Did all the light objects float and all the heavy objects sink? Name the heavy objects that floated and lighter objects that sank.
No, not all light objects float and not all heavy objects sink. Whether an object floats or sinks depends on factors other than just weight. For example, heavy objects like an empty bowl (katori) or a plastic bottle with a lid can float because of their shape and the air trapped inside them. Lighter objects like an iron nail can sink because of their material properties. The chapter states: 'Floating or sinking of an object cannot be decided based just on whether it is heavy or light. It also depends on other factors.'
Explanation
The chapter explicitly addresses this misconception: 'From this activity, it can be observed that some heavy objects like iron nails sink, while lighter ones like leaves, float.' It then asks students to identify exceptions and concludes: 'Floating or sinking of an object cannot be decided based just on whether it is heavy or light. It also depends on other factors.' This leads to the next activity about how shape affects floating and sinking.