Density and Earth Materials Lab
Name: ________________________________________ Date: ________ Class Hour: _____
Part 1: Complete Independently (On your own).
/32 Possible
1. Please re-examine the density demo up front. It is called a four color column.
Red Fluid Density = 1.38
G40/ml
Yellow Fluid Density = 0.93 g/ml
Green Fluid Density = 1.01g/ml
Clear Gas = 0.001 g/ml
2. Which layer above is the most dense? (Circle)
Red
3. Which layer above is the least dense? (Circle) Red
Yellow
Yellow
Green Clear
Green Clear
4. What exactly is density?
5. The purpose of the lab is to apply what you have learned about density in building an understanding of how the
Earth’s layers are sorted according to density. The densities of the above materials are obviously not the same as the
four main layers of the earth. However, please compare each layer above with the four layers of the Earth. The first
one is done for you.
a. The clear gas layer has the least density and is like the ???? Crust except the crust is solid
b.
c.
d.
Part 2: Complete as a Lab Group
Using Density to Determine Earth's Interior: Materials of the Earth Lab
1. Obtain a sample of iron, nickel, basalt, aluminum and granite. Determine the density of each sample using the
formula; Density = Mass/ Volume. CAREFULLY READ THE DEFINITIONS OF EACH BELOW. YOU WILL NEED TO
KNOW THESE. YOU MUST READ THESE BEFORE YOU BEGIN!!!!
Basalt Definition = Volcanic igneous rock (or lava) that characteristically is dark in color, contains 45 to 54 percent
silica, and generally is rich in iron and magnesium. It is a fine grained rock that is formed by magma cooling
on the surface of the Earth. Basalt is the most abundant volcanic rock in the Earth's crust. A greater percentage of it is
found in the Oceanic Crust.
Granite Definition = Granite is commonly found on continents but virtually absent from the ocean crust. It is a lightcolored, coarse-grained igneous rock formed by cooling of silica-rich magma below the surface of the earth. Granite is
considered to be what the continental crust is mostly made of. It is made mostly of silicate and aluminum.
Iron Definition = Iron is an element. Iron is a metal that is naturally found underground and mined. Iron is silvery in color
but rusts easily and turns orange when exposed to air and water. It is the most widely used of all the metals.
Silica Definition = Silica is a very common mineral composed of silicon and oxygen (SiO2). Silicates make up about
95% of the Earth's crust. It is one of the essential ingredients used in making glass. It is sand like.
Aluminum Definition = Aluminum is a lightweight, silver-white, metallic element that makes up approximately 7 percent
of the Earth's crust.
Nickel Definition = Silver colored metallic element with an atomic symbol of Ni.
Note: The samples may not be pure. For example the steel nail representing the iron is made mostly of iron. The
nickel five cent piece may lead one to believe that it is pure nickel. However, the coin is only 25% pure nickel. The
other 75% of the coin is made of copper.
Earth Material
Mass
Volume
Density
Ranking
(1 = most dense
6 = least dense)
What layer of
Earth would
this belong?
Iron (Person1)
Granite (Person2)
Nickel (Person 3)
Basalt (Person 4)
Aluminum (All)
Silica (All)
Layer
Density
(g/cm3)
Crust: Continental
2.7
Crust: Oceanic
3.0
Mantle
4.5
Outer Core
11.5
Inner Core
13.0
Does the Density of the Layer match the
density of the sample belonging in a
greatest abundance above?