Cream on Top: Why is it So Much Denser than Milk?

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the density of cream compared to milk, exploring the reasons behind cream rising to the top of milk and the relationship between density and viscosity. The scope includes conceptual clarification and technical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether cream is actually denser than milk, noting that it is more viscous but suggesting that viscosity does not equate to density.
  • Others assert that cream is denser than milk, citing the process of making butter as evidence.
  • A participant references an article to clarify that the fat in cream is less dense than milk, explaining that this is why cream rises to the top when undisturbed.
  • Another participant reiterates the claim that cream is denser, mentioning that butter floats in water as a supporting point.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether cream is denser than milk, leading to an unresolved debate on the topic.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the definitions of density and viscosity, as well as the assumptions made about the properties of cream and milk in the discussion.

vin300
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Why is cream on the top being so much more dense than milk below?
 
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vin300 said:
Why is cream on the top being so much more dense than milk below?

Is it denser? It's more viscous, but that's not the same thing as being more dense.
 
I'm pretty sure it's denser. We make butter out of it.
 
Perhaps this article may clear up the confusion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream

The fat in cream is less dense than the milk, therefore the cream will rise to the top of the milk if the container is not agitated.

Butter is not cream. Cream must be churned to turn it into butter. The churning separates the butterfat from the buttermilk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter
 
vin300 said:
I'm pretty sure it's denser. We make butter out of it.

Butter floats in water too.
 

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