake
tripped and both sodas fell into the pool. The two boys noticed that the can of Coke sank to the bottom
while the can of Diet Coke floated on the top.
1. Write an explanation, to tell Johnnie and Jake why the Diet Coke floats in water. Try to use the
words, particles, mass, volume and density.
2. Draw a particle diagram that shows why the can of Diet Coke floats.
Name:
Period:
Worksheet:
1. You have water, corn syrup, and vegetable oil. What do you think will happen if you pour the
water and the vegetable water into the same cup?
2. What do you think will happen if you pour the water, the vegetable oil and the corn syrup in the
same cup?
Put 2 or 3 drops of food coloring in the water cup ONLY. Stir up the cup of water. Pour all three cups,
the water, the vegetable oil and the corn syrup into the empty clear cup. Watch what happens.
3. What happened to the three liquids? Did they mix or separate into layers? If layers formed,
what which liquid was on the top, middle and bottom?
4. Draw a particle diagram of what happened after the three liquids were poured into the same
cup.
5. If the liquid with the greatest density sinks to the bottom, which liquid, water, corn syrup or oil,
has the greatest density. Which liquid has the lowest density?
6. Now, think of the different layers of the earth. Each layer has a different density. If the core,
mantle and the crust were the three liquids listed above, which liquid would represent the core?
The mantle? The crust?
7. Which layer, the core, mantle or the crust, has the highest density? Which layer has the lowest
density?
Name:
Period: