Volume Lab
by Liz LaRosa
www.middleschoolscience.com
click here for a pdf version
Objectives:
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to determine the volume of a regular object using the
formula: length x width x height
to define the term "meniscus"
to read a graduated cylinder using the meniscus
to determine the volume of an irregular object using water displacement
Materials:
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Graduated cylinder
A variety of materials such as blocks of wood, marbles, paper clips, box of
tissues, etc, set up around the room at stations
calculator
ruler
Procedure:
1. There are numbered stations around the room.
2. You will be assigned a station to start at
3. At the station you will find the volume of the object(s) at that station using one of
the methods we have discussed in class.
4. Record your results in Table 1.
5. Do NOT proceed to the next station until it is time to rotate.
Formula for regular volume: L x W x H = cm3
Formula for Irregular Volume: Ending Volume - Starting Volume = Volume of object
in mL
Data::
Table 1: Volume of regular and irregular objects
Object
Volume:
cm3 or mL
1
2
3
4
Object
Volume:
cm3 or mL
5
6
7
8
Object
Volume:
cm3 or mL
9
10
11
12
Analysis/Results:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is a meniscus?
What item had the largest volume?
What item had the smallest volume?
Which method found the volume the fastest?
Conclusion: 2-3 sentences demonstrating what you learned in this lab.
Teacher Tips:
At the irregular volume lab stations, place the graduated cylinder, 2 objects to find the
volume for, a beaker of colored water using food coloring (makes reading the mL easier),
a plastic spoon, and a rubber stopper on a tray.
Place the rubber stopper inside the graduated cylinder so it is at the bottom of the
cylinder. The rubber stopper prevents the graduated cylinder from cracking when objects
are placed in (rocks, marbles, metal bars, nails, etc).
Use the plastic spoon to stop the heavy objects from falling out of the graduated cylinder
when they pour the water out and back into the beaker. The heavy objects will crack the
beaker if it is simply "dumped" into the beaker.
Keeping all the materials on the tray will keep water from getting all over the place, esp if
something does end up cracking by accident!