Julie Franzak

ELED 305-42

6/12/2007

Science Area: Chemistry

Heavy things sink: Water sinks in oil because water is heavier than oil.

Water sinks in oil because water is denser than oil; oil floats on water because oil is less dense than water. If water needs to be heavier than oil in order for it to sink in oil, then tiny water drops should not be able to sink when dropped in oil.

Just like students believe that heavier objects drop faster than lighter objects, they also believe that heavier substances will sink in less heavy substances because of their weight.

Fill a cup with oil and fill another cup with the same amount of water. Have students hold the cups simultaneously to verify which cup/substance feels heavier; this can also be done by using a scale to test each cup’s weight. Using an eye dropper or a straw, place tiny drops of water into the cup with oil. Notice how the small drops of water hover on the oil’s surface. It is only when larger amounts of water are added that the water sinks below the oil.

“General Physics Misconceptions”. http://www.xinminss.moe.edu.sg:1285/physics/misconceptions/physicsmisconcep tions.htm. Obtained on June 8, 2007.

Julie Franzak

ELED 305-42

6/12/2007

Science Area: Chemistry

Expansion of matter is due to the expansion of particles, rather than the increase of particle spacing. Water atoms expand or change when ice melts.

When matter is heated it expands because the molecules are vibrating more quickly, loosening bonds, and increasing the space between adjacent atoms or molecules.

The language used in textbooks and by teachers are often confusing to elementary school students. Many students often view the water cycle by focusing on the properties of water; they see the water cycle mainly in terms of freezing and melting.

Test different substance’s melting points and then place the substances in the freezer until they are back into their solid form. Some substances that can be used for this activity are ice, butter, chocolate, and sugar. Other materials will be needed for this activity such as spoons, wax paper, a propane torch or small pots and a Bunsen burner.

Henriques, Laura. “Children’s Misconceptions about Weather: A Review of the Literature.” http://www.csulb.edu/~lhenriqu/NARST2000.htm. Obtained on June 7, 2007.

“Changes of State”. http://webpages.marshall.edu/~bady/Rick/liq-sol.txt. Obtained on June 8, 2007.