Name: _____________________

Which Crayons Sink or Float?

Student Handout
Trial 1

Crayon
Color:
Float or
sink?

Red

Orange

Blue

Green

Black

Brown

Trial 2
Crayon
Red
Orange
Blue
Green
Black
Brown
Color:
Float or
sink?
Prediction:
Red:
Orange:
Blue:
Green:
Black:
Brown:
White:
Purple:
Observation:
Red:
Orange:
Blue:
Green:
Black:
Brown:
White:
Purple:
Why did some crayons sink while others floated?

White

Purple

White

Purple

What happened differently the second time that you were not
expecting?

Explanation: Water has a cohesive force between its liquid molecules that is responsible for the
phenomenon that is known as surface tension (water molecules naturally want to cling to each
other!) Surface tension is the property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external
force (allows for objects to float on water). By placing the crayon in the water with the tip facing
downward, the crayon is breaking the surface tension of the water, and will not be able to float
on top. However, when the crayon is placed gently on top of the water without breaking the
cohesive force, it is able to float. When the object is floating on the surface of the water, the
surface under the tension will behave like an elastic membrane.