In art class, two students each receive their own 100-gram lump of clay. Each student then uses their clay to make a sculpture, and both students use all of their clay. One student makes a clay boat that can float in water. The other creates a clay cube that sinks in water. What is most likely true about the sculptures?

Question

In art class, two students each receive their own 100-gram lump of clay. Each student then uses their clay to make a sculpture, and both students use all of their clay. One student makes a clay boat that can float in water. The other creates a clay cube that sinks in water. What is most likely true about the sculptures?

The sculpture that floats has less mass.

The sculpture that sinks has more mass.

The mass of the two sculptures is 100 grams.

Each sculpture's mass is 100 grams.

Answer 1

Each sculpture's mass is 100 grams.

A sculpture's ability to float or sink in water is determined by its density, which is mass divided by volume. Since both students used all of their 100-gram clay, the mass of each sculpture is likely the same. The difference in density between the two sculptures is likely due to their shapes and compositions rather than their mass.