VOLUME
Volume: is the amount of space occupied by an object.
The SI unit for volume is cubic metres (m3)
Other units for volume are: cubic centimeter; 1cm3=10-6m3
Millilitres; 1ml=1cm3=10-6m3
Litres; 1 l =1000ml=1000cm3
Volume for regular shaped objects
cuboid cylinder sphere
r
h
w h
l
V=l ×w × h
V=4πr3/3
2
V=πr h
Volume for irregular shaped sinking objects e.g. a stone
Method 1
Pour water in to a measuring cylinder and record the initial volume of water as V1.
Tie the stone with a thread and gently place it in to a measuring cylinder and record the new
volume of stone and water as V2.
Subtract the volume of water V1 from volume of water and stone V2 to obtain the volume of stone
only V i.e. V=V2 –V1.
Method 2: displacement method
Fill the displacement can with water up to the hole of the spout.
Put a measuring cylinder under the spout of the displacement can.
Tie the stone with a thread and gently place it in to a displacement can.
Volume of the displaced water in the measuring cylinder is equivalent to the volume of the
stone.
Volume for irregular shaped floating objects e.g. a cork
• A sinker is used to ensure that object is totally immersed.
• Pour water in to a measuring cylinder and gently place a sinker tied with a thread in to a
measuring cylinder containing water and record the new volume of stone and water, V3.
• Gently place a sinker attached to a cork tied with a thread in to a measuring cylinder and record
the new volume of sinker, cork and water, V4.
• Calculate volume of object using formula:
V =V 4−V 3
Examples
1. A measuring cylinder contains some water. When a stone is put in the water, the level rises.
cm3 cm3
200 200
150 150
100 100
stone
50 50
What is the volume of the stone?
A 60 cm3 B 70 cm3 C 75 cm3 D 130 cm3
2. The diagram shows a measuring cylinder.
Which unit is the most suitable for the scale?
A mm2 B mm3 C cm2 D cm3
DENSITY
This is the mass of a substance per unit volume.
The SI unit of density is kilogram per cubic metre (kg/m3).
m
ρ= where ρ = density in kg/m3
V
m = mass in kg
V = volume in m3
Note: Density indicates how much matter is packed in a certain volume (space).
Determination of density of objects (matter) experimentally
(a) A regular shaped solid: e.g. cuboid, prism, sphere etc.
(i) Measure and record the mass, m of an object using atop pan balance.
(ii) Calculate and record the volume, V of the object using an appropriate formula
depending on the shape.
(iii) Calculate the density of an object using equation
ρ =m/V
(b) An irregular shaped solid: e.g. stone
(i) Measure and record the mass, m of an object using atop pan balance.
(ii) Calculate and record the volume, V of the object using a displacement can method
or measuring cylinder.
(iii) Calculate the density of an stone using equation
m
ρ=
V
(c) Liquid: e.g water
(i) Measure and record the mass, m1 of an empty measuring cylinder using a top pan
balance.
(ii) Pour certain amount of water in to a measuring cylinder and record its volume, V.
(iii) Measure and record the mass, m2 of a measuring cylinder and water by using a top
pan balance.
(iv) Calculate the mass, m of the water only using
m =m2-m1
(v) Calculate the density of an water using equation
m
ρ=
V
(d) Gas: e.g air
(i) Measure and record the mass, m1 of a 500 cm3 round flask filled with air.
(ii) Remove the air in a flask using a vacuum pump then measure and record mass, m2
of an empty flask.
(iii) Calculate the mass, m of the air only using
m = m 1- m 2
(vi) Calculate the density of an air using equation
m
ρ=
V
Hydrometer
This is an instrument used to measure density of liquids.
If the hydrometer sinks in to a liquid it indicates that the liquid has lower density.
Stem with scale
0
Stem with scale
0
1
1
2 Liquid denser
water than water
2
Weight to keep
hydrometer
Weight to upright
keep
hydrometer
upright
Note:
In left diagram the hydrometer sinks in water to show that water has a lower density.
In right diagram the hydrometer floats in other liquid to show that the liquid has a greater density.
Floating and Sinking
An object floats when placed in a liquid more dense than itself.
An object sinks when placed in a liquid less dense than itself.
Examples
1. The volume of an irregularly shaped object of mass m is found using a measuring cylinder. The
volume is shown by the scale on measuring cylinder increases from V1 to V2 as shown in the
diagram.
The density of the object is given by:
A. m/V2
B. (V1- V2)/m
C. m/(V1- V2)
D. m/(V2- V1)
2. The diagram shows two solid cuboids X and Y.
Which property of the cuboids will be the same if they are made from the same material?
A. volume
B. weight
C. mass
D. Density
3. Fig.3.1 shows a spring balance used to measure the weight of a metal block.
Fig.3.1
(a) (i) What is the weight of the block?
9.6 N
weight = …………………….
(ii) Calculate the mass of the block.
W
m=
g
9.6 N
m=
10 N /kg
0.96 kg
mass = ……………………………..[3]
(b)The block has a volume of 110 cm3.
Calculate its density. m
ρ=
V
960 g
m= 3
110 cm
8.73 g/cm3
density = …………………..[2]
4. (a) Fig.4.1 shows an unopened olive oil bottle of mass 0.97 kg and empty olive oil bottle of mass
0.51 kg.
Fig.4.1
Calculate the mass of the oil. m=m1−m2
m=0.97 kg−0.51 kg
0.46 kg mass = ………………………[2]
3
(b) The volume of the oil is 515 cm .
Calculate the density of the oil. m
ρ=
V
460 g
ρ= 3
515 cm
3 density =…………………[2]
0.893 g/cm