Does Coke Float?

Summary

The students will predict if these items will float or sink. Coke, Diet Coke, and Diet Caffeine Coke.

Materials

• one can of unopened Coke, Diet Coke, and Diet Caffeine Coke
• an aquarium 3/4 full of room temperature water
• over flow can
• calculator

Instructional Procedures

Special teacher procedures, safety notes, and suggestions:

• Ask the students to predict if each will float or sink. Put them into the aquarium one at a time.
• Let them change their answer if they want.
• The actual assignment is to go home and bring back an explanation as to why this happened. They can use the Internet, toll free phone number on the cans, or anyone over 18 to help.

Assessment Plan

If they mention the word density give them full credit. Talk about the idea that Nutra-sweet that is used in Diet Coke is 1000 times sweeter than sugar so less is needed in the can. You can actually figure out the density of each can using water displacement.

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.