Our next two Titanic science lessons focused on the results of the iceberg collision.  Although most people believed it was a huge gash in the bulkheads of the Titanic that sank it, it was actually tiny gashes in several bulkheads, which eventually caused a chain reaction.  The Titanic floated more than 20 feet below the water line, which means that the water pressure was greater at that point.  The punctured areas had to withstand the great pressure of the ship itself along with the water.

Although the Titanic was large and had many bulkheads, it only took five flooded bulkheads to eventually sink the great ship.  As was told to Captain Smith by Thomas Andrews, the head designer of the Titanic, the Titanic would continue to float with four bulkheads but not five.  This is because the weight of five bulkheads would weigh the ship down so much, that the immense pressure would cause the water to slowly tilt into the next bulkhead until the Titanic had sank to one side.

We learned about water pressure, and then completed a simulation to demonstrate its effects.  We had milk jugs with a series of small holes in the side.  We covered the holes with tape, and filled the jugs with water.  When we held the jugs over buckets and removed the tape, we quickly saw that the bottom hole was shooting water out the farthest because of the increased pressure.