Sinking Objects Notes & Questions | Class 2 Chemistry | Drishti OS

Sinking Objects

Looking Around 2 — simple sink-and-float play activities with a tub of water and classroom objects.

Some things sink in water — they go down to the bottom.
Sinking things are usually heavy for their size, like metal and stone objects.
Examples of things that sink: a small stone, an iron nail, a coin, a metal key, a steel spoon, a glass marble, a small rock, a metal bolt, a brass ring, a steel ball.

Verbal: An object that goes down to the bottom of the water is sinking.

Object	Why it sinks
Small stone	Heavy for its size
Iron nail	Iron is heavy for its size
Coin	Metal is heavy for its size
Metal key	Metal is heavy
Steel spoon	Steel is heavy
Glass marble	Solid and heavy, no trapped air

Sinking objects usually have no air trapped inside them — they are solid all the way through.

You drop an iron nail into a bucket of water. What happens?

Step 1 — The nail is heavy for its size and has no trapped air.
Step 2 — It goes straight to the bottom.
Answer: The nail sinks.

Mistake	Why	Fix
Small things always float	Confusing size with weight	A small coin still sinks
Shiny things always float	Confusing shine with lightness	A shiny steel spoon still sinks

Stretch: Will a metal spoon ever float? Why or why not?

Revision tip: Drop a coin, a key, and a cork into a bucket of water and watch what happens.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Sinking Objects.