Density Stations
NAME:__________________________________
Instructions: You will have 12 minutes to complete each of the seven stations. If
you finish at your station before the timer goes off you are to work with your group
to complete the last page of the packet entitled “A Matter of Density” – on this
sheet you will calculate the density of four different liquids and then color in the
order in which the liquids will settle out in the barrel on the back of the page.
Cool fact about density:
The density of Saturn is so low that if you were to put it in a giant glass of water it
would float.
STATION 1: Internet Assignment – The website is already on the computer for
you. Do not close it out when you are finished.
http://www.edathlon.com/science_challenges/density.htm
If each ball has the same mass, which box would weigh more? Why?
What is the formula for calculating density?
Density of block 1Density of block 2Block 1 is made of –
Block 2 is made of –
Open a new tab and go to Google. Research which floats and which sinks – Coke or
Diet Coke – Explain your findings
STATION 2: Calculating the Density of Irregular Objects
Density = Mass/Volume
Mass – weigh on the digital scale – units (grams)
Volume of an Irregular Object – displacement in a graduated cylinder (how
much water is pushed up in the g.c.) – units (ml)
1. Find the density of the Lego Man
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
2. Find the density of the Marble
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
3. Find the density of the Aluminum Cylinder
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
4. Find the density of Buzz Lightyear
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
5. Find the density of the Monopoly car
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
6. Find the density of the Copper Cylinder
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations=
If you were to place all of the objects in a graduated cylinder, explain what order
the objects would be in- you can illustrate if you would like.
Test your hypothesis to see if you are correct
STATION 3: Calculating the Density of Regular Shaped Objects
Density= Mass/Volume
Mass- weigh on digital scale – units (grams)
Volume – L X W X H – units (cm3)
1. Find the density of the wood block
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
2. Find the density of the chalk board eraser
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
3. Find the density of the pack of index cards
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
4. Find the density of the Lego
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
5. Find the density of die
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
6. Find the density of a domino
Mass=
Volume=
Density Calculations =
If you were to place these items in a tub of water, in what order would you find
them? Explain. You may use an illustration if you would like.
STATION 4: Calculating the Density of Liquids
Calculate the density of each of the four liquids:
Density = Mass/Volume
Mass- Weigh the beaker on the balance (subtract the mass of an empty
beaker) units (grams)
Volume – read the line on the beaker – units (ml)
Liquid 1:
Mass________________,Volume___________________,Density______________
Liquid 2
Mass________________,Volume___________________,Density______________
Liquid 3:
Mass________________,Volume___________________,Density______________
Liquid 4:
Mass________________,Volume___________________,Density______________
Using the pipette found in each beaker of colored liquid, put 10ml of each liquid in
the graduated cylinder. Draw what you see below:
****Empty your graduated cylinder in the middle sink and put it back on your
desk.
Based on your density calculations, which solution has the highest density?
Which solution is the least dense?
A raw egg will sink in fresh water, but will float in salt water. Explain why.
STATION 5: Group Density Questions
1. 100 grams of a liquid completely fill a 200 mL bottle. What is the density of the liquid?
2. A solution has a density of 1.50 g/mL. How many grams are needed to obtain 10.0
mL of solution?
3. If a block of copper measures 2.00 cm x 4.00 cm x 5.00 cm and weighs 356 grams,
what is its density?
4. A piece of silver has a mass of 2800 grams and occupies a volume of 266 cm 3. What
is the density of silver?
5. Calculate the mass of a liquid with a density of 3.2 g/mL and a volume of
25 mL.
6. Calculate the density of a 500 g rectangular block with the following
dimensions: length = 8 cm, width = 6 cm, height = 5 cm.
7. What determines if something will sink or float in water?
a) Objects and substances less dense than the water will sink.
b) Objects and substances less dense than the water will float.
c) Objects and substances more dense than the water will float.
d) Objects more dense that water will sink and substances more dense
than the water will float.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Use the table below to answer the following question:
8. Which has the highest density?
a) Beeswax
b) Rock Salt
c) Olive Oil
Substance
Mass
Volume
Density
Beeswax
672 g
700ml
Rock Salt
1853 g
850ml
Olive Oil
550.8g
600ml
Put a check by all the true statements.
____ a) Density is the relationship between the mass and volume of an
object.
____ b) Density is the amount of stuff in a given amount of space.
____ c) The more salt you add to water, the less dense it becomes.
____ d) Mass is the amount of space taken up by an object.
STATION 6: Candy bar Density
Density = Mass/Volume
Mass – digital scale– units (grams)
Volume = L X W X H units (cm3)
Problem: How do you find the density of candy bars?
Materials:
2 “fun size” candy bars (Snickers or 3 Musketeers)
Balance
Metric Ruler
1. Measure the mass bar
Snickers Mass= __________g. 3 Musketeers Mass =__________________g.
2. Measure the length, width and height of each candy bar in centimeters.
Record the data in the space below.
(No, it doesn’t really matter which way the candy bar is positioned- as long as you
measure all 3 dimensions.)
Length=____________ cm
Length = _______________cm
Width=_____________ cm
Width = _______________cm
Height=____________cm
Height=_______________cm
3. Calculate the volume of each bar.
Use the formula Volume= L x W x H
a. Volume = _________________ cm3
b. Volume=_________________cm3
4. Calculate the density of each candy bar. Use the formula D=M÷V
D= density M= mass V= volume
a. Density = _________________ g/ cm3
b.Density = ________________ g/cm3
5. Considering that the volume of water is 1.0 g/ml, predict if the candy bar would
float in water- or will it sink?
Prediction: ______________________
What happened? ____________________
Which candy bar is the least dense?
STATION 7: Dunkin’ for Density
Objectives:
• to determine the density at which an object will float, suspend or sink in
water.
• to use the formula density = mass/volume
Materials:
• Digital Scale
• 3 empty film canisters per group
• Aquarium filled with water
• small objects of various masses (marbles, figures, etc.)
• large beaker
Procedure Part 1:
1. Using the materials at your desk, modify three film canisters so that they will
float, sink, or remain suspended in the middle of a tub of tap water.
2. One canister should float (1)
3. Another should remain suspended (2)
4. And another should sink to the bottom (3)
5. Have your teacher check your canisters before you proceed to the next part.
Procedure Part 2:
1. Once you have completed Part 1, use the equipment provided to find the
mass and volume of each canister.
2. Record the information in Table 1.
3. Calculate the density for each canister using the formula D=M/V
Data:
Table 1: Mass, Volume and Density of film canisters
Canister
Mass (g)
Volume (cm3)
Density (g/cm3)
Analysis and Results:
1. What is the mass of an empty film canister?
______________________________
2. Did the mass of the canister change at all? Explain.
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3. Did the volume of the film canister change at all? Explain.
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4. What caused each canister to stay at their level in the water? Explain what
caused the canisters to float, sink, or suspend using the term density.
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