BASIC CONCEPTS
What is the name for the amount of space an object takes up?
Volume
What formula do we use to find the volume of a cube or box?
Length × width × height
What is the formula for density?
Density = Mass ÷ Volume
Do bigger objects usually move faster or slower through water?
Slower
Will something float if it’s less dense than water?
Yes
What tool would you use to measure how much space juice takes up?
A measuring cup
If a box is 2 cm long, 3 cm wide, and 4 cm high, what is its volume?
24 cm³
If an object has a lot of mass in a small space, is it dense or not dense?
Dense
What does a larger object push against as it moves through air or water?
Air or water
Name one object that would likely sink in water.
A coin
What is the unit for measuring the volume of a box?
Cubic centimeters (cm³) or cubic meters (m³)
What do we call the method of using water to find the volume of a rock?
Water displacement
Why does a bowling ball feel heavier than a basketball even though they are the same size?
Because the bowling ball has more mass packed into the same volume
Why does a big inflatable raft move slower than a small toy in the pool?
The raft pushes more water and creates more drag
Why does a coin sink and a plastic bottle cap float?
The coin is denser than water, while the cap is less dense and displaces more water
Give an example of something with a large volume but low mass.
A large balloon or an empty cardboard box
Describe how to use a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of a small toy.
Fill the cylinder with water, note the level, drop in the toy and calculate the difference
What two things do you need to know to calculate density?
Mass and volume
How does volume affect resistance (or drag) in water?
Larger volume creates more resistance when moving through fluids
What is the role of displacement when it comes to floating?
Displacement lets water "push back"—if enough water is displaced, the object can float
Explain why volume alone cannot tell us how heavy something is.
Because volume shows space, not weight—an object can be big but still weigh very little
Explain why the water level goes up when you drop an object into it.
Because the object pushes water out of the way—the space it takes up raises the water level
Explain why some objects that are large can float while others sink.
Because floating depends on density, not just size—big, light objects can float if they are less dense than water
Explain how both volume and density work together to affect an object’s movement through a fluid.
Volume affects how much fluid is pushed; density affects whether it sinks or floats
Predict whether a wooden block that weighs more than a rock will float or sink—and explain why.
It will float, because wood is less dense than water even if it weighs more than the rock