Final answer:
Benjamin's hypothesis before starting his investigation might state that materials with different densities will exhibit different behaviors in water—oil will float due to lower density compared to water, and a stone will sink because it is denser. He can measure the stone's mass and volume via water displacement to calculate its density.
Step-by-step explanation:
A possible hypothesis that Benjamin could make before starting his investigation on density could be that different materials will have different levels of buoyancy in water due to their densities. The oil is expected to float on top of the water because it is less dense, while the stone, being denser than water, will sink. This hypothesis is based on the principle that the density of a substance determines its buoyancy in a fluid.
To investigate density using water displacement, Benjamin can measure the mass of the stone before and after submerging it in water. The mass of the object remains constant, but its apparent volume can be determined by the amount of water it displaces in the graduated cylinder. By dividing the mass of the stone by the volume of water displaced, Benjamin can calculate the density of the stone. This method is a straightforward way to determine an object's density and is commonly used in educational settings.