Name _____________________________
Measuring Volume Lab
Part 1: Finding The Volume Of A Liquid
A. Fill the small container to the line with colored water and carefully pour
it into the 50 ml graduated cylinder.
B. Notice that the surface of the water is curved where the water touches
the glass. The curved surface is called the MENISCUS. In using this
graduated cylinder, the level of the liquid is read at the bottom of the
meniscus, the true fluid level. Record your observations in Table 1.
C. Fill the small container again and pour it into the 10 ml graduate.
Record this measurement in Table 1.
Data Table 1: Liquid Volume
50 ml graduate
10 ml graduate
Small container
ml
ml
Part 2: Finding The Volume Of A Small Irregular Solid
D. Fill the 50 ml graduated cylinder to approximately 20 ml with cold
water. Record the exact volume in Table 2.
E. Tilt the graduated cylinder so you can carefully slide the small mass
down the side of the graduate without splashing any water out of the
tube. (Dropping the mass could break the bottom of the graduated
cylinder).
F. Record the exact volume of the water and the mass.
G. To determine the volume of the mass, subtract the volume of the water
from the total volume.
Data Table 2: Volume Of Irregular Solid
Volume without Volume with object Volume of displaced
object (ml)
(ml)
water (ml)
Part 3: Finding The Volume Of A Regular Solid
H. Record the number of the block in Table 3.
I. Measure the length, width and height of the block. Record your
measurements in Table 3.
J. Calculate the volume of the block by using the formula V = l x w x h.
Record your calculation in Table 3.
Block #
Data Table 3: Volume Of a Regular Solid
Length (cm)
Width (cm)
Height (cm) Volume (cm3)
Questions:
1. Did you notice a difference in the meniscus formed in the 50 ml graduate
compared to the one formed in the 10 ml graduate? If so, what was it?
2. The second method (irregular solid) is called the liquid displacement
method. Why do you think it has this name?
3. Which method would you use to measure the volume of a room?
4. Which method would you use to measure the volume of a marble?
5. Which method would you use to measure the volume of milk in a
container?