This massive surface area makes my plasticine float!
Background
Flatten a rock out so that it has a
massive surface area
(check out the definition in the online science dictionary) and you would be able to get it to float. Don't believe me?
Ok, so it is difficult to flatten a rock, but there are things that you can flatten. And guess what – they will float when they normally would have sunk. Don't believe me again? Well... Let's do science...
The Experiment
The nice thing about plasticine is that it is pretty heavy and if you roll it into a ball and throw it into a lake, you can pretty much kiss your plasticine goodbuy. But change it's shape and it floats...
The Aim
To get a piece of plasticine to float by changing it's shape and giving it a larger surface area.
Equipment Needed
Plasticine – enough that will give you at least a ball of one and a half centimeters in diameter.
Water.
A bowl.
Method
Fill the bowl with water until it is about three quarters full.
Roll the plasticine into a ball and put it carefully in the water. Record what happens.
Now flatten the plasticine and bend it up along the edges slightly, to give the shape of a shallow bowl. This is done so that water does not get on top of the plasticine. If this does happen the water on top of the plasticine will push it under the water – much like if a ship takes on water, it will also go down (watch the movie Titanic if you don't believe me!)
Record what happens.
Results
No guesses for what happens to the ball of plasticine. Yup, straight to the bottom of the bowl.
If you give the plasticine enough surface area, in other words flatten it out enough, and give it the right shape you will be able to get it to float.
The Conclusion
If the shape of an object is changed to give it a massive surface area in comparison to what it normally is, it will be able to float.
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