Name:________________________
Date:_________________________
Laboratory Partners:_______________________________
Measuring the Density of Different Sized Objects
Materials:
 (4) Four Metals Rods
 1 Plastic Graduated Cylinder
 Density Chart
 Lab Notebook
 Scale
 Writing instrument
 Calculator
Procedure:
1. Fill the graduated cylinder with water about half way (this doesn’t have to
be exact) and record the volume of water in milliliters (ml).
2. Weigh each metal rod individually on the scale and record the mass in
grams (g) (NOTE: BE SURE THE BALANCE IS LEVEL BEFORE
MEASURING).
3. After recording a metal rod’s mass slightly tip the graduated cylinder to
the side and slide the rod down the cylinder into the water (NOTE: DO
NOT DROP THE ROD STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE
GRADUATED CYLINDER – IT MAY BREAK (if using glass) OR
SPLASH THE WATER).
4. Make sure the metal rod is completely submerged under water.
5. Since the metal rod displaced some water the water height will have
raised. Record this new volume in milliliters (ml).
6. The difference between the original volume and the final volume will give
you the volume of the metal rod. By knowing the rod’s volume (V) and
mass (m) you can calculate the density.
7. Repeat the process for all of the other metals rods.
8. After obtaining a density for each rod, compare the values with the density
table provided and make an educated guess as to what they are made of.
Data Chart
Mass of
Metal Rod
(g):
Volume of
Water
Without
Metal Rod
(ml):
Volume of
Water With
Metal Rod
(ml):
Density of
Metal Rod
(g/cm3):
1
2
3
4
Observations:
Metal Bar 1:
Metal Bar 2:
Metal Bar 3:
Metal Bar 4:
Hypothesis/Results
Metal Bar 1
Metal Bar 2
Metal Bar 3
Metal Bar 4
Hints:
Density has units of mass (m) per volume (V), density = m/V
1 ml = 1 milliliter = 1 cubic centimeters = 1 cm3 (units of volume)
The scales measure the mass of the object in grams.