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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Floating, sinking and density

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

  • Identify objects that are floating.
  • Describe how the mass and volume of an object affect how well it floats.  
  • Describe how the shape of an object affects how well it floats.       
  • Explain how the density of an object determines how well it floats. 
  • Explain how the density of a liquid (or gas) determines how well objects float in it.

 The resources include details of common misconceptions and a summary of the research upon which the resources are based.

Download the zip file for all the questions and activities.

More resources like this can be found on the BEST webpage:  Best Evidence in Science Teaching

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