Exploring Density Solutions Using the Engineering Design Process
Students creating one of their solutions.Copyright Elizabeth Schuster
In this activity, students explore engineering concepts through hands-on experiments with density, mass, and weight. They are introduced to the engineering design process and work in groups to test blocks that sink or float in water, and they conduct research on the differences between mass, weight, and density. Students then brainstorm and plan the creation of three distinct mixtures, each with different densities, while adhering to specific constraints. After creating and testing their mixtures, they observe the results and make improvements based on their findings. The activity concludes with students reflecting on their process and completing an assessment to demonstrate their understanding.
Chemical engineers frequently design processes that involve mixing substances to create solutions or products with specific properties, such as the right density for separation or reaction. The activity mirrors the work of chemical engineers, who must understand how different materials interact, how to manipulate those interactions to achieve desired outcomes, and how to operate within constraints such as material properties and quantity.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Design and create mixtures using the engineering design process.
- Test the relative density of mixtures.
- Evaluate whether a mixture is a solution.