Y6 Investigating Floating
The boys in Dr H's group were set the challenge of making 150g of modelling clay float and then finding the biggest mass that they could float using the clay. This movie clip shows that modelling clay doesn't float!!!
Some boys thought that tearing the clay into small pieces might help...
...but it didn't!!!
Fairly soon it was found that flattening the clay and turning its edges up to make a hull enabled more water to be displaced by the clay. Thus causing a bigger upthrust from the water.
If the hull allowed an upthrust equal to the weight of the clay, then the clay floated!
The boys then tested their hulls to find the maximum weight they could carry before sinking.
Click here to see a couple of tests:
Our top boat builders managed to float 200g before the boat sank! Pretty impressive when using a material that 'doesn't float'!
For naval construction just ask these chaps to design your ship.
Finally, Mr Macaulay got in on the act...do you think his boat could carry more than 200g?
