Calculating Density Using Two Different Methods
Objective: The purpose of this lab is to use two different methods of measurement to calculate the
densities of objects with different masses.
Description: Density is the ratio of an object’s mass to its volume. This lab uses two different methods to
calculate the volume of an object: the geometric formula and water displacement. Density will be
calculated two times for each different mass, once for each type of volume obtained. The densities will
then be compared to each other and set to determine the type of material the metal weight sets are
made of.
Materials:
Metal weight set with 10g, 20g, 50g, and 200g pieces
Ruler
100 mL graduated cylinder
Water
Calculator
Graph paper
Writing utensil
Procedure:
1. Move to work area and gather materials
2. Review briefly mathematical and scientific concepts and formulas needed for the lab
3. Calculate volume of each type of mass using the volume formula and water displacement, in any
order
4. Use both volumes found to calculate density for each object two times, and find eah average
density
5. Graph data on one plane with mass on the x-axis and volume on the y-axis, use different
symbols for the different methods of calculating volume
6. Determine if the relationships graphed are linear, and if so calculate the slope
7. Use data gathered, information graphed, and values calculated to arrive at conclusions about
the relationships between mass, volume, and density
8. Determine type of material used in the metal weight set based on densities given
Results:
Mass (g) Radius (cm) Height (cm) Volume (cm3) Mass (g) Initial (mL) Final (mL) Volume (mL)
10 0.75 0.9 1.5 cm3 10 50 mL 52 mL 2 mL
20 0.9 1.25 3 cm3 20 50 mL 54 mL 4 mL
50 1.2 1.4 6.5 cm3 50 50 mL 56 mL 6 mL
200 1.5 3.5 24.5 cm3 200 50 mL 76 mL 26 mL
Mass (g) Geometric Fluid Volume Geometric Fluid Density Average
Volume (cm3) (mL) Density (g/mL) Density
(g/cm3) (g/cm3)
10 1.5 cm3 2 mL 6.67 g/cm3 5 g/mL 5.8 g/cm
20 3 cm3 4 mL 6.67 g/cm3 5 g/mL 5.8 g/cm3
50 6.5 cm3 6 mL 7.69 g/cm3 8.3 g/mL 8 g/cm3
200 24.5 cm3 26 mL 8.2 g/cm3 7.7 g/mL 8 g/cm3
Discussion/Conclusion:
The objective of this lab was to use different methods of measurement to calculate the densities
of objects of different masses. In one method, four metal weights of different masses (10g, 20g,
50g, 200g) were dropped into a glass cylinder with 50 mL of water gathered from the water
faucet. If the weights were accurately measured and placed in the cylinder with minimal water
loss, the result would be a linear representation on the graph. Apperently this was not so. Either
the measurements with the ruler, or the dropping of the weights which caused the liquid water
to retract, affected the final result which, if done correctly, should have been a linear graph. To
change this predicament and have a more precise outcome, there are several variables that
could have been done differently. For example, instead of dropping the weight, it would be
better to lower it with an unconventional mechanism like an unfolded paperclip with a little
hook at the end. This would reduce the water loss and increase the exactness of the volume of
the object. The second method was the geometrical method to use a formula to calculate the
density of the weights. This part of the experiment was relatively accurate. This is quite an
adequate description of what had happened during the lab experiment.