Page 55 - Resources

Lesson 12
Archimedes’ Water Displacement Experiment

Aim: To prove Archimedes Water Displacement findings.

Equipment: Weighing scales
Modelling clay

Two plastic containers (one large, one small)
Sharp scissors
Several different sized objects
Plastic tubing or an old pen

Method: 1. Make a hole about two thirds up the side of the larger container so that
the plastic tube can fit into it.
2. Push in your tube and seal the outside with modelling clay.
3. Fill the container with water to just below the level of the hole. Mark the

water level so that you can refill the container easily.
4. Put the other container under the end of the tube but weigh the small
container first and note its weight.

5. Weigh an object on the scales and record its weight on the table below.
6. Put the same object into the water container. Carefully weigh the small
container with the water that has come out of the tube. Subtract the
weight of the small container to give the weight of the water displaced by
the object.

7. Try this with several more objects. Record your results in the table below.

(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 81