We filled a bucket with water and in it we completely submerged a can of Ice Tea zero and a regular can of Ice Tea and released it simultaneously. Both cans rose to the surface of the water, the zero slanted slightly, exposing part of the top of the can, and the regular Ice Tea stayed with the top just below the water’s surface. This is not what we expected. We expected that the can with the regular Ice Tea would sink because the density of sugar is greater than that of water.
Answer
Dear Margot
I ran the experiment again with my colleagues. We have seen the same result.
We also weighed the two cans. A regular can of Ice Tea weighs about 349 g while a can of Ice Tea zero weighs only 343 g. Indeed, the difference in weight is probably due to the difference in the amount of sugar. We can’t be sure of this, of course, because we don’t know the exact composition of both drinks.
We also know that both cans have the same shape and therefore the same volume.
The can of Ice Tea zero floats better than the regular can of Ice Tea, as you have also seen.
The reason it falls at an angle is that a can is not completely symmetrical. At the top you have the tab that creates a small imbalance and because the Ice Tea zero can floats slightly above the water’s edge, it sinks crookedly. This is further enhanced by the water in the top edge. The can of regular Ice Tea only comes out just above the water’s edge and therefore does not hang at an angle.
You probably expected that the regular Ice Tea can would sink because in the same experiment, but with Coca Cola, the regular can does sink. However, a can of Coca Cola weighs 367.5 g, so it is clearly heavier than Ice Tea. This extra weight ensures that the can does sink.
Hopefully this answers your question.
Answered by
ir. Martijn Huynen
http://www.ugent.be
.