Sinking or floating in water in Materials and Things – Class 6 Science Experiment

Chapter Name:  Materials and Things

Activity Name: Sinking or floating in water in  Materials and Things

Activity Description:

This experiment aims to determine whether various objects sink or float in water. The objects to be tested include a tomato, brinjal (eggplant), potato, iron nail, sponge, wood, stone, leaf, piece of chalk, and paper.

Required Items:

1. Beaker of water
2. Tomato
3. Brinjal (eggplant)
4. Potato
5. Iron nail
6. Sponge
7. Wood
8. Stone
9. Leaf
10. Piece of chalk
11. Paper

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Set up a beaker filled with water on a stable surface.
2. Take the objects one by one and predict whether they will sink or float in water.
3. Record your predictions in a table.

Experiment Observations:

After conducting the experiment and dropping each object into the beaker of water, the following observations were made:

Prediction:

Object	Sinks/Floats
Stone	Sinks
Tomato	Floats
Brinjal	Floats
Potato	Floats
Iron nail	Sinks
Sponge	Floats
Wood	Floats
Leaf	Floats
Piece of chalk	Sinks
Paper	Floats

Based on the experiment, the observations indicate:

• Objects that sank in water: Stone, Iron nail, Piece of chalk
• Objects that floated in water: Tomato, Brinjal, Potato, Sponge, Wood, Leaf, Paper

These observations confirm or refute the initial predictions made for each object’s behavior in water.

Precautions:

• Handle sharp objects (such as the iron nail) with care to avoid injury.
• Make sure the beaker is stable to prevent accidental spills.
• Clean and dry the objects after testing to avoid contamination.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

• Handle sharp objects (such as the iron nail) with care to avoid injury.
• Make sure the beaker is stable to prevent accidental spills.
• Clean and dry the objects after testing to avoid contamination.