Name _________________________________
Block ___________
Date____________________
Science 8: Measuring the Volume of Solids: Direct AND Indirect Measurement
You can measure volume of __________________ directly with the graduated cylinder. You can
measure volume of regular solids directly by measuring _______________, _____________, and
_____________ and then multiplying these together. (Volume = h x l x w) To measure the volume of
_________________ solids, though, you must place these objects into a graduated cylinder with water
inside. To measure volume indirectly, first measure the volume of the ________________, without the
object. Then slide the object down the side of the cylinder and measure the volume of the __________
afterwards. Finally, subtract the final volume from the first volume to get the volume of water the
object pushed up. This is called the ____________________________ of water method. This volume
of water in mL is then converted into the unit for solids ________________.
Question: How do you find the volume of regular and non-regular solids?
Hypothesis: To find the volume of a regular solid, you measure __________________________ using a
_______________. To find the volume of a non-regular solid, you measure
__________________________ using the _______________________ of water method.
Materials:
graduated cylinder
Textbook
2 other rectangular objects
water
ruler
5 irregular solid objects (selected by teacher)
Procedure:
1. Measure the height, length, and width of your textbook. Record in Table #1.
2. Measure the height, length, and width of any 2 other rectangular objects in the room and
record these numbers in Table #1
3. Calculate the volume of these regular solids in table #1.
4. Add enough water in your graduated cylinder so that your first irregular object will be
covered. Record this exact volume in Table #2
5. Gently slide your first object down the side of the graduated cylinder without splashing any
of the water up the sides or out of the container.
6. Read the final volume in the cylinder and record this in Table #2.
7. Subtract to find the volume of the water that was displaced.
8. Record the volume of this solid object in the final line.
9. Repeat steps 4-8 with all the other small solid objects.
Data & Observations
Table 1: Direct measurement of the volume of 3 objects.
Regular (rectangular)
Height (cm)
Length (cm)
Object
Example object
15 cm
12 cm
Width (cm)
3 cm
Volume (cm3)
=LXWXH
15 X 12 X 3 = 540 cm3
Textbook
Table 2: Indirect measurement of the volume of 5 non-rectangular objects
Irregular object
Final
Starting
Volume of displaced
Volume
volume
water (mL)
(mL)
(mL)
Example object
34.5 mL
20 mL
34.5-20 = 14.5 mL
Volume of
SOLID object
(cm3)
14.5 cm3
Questions: Answer IN COMPLETE SENTENCES
1. What are 3 objects that are purchased by volume at the grocery store? (Hint: these are usually
things bought in bottles or cans)
2. Estimate the volume of the following: (Remember to use the correct units for solids and liquids!!)
a) an orange ____________________________
b) a cup of coffee ______________________________
c) a grape ___________________________
d) your backpack.
(Hint: how many oranges could fit into your backpack?)
3. Clearly describe 2 everyday situations in which measuring volume is important.
Conclusion: Answer in the space below.
- List the major steps of measuring the volume of a regular solid.
- List the major steps of measuring the volume of an irregular solid.
- Describe 2 errors that you or your partner could have made that would affect how correct your
volume measurements are.