1.

DENSITY

GOALS
1. Determine volumes of several objects from their linear dimensions and
by displacement
2. Determine the density of several materials

BACKGROUND
The volume of an object is the amount of space that it occupies. We often
use units of length to express volume. Objects are three-dimensional (have
length, width, and height), and the volume is often expressed in cubic units.
Two equations for calculating the volume of regular-shaped objects are given
in Table 1.
Liquids are often measured in liters. In this lab we will find the volume of
liquids by using a plastic graduated cylinder. Your text probably mentions a
meniscus (a curve on the surface of the liquid). Since water does not tend to
cling to plastic surfaces, there is little meniscus and no need to adjust for it.
In this experiment we will put water in a graduated cylinder and then place an
object in the cylinder. There must be enough water to cover the object. The
object will push aside, or displace, the water. If the object is submerged, the
volume of the water displaced (pushed aside) is equal to the volume of the
object and the rise in the water level will also equal the volume of the object.
Table 1

Shape Formula Symbols

V = volume

Rectangular l = length
V = lwh
Solid w = width
h = height
V = volume

V = πr 2 l π = 3.14…

Cylinder or r = radius
¼πd 2 l d = diameter
l = length

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There is a legend about Archimedes’ discovery of displacement. The king
suspected that his crown was gold-plated silver rather than pure gold.
Archimedes needed to find the volume of the crown without damaging it.
One day he noticed that the water rose when he stepped into his bathtub. He
was so excited to discover displacement that he immediately jumped out of
his tub and ran down the street yelling “eureka” (“I have found it”). Nothing
is said about his state of modesty.
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Remember that per means
“divided by.” The equation for density is:

(Equation 1) m
ρ= __
v

where ρ is the density, m the mass, and V the volume. This can be
rearranged to give an equation to find mass:

(Equation 2) m = pv

V = πr2l Volume V = lwh

or = ¼πd2l w
r

Figure 1

Materials and Equipment

50-mL graduated cylinder 150-mL beaker

Polyethylene (PE) rod Rectangular aluminum bar
Ruler / tape measure Small rubber bands
Spring scale Steel (iron) bolt
Sodium Chloride (table salt) * Water *

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PROCEDURE
Part 1: The density of solids
1. Put small rubber bands around each of the objects, including the bolt.
Hook the spring scale into the rubber bands, then measure the mass (not
the weight) of each of the objects and record these data in Table 2 on the
Results page. Ignore the mass of the rubber bands.

2. Use the ruler to measure the dimensions of the aluminum bar and the PE
rod. Note: You found the dimensions of these objects in Lab 3 and,
if you like, you can use those measurements here. Do not measure
the dimensions of the bolt, as it is irregular in shape. Estimate your
measurements to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Record these data
in Table 2.

3. Calculate and record the volumes of these objects in cubic centimeters

(cm3).

4. We will also use the displacement method to find the volumes of all the
objects. Pour exactly 25 mL of water into the graduated cylinder. Tip
the cylinder (don’t spill the water) and slide the aluminum bar into the
graduated cylinder. Note the level of the water. The increase in volume
in the cylinder is due to the volume of the aluminum bar. Find the
volume of the bar by subtraction and record this in Table 2.

5. Similar to what you did in Procedure 4, find the volumes of all the
other objects including the bolt. Does the PE rod float? How can you
find the volume of it by this method? Record your data in Table 2.

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Part 2: The density of liquids
6. Put a rubber band near the top of the graduated cylinder and measure its
mass. Carefully fill it with exactly 50 mL of water and measure the mass
of the cylinder and the water. Find the mass of the water by subtraction
and record this in Table 3 on the Results page.

7. Put about 75 mL of water into a 150-mL beaker. Add about 5 cm3

(roughly one teaspoon) of sodium chloride (table salt) to the water.
Stir the solution. Keep adding salt and stirring until no more salt will
dissolve in the water. You now have a saturated salt solution. Measure
and record the density in Table 3.

8. Use the method from Procedure 6 to find the mass of 50 mL of the salt
solution. Record this in Table 3.
Note: You have been calculating the density of solid materials, but fluids
(liquids and gases) have densities also. The density of air varies with
temperature, humidity, and pressure, but it is approximately 1.0 kg/m3. One
interesting thing about air is that dry air is denser than humid air. This is
because a molecule of water has less mass them the average mass of an air
molecule.

9. Very carefully measure the length, width, and height of the room you are
in. Do this in meters and record the measurements in the space provided
at the end of this lab.

10. Calculate the volume of the room.

11. Using the approximate density of air given above, calculate the mass of
air in this room.

12. Does the mass of air in this room surprise you? Explain.
Yes, because I have a big room with many windows so I
didn't think the temperature would be so high.
13. Clean all equipment for future labs.

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1. RESULTS, Density

Table 2, The density of solids

Material Al PE Iron (bolt)

Mass, g 39 21 39
Length = 9.7 Diameter = 1.7 xxx
Dimensions, cm Width = 1.6 Length = 10.5
Height 1.0
Calculated xxx
15.52cm^3 23.833cm^3
Vol., cm3
Displacement 40 - 25 = 15 48 - 25 = 23 31.9 - 25 = 6.9
Vol., mL
Density, g/mL 2.6 g/mL 0.913 g/mL 5.652 g/mL

Note: Vol. = volume. Since the bolt has an irregular shape, find its volume by
displacement only.
1. Calculate the volumes of the samples used in Procedure 2. Record the
calculated volumes in Table 2. Why couldn’t we find the volume of the
bolt by this method?
I could not find the volume of the bolt because it is
composed of different shapes and is irregular.

2. How did you find the volume of the PE rod using the displacement
method? Note: 1 cm3 = 1 mL.

3. Except for the bolt, note the difference between the calculated volumes
and the volume found by the displacement method. Which method is
more accurate? Why?
The calculated volume is more accurate because it measures in
dimensions into small units, making the answer more accurate and
precise. The displacement method is great but since the graduated
cylinder only measures in mL, the results aren’t as accurate.

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 4. Use the volumes found by displacement to calculate the densities of the
objects. Record your data in Table 2.

5. The accepted values for density are: aluminum = 2.71 g/cm3; PE = about
0.925 g/cm3; and iron = 7.87 g/cm3. Compare your values from Question
4 with these. How do they compare? Why are they different?
Note: the density of different kinds of PE and PVC vary because of the
difference in the arrangements of their molecules.

The values presented vary because we utilized a ruler rather than a

more precise and detailed measuring tool. In addition to its size, the
scale only measured to the nearest tenth of a gram, which lacks
accuracy for small and lightweight items/ materials.

Table 3, The density of liquids

Liquid Volume, mL Mass, g Density, g/mL

Water 50mL 100g 2 g/cm^3

Saturated salt 75mL 155.69 2.07 g/cm^3

solution

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 6. Calculate the densities of the liquids in Table 3. The accepted density
of water is 1.00 g/cm3. How do your results compare? Remember that 1
cm3 = 1 mL.

My results show 33 that water has a density of 2g/cm^3 and saturated salt solution
has a density of 2.07g/cm^3. These results are accurate because water's density
happens to be 2g/cm^3 and the saline solution would have a higher density
because of the salt that is dissolved into the water.

7. How does the density of water compare with the density of the saturated
salt solution? Would you have predicted this?

The density of water is 2g/ cm³, while saltwater has a higher density. This
suggests that the salt dissolved in the water, creating a saturated solution.
The more salt that is added to the water, the density does not rise.

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 4.02
8. Length of room you are in ________ m

3.37
9. Width of room you are in ________ m

10. Height of room you are in ________

2.35 m

31.836 m3
11. Volume of room you are in ________

12. Mass of air in room you are in _______

41.161 kg

13. Does the mass of air in this room surprise you? Explain.

Yes, because I have a big room with many windows so I

didn't think the temperature would be so high.

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