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Science at key stage 3    (Year 7)

Unit 7K: Forces and their effects
Section 3: b. Why do things float?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • to choose which measurements and observations to make
  • to compare results with those of others in order to evaluate their work
  • that upthrust is different in different liquids

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Show pupils pictures either of people floating in the Dead Sea or of similar situations. Tell them of claims that it is easier to float in sea water than in fresh water. Ask them to suggest how they could test this. Remind them of the previous activity, provide them with samples of fresh water and sea water of varying salinity and ask them to investigate the claim and to produce a brief account using a combination of methods, eg drawings, tables, bullet points. Ask pupils to explain to others what they did, why they chose to do it that way, what conclusions they drew and to ask questions about other pupils' methods. Draw together the outcomes and discuss the methods chosen, eg depth of immersion, number of measurements.
  • make measurements which enable them to test the claim
  • evaluate their methods
  • state that some liquids produce a greater upthrust on an object than others

Points to note
  • As in the previous activity, teachers may wish to extend this work to a discussion of density.
  • Pupils could be asked to find out about buoyancy aids and how these help them to float.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. Where do we come across forces?
2. a. Why do things float?
3. b. Why do things float?
4. c. Why do things float?
5. How do different materials stretch?
6. Checking progress
7. What is weight?
8. a. What does friction do?
9. b. What does friction do?
10. c. What does friction do?
11. What affects how quickly a car stops?
12. Reviewing work