Two short, fat glasses with the same amount of water are placed in front of a group of children. The children watch as water is poured from one short, fat glass into a tall, skinny glass. The children are then asked, "Does the tall, skinny glass have the same, more, or less water than the short, fat glass?" Which of the following types of problem does this illustrate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This problem illustrates the concept of conservation, which involves understanding that the amount of a substance remains the same even if its physical appearance changes. The children have to understand that even though the water looks like it has decreased in the short, fat glass, the total amount of water remains the same when poured into the tall, skinny glass.

Two Short, Fat Glasses with the Same Amount of Water