Steve Spangler Science: Sinking Soda Surprise

Which of your favorite sodas will sink, and which carbonated beverages will swim? It’s density at its finest!

I remember as a kid diving to the bottom of the swimming pool to retrieve unopened cans of soda pop. No, someone didn’t accidentally drop the cans of soda into the pool. Instead, our parents tossed the unopened cans of soda into the pool as a game on the fourth of July or any time they wanted to keep us busy. Come to think of it, I’m not sure why we kept retrieving the cans, but we did. So, based on my personal experience, I knew that unopened cans of soda sink in water . . . until I saw my first can of soda float. Why do some cans of soda float and others sink?


Science Topics
Density
K-6
Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

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