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Using Soda Cans To Teach Physical Science Students about Density

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Mark M. LaPorte

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Michael J. Sanger and Teari C. Humphreys

Department of Chemistry, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

J. Chem. Educ., 2009, 86 (2), p 209

DOI: 10.1021/ed086p209

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2009

Abstract

In this experiment, physical science students measured the mass of several soda cans, measured the mass and volume of water displaced when these cans were placed in water, and determined whether these cans sank or floated in water. Then, the students plotted graphs of the mass of displaced water versus the volume of displaced water, the mass of the soda cans versus the mass of displaced water, and the mass of the soda cans versus the volume of displaced water. The slope of the first graph provides the density of the displaced liquid (water). The second graph shows that the mass of displaced water equals the mass of the soda can for the floating cans (Archimedes’ principle), but the mass of displaced water is less than the soda can’s mass for the sinking cans. The slope of the floating cans in the third graph represents the density of the displaced liquid and the average volume for the sinking cans yields an average volume for all of the cans. Using this average volume for the soda cans, students calculate the density of each soda can and determine that objects whose densities are less than the liquid will float in it while objects whose densities are greater than the liquid will sink in it (the principle of flotation).

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Collaborative / Cooperative Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Consumer Chemistry

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

JCE Classroom Activity #108. Using Archimedes’ Principle To Explain Floating and Sinking Cans
Michael J. Sanger
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 272-273
- JCE Classroom Activity #108. Using Archimedes’ Principle To Explain Floating and Sinking Cans
  Michael J. Sanger
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (3), 272-273
  In this activity, students (working alone or in groups) measure the mass of several soda cans (diet and regular soda) along with the mass of water that each can displaces. The students are then asked to compare these two mass values for the sinking cans ...
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