Sink or Float, Density, Surface Tension Misconceptions

Concepts

Density
Objects will sink or float depending on the relationship of the gravitational pull on the object and the upward force of the liquid it displaces.
Density of an object in relationship to the density of the liquid that it is placed in will determine how it will sink or float.
Buoyancy is the upward force of a liquid on an object placed in it.
Gravity is the attraction of two objects.
Force is a push or pull.
Density is mass per volume
Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
Volume is the amount of space an object occupies.

Misconceptions

Water is pushing up on the object
Weight determines if an object will sink or float.
Heavy objects always sink and light objects always float.
A larger heavier object will not float as well as a smaller lighter object of the same material.
The amount of water will cause objects to float or sink better.
There must be more water for larger objects to float. Weight of the water must be more than the weight of the object.
Objects with holes will always sink.
Objects with air float.
Objects float on top of the liquid.
Fish don’t float unless they are dead.
Objects sink because there is more water than oil. If there were more oil, the oil would be on the bottom.
Water is on the bottom, because it was poured in first.
Density is the thickness of something
Oil is always on top because it repels water, corn syrup has some oil in it and it would be between oil and water, anything mixed with oil separates
The more air pockets in something the more it will float. Wax, ice, has lots of air pockets in it and floats.
Liquids are liquids and will all mix together

Concept

Surface tension is caused by a strong attraction of the particules. It is formed when the particles pull together.

Misconceptions

Drop of liquid on a penny:
The number of drops that fit will depend on how flat the penny is (the size of the penny).
One drop will cover the entire penny.
Depends on the size of the ridge on the penny.
Depends on how far you drop the drops onto the penny.
Clear liquids will be the same opaque liquids will hold more because they are thicker.
Thick liquids will fit more than thin liquids because they are thicker and will stay on and build up. (stickier?).
The water drops form together and build up.
The temperature will make a difference. Hotter water will be less than cold because the particles move faster.
Pennies dropped into a jar full of water: shape of the glass distorts your view so you can put more in than you think. The lip of the glass lets the water go above the rim. The pennies are smaller than you think.