Home > Science Experiments > Density and Buoyancy - Relative density can be observed

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page
4. Tweet This

Relative density can be observed

The relative density of certain materials is easy to determine by observing the behavior of the materials when gravity acts upon them in a liquid. Substances of greater density will sink in liquids of lesser density due to the greater gravitational pull on the mass they contain. Conversely, substances of lesser density will rise. Thus, the lead goldfish will sink through water, while the balsawood goldfish will float. What about the clay goldfish? To predict its behavior, we would need to know its relative density.

When two immiscibleIncapable of being mixed. liquids, such as oil and vinegar, are poured into a container, the less-dense liquid will float on top of the more-dense liquid. If a third liquid whose density falls between the first and second is poured into the container, it will form a layer between the other...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Introduction
2. Density is measured on a relative scale
3. Relative density can be observed
4. Look! It floats
5. Experiment 1 - Density: Can a scale of relative density predict whether one material floats on another?
6. Experiment 2 - Buoyancy: Does water pressure affect buoyancy?
7. Design Your Own Experiment