Question

Which statements about salt water are true? Check all that apply.

Salt water contains minerals other than salt.
Fresh water is heavier than salt water.
Objects float more easily in oceans than in lakes or rivers.
The temperature of ocean water is affected by the depth of the water.
The temperature of ocean water is affected by the ocean’s location.

Answer 1

True:
- Salt water contains minerals other than salt. (Seawater has many dissolved ions — e.g., magnesium, calcium, potassium, sulfate — not just sodium chloride.)
- Objects float more easily in oceans than in lakes or rivers. (Higher salinity → higher density → greater buoyant force.)
- The temperature of ocean water is affected by the depth of the water. (Surface water is warmed by sunlight; deeper water is colder — thermoclines separate layers.)
- The temperature of ocean water is affected by the ocean’s location. (Latitude, currents, and proximity to land/poles determine water temperature.)

False:
- Fresh water is heavier than salt water. (Salt water is denser/heavier than fresh water.)