Challenge 2: Non-Buoyant Becomes Buoyant!
In the first challenge, materials were chosen that had buoyancy. This challenge will be to demonstrate buoyancy from a material that does not float!
Materials: cooking foil, tin can, metal bottle cap, clay or plasticene.
Tools: your bin of scissors, pencil and paper for notes and drawings.
Tablet or similar for internet search.
Investigate the properties and characteristics of the chosen materials. (Eg. cooking foil is metal, made from tin or aluminum, such as a coin and typically sinks. Clay or plasticene is like mud or sand and typically sinks.
Shape or manipulate one or more of these materials so they become buoyant and float. Test and modify as needed until successful.
Question/Discussion: explain the challenges and successes in making a buoyant structure.
Question/Discussion: explain how the buoyancy of these non-buoyant materials is different from wood or Styrofoam? Be as specific as possible!
Question/Discussion: have these non-buoyant materials ever been used to build boats? Discover, describe and explain!
Question/Discussion: What are the features and benefits of using one or more of these materials? Where have these materials been used commercially? (Research Polson Iron Works!)
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