Final answer:
To create a steel cube, high costs arise from the price of steel, manufacturing processes, and the steel's density. A steel object can float on water due to surface tension which supports the weight without breaking the surface. The properties of matter, including density, determine a material's application suitability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question about the cost of creating a steel cube for teaching purposes touches upon various aspects including the cost of materials, the manufacturing process, and understanding the properties of steel. The high cost can be attributed to the price of steel as a raw material, the industrial process to melt and mold the steel into a cube, which requires specialized equipment, and in addition, the intrinsic properties of steel which include its density and strength.
Concerning the density of steel and how it compares to other substances such as water, a steel needle or paper clip can float on the surface of still water due to the surface tension of the water. This phenomenon is explained at a molecular level: the molecules of water are attracted to one another creating a 'film' on the surface that can support the weight of a small, carefully placed steel object, as long as the object does not break the surface.
When discussing materials in an educational setting, it's important to consider properties of matter such as density, malleability, conductivity, and durability. These properties determine the suitability of a material for different applications. For instance, metal is chosen for certain objects because of its strength, durability, and sometimes its conductivity, all of which are determined by the properties of the metal.