Virtual Density Lab
1. Essential Vocabulary:
a. Density: The amount of matter that will fit into a given amount of space.
density = mass/volume
b. Mass: __The amount of matter in something.___________________________
c. Volume :__The amount of space that an object occupies._________________________
2. Click on the first website. For this practice, make sure that the block is completely submerged in
the water. Pick one of the blocks. To complete this table you need to change the volume of your
block a couple of times, and record its new mass, volume, and find its new density. Round the
answers for volume & density to the nearest tenths place. Show your calculations for volume
& density.
Name of the material: Wood
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density (kg/L)
2.0 kg
105 L – 100 L = 5.0 L
2.0kg/5.0L = 0.4 kg/L
3. On the right side of your screen click on mystery blocks. Find the density of these objects to
help you identify each one of the materials. Once you have found their density, click on “show
table” to find out what the objects are made of.
Object
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density (kg/L)
What is it?
A
65.14 kg
103.38 L- 100.0 L=
3.4 L
65.14 kg/3.4 L=
19.2 kg/L
gold
4. Now click on the second website, to find out why some objects sink and others float.
Material
Wood
Aluminum
Mass (g)
Volume (ml)
Density (g/ml)
Sink or Float
Plastic
Steel
5. Which materials sunk and what is their density?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Which materials floated and what is their density?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. The density of pure water is 1 g/mL or 1 g/cm3. After you calculated the density of a material,
how would you know if the object would sink or float? _________________ ________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
First website:
http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/density-and-buoyancy/density_en.html
Second website:
http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/0078741858/365081/CT01.html
Extra practice:
http://www.karlyoder.com/flash_density.html