About This Activity
Have you ever wondered how engineers decide which materials are best for building ships, bridges, submarines, and spaceships? In this hands-on materials engineering adventure, you will investigate the surprising science of sinking and floating! Your team will test wood, metal, plastic, sponges, rocks, and other everyday objects, recording observations as you uncover why some materials behave differently in water. Next, you’ll tackle an exciting engineering challenge by transforming objects that sink into boats that float. Whose design will carry the most cargo before it sinks? Through hands-on experiments, creative problem-solving, and a few splashes, you'll discover how engineers use the properties of materials and smart design to solve real-world challenges.
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