Density Lab
Oceanography 101 Names _________________________________________
Objectives
Learn about how density is measured
Learn how densities of materials relate to their behavior when mixed together
Why do objects that are the same size sometimes have different weights? The answer has to do with the
object’s density. A rock and cork of equal size will have the same volume, but which one will be heavier? The
rock. Why? Because the rock has more mass. So even though the rock and cork have the same volume, the
rock is denser than the cork. The rock has more mass in the same volume. This is due to the atomic structure
of the chemical elements that it is made up of.
● Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. The gram is a unit of mass. We will measure
mass with a scale or balance.
● Volume is a measure of how much space an object takes up. Units of volume include cubic centimeters
(cm3) or milliliters (mL).
Volume can be determined by measuring the dimensions of an object, such as a cube, and multiplying:
Volume of a cube (cm3) = width (cm) x height (cm) x length (cm).
1.1) Using the equation above, determine the volume of a cube that measures 3 cm wide, 3 cm tall, and 3
cm long.
1.2) Let’s say this cube is made out of ice and has a mass of 24.76 grams (g). What is this ice cube’s density?
1.3) The density of liquid water is slightly higher than that of frozen water ice. Liquid water’s density at
standard pressures and temperatures is 1.00 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm 3). Given that density,
what is the mass of a cube of water measuring 3 cm wide, 3 cm tall, and 3 cm long?
1.4) Compare the weight of the water you calculated in question 1.3 with the weight of the ice of the same
volume given in question 1.2. Which is heavier, the liquid water or the ice? Notice that the cube of
water is the same size (or volume) as the cube of ice.
1.5) You know that ice floats on water. Explain why.
Measuring volume by measuring the dimensions of an object works well for things that are easy to measure,
like cubes, but it does not work well for irregularly shaped objects like rocks or shells. So there is another
relatively simple method for measuring volume for oddly shaped things. Simply put, you fully submerge the
object in water in a type of container (a “graduated cylinder”) where you can measure how much the water
level rises once the object is submerged.
Volume after submerged – volume before submerged = volume of object
Density is a measure of the mass per unit volume. In other words, it tells us how much matter is contained in
the space an object takes up. Units of density are in grams per centimeter cubed (g/cm 3). Density relationships
structure our entire world, from the ground underneath to the air above. In future labs, we will use density to
understand the structure of ocean water, thermohaline circulation in the ocean, and movement of air in the
atmosphere.
The following questions use a simulation for you to learn more about density. To answer the questions,
visit the simulation on the PBS Density Simulation website.
Note: 1 milliliter = 1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter = 1 cc or 1 cm3, so when measuring volume in mL it is the same
as cm3
1.6) To begin, click the button at the top to turn the fluid into water.
a. What is the fluid density of pure water?
b. What is the volume of water in the beaker when there is nothing else in it? You may need to hit “reset”
and look at the volume in the beaker before the object falls into the beaker. You can also drag the
object out of the beaker and put it on the scale.
1.7) Use the slider bars below the beaker to adjust mass and volume one at a time. At any time, you may
drag the object out of the beaker and put on the balance to measure its mass.
a. Describe what happens when you adjust the mass of the object. Does it change size? How do you think
this affects its density? Did the object sink or float higher? What happened to the water level in the
beaker?
When I (we) increased its mass,
When I (we) decreased its mass,
b. Describe what happens when you adjust the volume of the object. Does it get heavier? How do you
think this affects its density? Did the object sink or float higher? How can you relate that to observed
changes to the fluid in the beaker?
When I (we) increased its volume,
When I (we) decreased its volume,
1.8) On the bottom right side of your screen click on the name of different materials. A new block will
materialize. Record the mass and volume for each object in the table below. Then use those values to
calculate its density. Please show your calculations. To measure volume,
Volume = beaker level when object is submerged – beaker level with no object
If your object floats, decrease the fluid density until it sinks to measure its volume.
Material Mass (g) Volume (mL) Density (g/cm3)
Gold
Lead
Foam
Iron
Wood
Ice
Rubber
Mystery ???
1.9) Based on its density, name 2 things that the mystery material could be. (Look it up here
[Link] Note that 1kg/m3 is the same as
1g/ml or 1g/cm3)
1.10) Rank the objects from least dense to most dense in the table below. Use the density values determined
above to arrange them from least dense to most dense.
Qualitative Material Density (g/cm3) Did the object float or sink in water
comparison (copied from table above) (when the fluid density was 1
g/mL)?
yes or no
LEAST
DENSE
MOST
DENSE
1.11) Use the observations in the tables above and the density of water to describe how you would use
density to predict whether an object will float or sink in water.
1.12) Make predictions using what you have learned about density.
a. Which is denser, salt water or fresh water? Based on your answer, explain what happens as rivers flow
into the sea.
b. Which is denser, hot water or cold water? Based on your answer, explain where the coldest water in
the ocean would be.