Energy and Matter

PHYS 251

Density

 

 

Name:_______________________________Date:_______________Time:___________

Partner(s):____________________________  Course:__________________
________________________________________________________________________ 

A. Rectangular Solids

Purpose: To determine the densities of various rectangular solids by measuring their dimensions and mass.

Apparatus: Electronic balance, foot ruler, rectangular solid metals- Al, Cu, Brass, and Fe; plastic block, and wood block.

Theory:    Density = Mass/Volume,        Volume = Length x Width x Height.

Metal Blocks: Observe and feel the four metal blocks and make three statements about them.

1.___________________________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________

 Data Table I: 

Material

Mass

Length

Width

Height

Volume

Density

Accepted

% Error

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Aluminum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculate volume, density, and the % Error. Accepted densities (in gm/cm^3):

Aluminum = 2.70    Copper   = 8.90     Iron     = 7.85        Brass    = 8.40
Steel    = 7.80        Gold       =19.30     Lead     =11.30     Nickel   = 8.75
Platinum  =21.54    Silver      =10.5       Zinc      = 7.10        water    = 1.00
 
 
B. Cylinders

Purpose: To determine the densities of various cylinders by measuring their dimensions and mass.

Apparatus: Metal cylinders: Cu, Fe, Steel, Brass, and Al; and wood cylinder, electronic balance, and foot ruler.
 
Theory:     Density = Mass/Volume,        Volume = PI x R^2 x h
 

Data Table II:
 

Material

Mass

Diameter

Radius

Height

Volume

Density

Accepted

% Error

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Aluminum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculate radius, volume, and density. Also enter the accepted densities, and calculate the % Error.

 

C. Density of Water

Purpose: Investigate the density of water.

Apparatus: Graduated cylinder, electronic balance, and water.

Theory:     Density = Mass/Volume
 

Procedure:

1. Measure the mass of a graduated cylinder in grams (use the electronic balance), and record it
on the data table.

2. Fill a small amount of water and measure the mass of graduated cylinder and water.

3. Determine the volume of water. 

4. Repeat 1-3, by adding water, 3 more times.
 
 
 

DATA

Mass of the graduated cylinder = ______________
 

Mass of cylinder + water

Mass of water

Volume of water

Density

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculate the mass of water and density of water.  Average the four densities to give an average density of water.

Average Density of water from your data = _________________

D. Density of an irregular shaped object.

 

When a sample of material has no regular geometry its volume can be determined by displacement.  To do this, fill a graduated cylinder about half full of water.  Read its volume.  Drop the object into the water and read the final volume.  The difference in volume is the volume of the object. 

 

Initial volume: ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ________________________

 

Final volume:  ________________________

 

Volume of the object:  __________________

 

Mass of the object:  ____________________

 

Density of the object:  __________________