Publisher's Synopsis
The scientific concepts of floating and sinking are explained in this book which is one of a series intended to encourage children to explore the science of the world around them.;The concept of floating is illustrated by moving logs on a river. The reader is asked a question related to the weight of wood and shown how a corks floats. A simple illustrated activity proves this. Things that sink are portrayed in the same method. Objects in water are shown to be lighter in water than out of it, to demonstrate this an experiment is suggested using modelling clay, a rubber band and a bowl of water. Through the example of boats, a hovercraft and a canoe the physics of floating is explained. There is a difference between things that float to the top of the water and those that are not so buoyant. Children are asked to try to find out how a swim bladder works through a simple test, while realizing the same scientific explanation exists for a whale or dolphin's movement under the sea or a submarine and a submersible. A further test is done to prove things float better in salty than in pure water. Floating does not only happen in water. Hot air balloons can rise into the air because they contain hot air. Hot air floats on cold air.;The book then shows how floating and sinking objects can operate in the same environment. To show how insects walk on the surface of a pond, a paper clip and tissue paper are both put on the surface of water. The tissue sinks. To conclude, the tested theories reveal that not only solids float, liquids can too. Oil floats on water, but water floats on syrup.
