Summative Task: The relationship between density of the medium and materials

Name (s) : Marta Arcediano, Laia Abril and Abril Martinez

Statement of inquiry: Scientists observe natural phenomena and relate them to their
experiments, generating knowledge that is used to develop products that have
consequences in society.

What can you see in these images?

In these images we can observe two different types of watercrafts. Each one of them has a
different purpose and therefore a different mass, weight and capacity. These two watercrafts
are floating in water, in which a determinate density that is unknown is applied.

What scientific questions can arise from this observation?

• How can a boat, as heavy as it is, float on a liquid surface (water):
• How is the weight of an object related to how much density is needed for it to float?
• Does the watercraft’s mass affect its floatability?

We will carry out experiments to apply the scientific method and analyze the assessment criteria
B and C.

Criterion B: Inquiring and designing

Maximum: 8
You should be able to:
i. describe a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
ii. outline a testable hypothesis and explain it using scientific reasoning
iii. describe how to manipulate the variables, and describe how data will be collected
iv. design scientific investigations.

Criterion C: Processing and evaluating

You should be able to:
i. present collected and transformed data
ii. interpret data and describe results using scientific reasoning
iii. discuss the validity of a hypothesis based on the outcome of the scientific investigation
iv. discuss the validity of the method
v. describe improvements or extensions to the method.

Criterion B: Inquiring and designing

Achievement Level descriptor
level
0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors
below.
1-2 The student is able to:
i. state a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation, with
limited success
ii. state a testable hypothesis
iii. state the variables
iv. design a method, with limited success.

3-4 The student is able to:

i. state a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
ii. outline a testable hypothesis using scientific reasoning
iii. outline how to manipulate the variables, and state how relevant data will be
collected
iv. design a safe method in which he or she selects materials and equipment.

5-6 The student is able to:

i. outline a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
ii. outline and explain a testable hypothesis using scientific reasoning
iii. outline how to manipulate the variables, and outline how sufficient, relevant data
will be collected
iv. design a complete and safe method in which he or she selects appropriate
materials and equipment.

7-8 The student is able to:

i. describe a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
ii. outline and explain a testable hypothesis using correct scientific reasoning
iii. describe how to manipulate the variables, and describe how sufficient, relevant
data will be collected
iv. design a logical, complete and safe method in which he or she selects
appropriate materials and equipment.

Command Terms:

State: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Outline: Give a brief account or summary.

Describe: Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

Design: Produce a plan, simulation or model.

Criterion C: Processing and evaluating
Achievement Level descriptor
level
0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors
below.
1-2 The student is able to:
i. collect and present data in numerical and/or visual forms
ii. accurately interpret data
iii. state the validity of a hypothesis with limited reference to a scientific
investigation
iv. state the validity of the method with limited reference to a scientific investigation
v. state limited improvements or extensions to the method.

3-4 The student is able to:

i. correctly collect and present data in numerical and/or visual forms
ii. accurately interpret data and describe results
iii. state the validity of a hypothesis based on the outcome of a scientific
investigation
iv. state the validity of the method based on the outcome of a scientific investigation
v. state improvements or extensions to the method that would benefit the scientific
investigation.

5-6 The student is able to:

i. correctly collect, organize and present data in numerical and/or visual forms
ii. accurately interpret data and describe results using scientific reasoning
iii. outline the validity of a hypothesis based on the outcome of a scientific
investigation
iv. outline the validity of the method based on the outcome of a scientific
investigation
v. outline improvements or extensions to the method that would benefit the
scientific investigation.

7-8 The student is able to:

i. correctly collect, organize, transform and present data in numerical and/ or visual
forms
ii. accurately interpret data and describe results using correct scientific reasoning
iii. discuss the validity of a hypothesis based on the outcome of a scientific
investigation
iv. discuss the validity of the method based on the outcome of a scientific
investigation
v. describe improvements or extensions to the method that would benefit the
scientific investigation.

Command Terms:
Outline: Give a brief account or summary.
Discuss: Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or
hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate
evidence.
Describe: Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

STUDENT´S REPORT

PART 1 (Related to Criterion B: Inquiring and designing)

i. describe a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation.

Clarification:
Describe the problem in relation to this question: Does the density of the water affect how fast
an object sinks? Use this to justify why you would like to make this investigation.

There is a measuring cylinder with a determinate amount of salt and we throw a small cube of
a specific weight into the water. Everytime we increase the amount of salt in the water it takes
a different amount of time for the cube to sink

Does the density of the water affect how long it takes for the cube to sink?

ii. outline and explain a testable hypothesis using correct scientific reasoning.
Clarification:
Summarize your hypothesis regarding the effect of the density of water on the rate at which
something sinks, justify it using scientific reasoning.

If the water is denser, then the cube will take longer to sink because if the water is denser, it
means that the particles in the water are closer to one another, and that will make the space
between them smaller, not allowing the cube to sink that easily

iii. describe how to manipulate the variables, and describe how sufficient, relevant data will be
collected.
Clarification:
Describe how you will manipulate the independent variables (IDVs) and dependent variables
(DVs) (also indicate the variables and justify why are independent or dependent). Describe how
you will collect data related with these variables.

IV: Density
DV: Time
CV: Weight

-To manipulate the independent variable, we will add 2 more grams of salt each time to
increase the density. We will do multiple rounds until the cube floats.

- To manipulate the dependent variable, we will time how much it takes for the cube in each
round to sink depending on the density of the water

- To manipulate the controllable variable we will choose a cube of a determinate weight, and
depending on the weight of the cube we choose it will affect the results of the experiment.
iv. design a logical, complete and safe method in which he or she selects appropriate materials and
equipment.
Clarification:
Design your experiment, indicating materials and equipment used, quantities of materials, the
steps you will do to make the experiment and the precautions and safety equipment you´ll use
(you can use drawings or pictures to clarify the protocol).

Materials:
- Salt
- Water
- Cube

Aparatuses:
- Beacker
- Measuring cylinder
- Spatula
- Timer
- Electronic balance
-watch glass
- Pippette

Method:
1- Fill a measuring cylinder with 100ml of water and use a pippete for more accurate
measuring
2- Throw the cube into the water while timing how much it takes for it to reach the bottom of
the measuring cylinder
3- Weight 2g of salt using an electronic balance and a watch glass
4- put the salt into a beacker
5- Add the 100ml of water and mix with a spatula
6- Pour the mix into the measuring cylinder again
7- Throw the cube into the water while timing how much it takes for it to reach the bottom of
the measuring cylinder
*Repeat the process from step 2 multiple times until the cube floats*

Safety measures
- wear a lab coat
- make sure not to spill anything

PART 2 (Related to Criterion C: Processing and evaluating)

i. correctly collect, organize, transform and present data in numerical and/or visual forms
Clarification:
Correctly collect, organize, transform and present data related with the independent and
dependent variables. You can use tables, graphs and/or drawings.

IDV (units) DV (units)

Density time
 0 1,95
2 2,33
4 2,45
6 2,70
8 2,66
10 3,08
12 3,00
14 3,35
16 4,30
18 7,60
20 2,78 until it floats

Time vs density

2
Floats

0g 2g 4g 6g 8g 10g 12g 14g 16g 18g 20g

ii. accurately interpret data and describe results using correct scientific reasoning
Clarification:
Accurately interpret data shown in the previous point (i) and describe your results: write down
an analysis about what you obtained from your experiments depending on the variables and
the procedure you used.

The results show there was an increasement in the time taken for the cube to sink everytime
we added more acid.
In some points such as from 6g to 8g and from 10g to 12g there is a decreasment which
shouldn’t be there. This might have happened because duuring the experiment there was
some accidental spilling that may have altered the outcome of the experiment.

iii. discuss the validity of your hypothesis based on the outcome of your scientific investigation.
Clarification:
Depending on the results you obtained from your experiments, discuss the validity of the
hypothesis you´ve made in PART 1. ii.

The hypothesis was:

If the water is denser, then the cube will take longer to sink because if the water is denser, it
means that the particles in the water are closer to one another, and that will make the space
between them smaller, not allowing the cube to sink that easily.

The results show the hypothesis was correct because, everytime we added more salt it took
longer for the cube to sink due to the increasement of the water’s density.

iv. discuss the validity of the method based on the outcome of a scientific investigation
Clarification:
Depending on the outcome of your experiments, discuss if your methods were valid to achieve
your objective/s. (Try to include arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions
should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence)

*Changed steps underlined in black

Method:
1- Fill a measuring cylinder with 100ml of water and use a pippete for more accurate
measuring
2- Weight 2g of salt using an electronic balance and a watch glass
3- put the salt into a beacker
4- Add the 100ml of water and mix with a spatula until it completely dissolves
5- Pour the mix into the measuring cylinder again
6- Throw the cube into the water from the same height while timing how much it takes for it to
reach the bottom of the measuring cylinder
*Repeat the process from step 2 multiple times until the cube floats*

Errors:
-Spilling
-not measuring super precisely

v. describe improvements or extensions to the method that would benefit the scientific
investigation.
Clarification:
Analyzing your experiments and results, detail how you would improve them in order to
benefit your investigation.

As an extension to this experiment, it would be really interesting to do this experiment

multiple times with cubes made of different materials and weights so that we could see how
the weight of the cube completely changes the outcome of the experiment.

Laia Abril: 33,3%

Marta Arcediano: 33,3%
Abril Martinez: 33,3%