Pumpkin Science: Sink or Float?

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Pumpkins can be pretty heavy. Do you think pumpkins float or sink in water?

Try it and find out!

Materials

• Several pumpkins of different sizes
• One jack o' lantern or carved pumpkin
• Bathtub
• Towels to keep the floor dry

Instructions

1. Fill your bathtub with water.
    
2. Gather a few pumpkins of various sizes and weights. For each pumpkin, make a prediction—will it float or sink?
    
3. Gently place the pumpkins in the water and see what happens.
   • Was your prediction correct?
   • Why do you think the pumpkins floated or sank?
4. Now try the experiment again with a jack o’ lantern or carved pumpkin. Make your prediction—will it float or sink?
   • Was your prediction correct?
   • Is this the same or different from what the whole pumpkins did? Why or why not?