Eight Grade Science Help - Please Help

[AbhiKap55]

Hello I am in eight grade Science and I really need help on a homework. The homework is the following:

 

 

Material: (Density (g/cm3))

 

Aluminum soda cans: (2.7g/cm3)

Steel cans: (5.7 g/cm3)

Milk jugs: (0.95 g/cm3)

Soda bottles: (1.4 g/cm3)

 

 

You can use the following things to help:

 

• A long conveyor belt

• A large tank that can be filled with water

• Another large tank labeled “Concentrated sugar water, density = 1.5 g/cm3”

• Several powerful magnets hanging above the conveyor belt

• Several nets for skimming the tanks and scooping material from the bottoms.

 

Your job: Find a way to separate the four recycled materials.

 

If anyone can help me on this it would be greatly appreciated. You have to find a way to separate this materials using only the things above.

 

Thanks, Help is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John Cuthber]

Well, how far have you got?

What would happen to the things if you put them in water?

What about the other things that you can use to help?

[AbhiKap55]

Well, I tried my best and spent about 30 minutes thinking about it but I only got the idea that the magnets could be used to attract more dense material (If that makes sense)

 

Other than that, I have no idea and I really need help.

 

Thanks, Help is appreciated.

[Greg H.]

Here's a hint for you

 

Magnets attract ferrous metals, but not non-ferrous ones (density is unimportant to a magnet).

 

And here's a question to get you thinking in the right direction:

 

What happens if you put something in water that is less dense than the water itself?

[AbhiKap55]

Here's a hint for you

 

Magnets attract ferrous metals, but not non-ferrous ones (density is unimportant to a magnet).

 

And here's a question to get you thinking in the right direction:

 

What happens if you put something in water that is less dense than the water itself?

 

Ok so, I have a quesiton. Do you think it will be a good idea to drop everything say in a small pond and then the less dense will float whereas the more dense will sink?

 

Thanks, Help is appreciated.

[Greg H.]

Looking at the information provided, comparing it to the density of water, what do you think would happen?