Science Work Sheet (2)

In this article, I will demonstrate how to lead the students into the understanding of Archimedes' principle. The work sheet shown here is not a complete one because I am just focusing on the introduction part of the lesson.

Work Sheet

1. Observe the boy lifting a heavy rock from the sea bed. What can you say about the weight of the rock as it is lifted out of the water surface?

2. What happens to a block of steel when it is dropped into the sea?

3. A ship is also made of steel but it floats.

(a) Compare the shape of the block of steel with the ship. What do you think is the factor that makes the ship floats?

(b) What inference can you make from the observation?

Additional Comments

• Do not introduce Archimedes' principle using mathematical derivation. This is a sure way to kill the interest of the pupils especially those who are not so mathematically inclined.
• An interesting alternative to the above is to replace the stone with a watermelon--a real watermelon placed in a pail of water! A sure 'hands-on' experience that will make Archimedes principle more memorable when students experience lifting a watermelon that is submerged in water until it is completely out of the water. A sure 'mouth-on' experience that will make the principle 'delicious' when, at the end of the lesson, every student gets to taste a slice of the watermelon.
• When it comes to the inevitable introduction of the formula, the following diagram may help students to relate the pressure in fluid to that of Archimedes' principle.