What is the MATTER? A Liquid Layers Experiment

In science, we have been studying MATTER.
Matter comes in 3 states:  LIQUID, SOLID or GAS. 

Three properties of matter that can be measured are:
MASS, VOLUME, and DENSITY

Mass:   The amount of matter something contains
Volume:  The amount of space something takes up
DENSITY:  The amount of matter compared to the amount of space it takes up

We conducted an investigation to study density and how it affects BUOYANCY (the ability of matter to float in a liquid or gas).

First, Mrs. Alaniz gathered the following materials: water, corn oil, maple syrup, and food coloring.

In our science notebooks, we predicted what would happen if we poured these materials together in the same cup.  We discussed the DENSITY of the corn oil compared to the density of water. Then we discussed the DENSITY  of the syrup compared to water.

Which of the liquids has BUOYANCY?

To answer this question, Mrs. Alaniz first put a few drops of food coloring into the cup of water.  (This would make it easier to see later.)

Then she filled another cup with corn oil.

Next, she filled another plastic cup with maple syrup.  (Our classroom smelled like pancakes on Sunday morning!)

What would happen when Mrs. Alaniz poured the syrup in the water?  We OBSERVED and it looked like this:

Then it looked like this: 

Because the maple syrup was DENSER than the water, it sank to the bottom of the cup. 

What would happen when we poured the oil into the cup of water and syrup?  We predicted in our notebooks.  Then Mrs. Alaniz poured the oil slowly down the inside of the cup and we OBSERVED what happened. 

It looked like this:

What do you think happened?  

Since the corn oil is less dense than water, it formed a layer on the top of the water. 

What can you conclude about the BUOYANCY of the liquids? 

We communicated our results in our Science Notebooks. 

One other conclusion:

SCIENCE is LAYERS of fun!!!