Two cans of soda can be exactly the same size yet have very different densities. Density is mass divided by volume, so if one can packs more stuff into that same space, it's denser. You weigh sealed cans of regular and diet soda, then measure their volume by water displacement to calculate each can's density. Regular soda is denser than water and sinks. Diet soda is less dense and floats.

Density

Forces and motion are the study of how things move and why they move that way. From the way a ball rolls down a hill to how rockets fly to the moon, forces and motion are at work.

Here are some experiments for comparing the buoyancy and density of differents cans of soda

Why does a can of regular soda sink while a can of diet soda floats? Both cans are the same size. The difference is density (mass divided by volume).

You weigh sealed cans of regular and diet soda. You measure their volume by water displacement. Then you calculate each can's density. Regular soda is denser than water. Diet soda is less dense.

Next, you attach foam or metal weights to the cans. The goal is neutral buoyancy. A neutrally buoyant can hovers in the middle of the water, neither sinking nor floating.

BUOYANCY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to:

1. Predict and observe the behavior of regular and diet soft drink cans when
immersed in water.
2. Calculate the density of solutions using mass-volume data.
3. Design and construct a neutrally buoyant vessel.
4. Relate density to neutral buoyancy.




Materials:

Balance
Aquarium or other large, deep, straight-sided container filled with water
One sealed can each of regular and diet soda (same brand) at room temperature
(Coke and Diet Coke and Seven-Up and Diet 7-Up are recommended. Some other
brands may not exhibit significant differences between regular and diet
versions.)
One empty can of each type of soda
Paper towels
Pencils and paper for student data tables
Ice (optional)
Plastic foam (cups, blocks, strips or poly puff "packing worms")
Finishing nails or metal washers, several sizes
Tape, preferably water resistant
Scissors


Procedure:

A. Fully immerse the can of regular soda in water (it should sink and stay
sunk), then the can of diet soda (it should rise to the surface and float).

B. Distribute plastic foam and nails or washers:
1. Set up data table for recording mass, volume, and density.
2. Determine the mass of an empty, dry, regular drink can and a diet drink can.
Determine the mass of a full, unopened can of each solution and record. Read the
volume of solution from the side of each can. Record this information in your
data table.
3. Determine the overall volume of your unopened cans by water displacement. How
do these volumes compare with the volume of the contents indicated on the side
of the cans?
4. Calculate the density of the unopened cans by dividing the mass by the volume
of each can. (M/V=D)
5. Modify your cans to make them hover in the middle of the container of water.
Use plastic foam materials and metal nails or washers to raise or lower the
cans.
6. How do the densities of the regular and diet drink solutions compare to the
density of water, which is 1 g/mL?  

Results:
Unopened regular soda cans sink, unopened diet soda cans float.

Conclusion:
Regular soft drinks are sweetened with dissolved sugar and/or high-fructose
corn syrup. A great quantity of this relatively heavy substance is required to
sweeten regular soft drinks. The artificial sweeteners in so-called diet drinks
are many times sweeter than sugar and so they are required in smaller
quantities. Therefore, regular soft drinks are more dense than water, and diet
drinks are less dense, leading to the regular soft drink sinking, while the diet soft drink floats.



Density, Soda Cans, and Neutral Buoyancy

Experiments with buoyant forces

<h1><strong>1000 Science Fair Project Ideas by Subject</strong></h1><p>Looking for a science fair project idea? Each of our science fair project idea has complete instructions with video. Get ideas for your science projects, find extra resources for your class' scientific projects, or try a fun experiment at home! It doesn't matter what grade you're in, there's something for everyone!</p><p>You can find your perfect science fair project from the different science subjects below or from our <a href="https://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html#bottom">science fair project idea lists!</a></p>

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Physics is the study of how the universe works. Physicists study everything from tiny particles that make up atoms to huge stars and galaxies. They help us understand how things move, how energy works, and even how time and space are connected!

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1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Density, Soda Cans, and Neutral Buoyancy

Hypothesis

Science Concepts Learned

Method & Materials

Results

Why do this project?

Also Consider

Full project details

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