7th/8th Grade: Week of September 21-25

Hello,
We will finish up our scientific measurement work this week and begin the first unit on Atomic Structure (most likely Friday). I will be out on Tuesday (which is the fall equinox and the first day of fall) and you will have a substitute to begin the two-day Cube Density Lab. As an introduction to density, the homework and its DUE date are as follows:

Wednesday, September 23: The formula for density is Density = Mass / Volume and the density of water is 1.0 Your homework is to generate a hypothesis for yourself and two other people (one younger than 8 and the other older than 40- if possible) on whether a list of objects will float or sink in water. I will give you a handout on Monday for Wednesday's homework.

Person (hypothetical: sink or float?)
Object Self Young Person Older Person Actual results (sink or float)
Apple
Potato
Regular soda can
Diet soda can
plastic fork
Pencil
Pillbug
Butter
Honey
Vegetable oil

Once you have collected all the hypothesis, conduct an experiment and actually place the objects in a bath of water and record the results.

When you come to class with your homework on Wednesday, be prepared to answer the following question "does it appear there is any relationship between age and predicting density?" Did your older volunteer do a better job of predicting than your younger volunteer?

Have a great week,
-Mr. Pfiester