The more dense the solution is, the more time it will take for the object to sink (In this case, it's a coin), why?

[najiawad5]

I did an experiment where I dropped a coin in 3 liquids, Maple Syrup, Glycerol and Water. I timed the results and it seemed the coin went slowest in Maple Syrup and the Maple Syrup was the most dense solution. Is it because the coin's density is near the liquid's density, so the up-thrust force and the down-thrust force would be pushing however the resultant force was the down-thrust force?

 

EDIT:

Subject: Science

Level: Grade 7, MYP.

Edited March 11, 2015 by najiawad5

[Robittybob1]

I did an experiment where I dropped a coin in 3 liquids, Maple Syrup, Glycerol and Water. I timed the results and it seemed the coin went slowest in Maple Syrup and the Maple Syrup was the most dense solution. Is it because the coin's density is near the liquid's density, so the up-thrust force and the down-thrust force would be pushing however the resultant force was the down-thrust force?

 

EDIT:

Subject: Science

Level: Grade 7, MYP.

Have you looked up the meaning of density? What word should you be using?

[swansont]

Density would have an effect, since there will be a buoyancy force (upward). You could test this by dropping items of an identical shape but different densities into the same liquid. (Though a coin may not be the best shape, since they might tumble in the fluid, and that would slow them down, while other times you drop the coin it doesn't)

 

Another effect is viscosity, which measures how "sticky" or "thick" a fluid is. You might be able to find fluids that have the same density but different viscosities, and gather more data.

[Robittybob1]

Density would have an effect, since there will be a buoyancy force (upward). You could test this by dropping items of an identical shape but different densities into the same liquid. (Though a coin may not be the best shape, since they might tumble in the fluid, and that would slow them down, while other times you drop the coin it doesn't)

 

Another effect is viscosity, which measures how "sticky" or "thick" a fluid is. You might be able to find fluids that have the same density but different viscosities, and gather more data.

A ball bearing would be an ideal object to drop into various liquids of different density (concentration) and viscosity (temperature dependent).