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Density is the mass per unit volume (mass/volume) of a substance. Salty waters are denser than fresh water at the same temperature. Both salt and temperature are important influences on density: density increases with increased salinity and decreases with increased temperature. In this activity we will investigate how the density of an object and of the water affects whether the object will float or sink. Credit: Pat Harcourt, COSEE-West and Ted Taylor, Bangor High School, Bangor, Maine.