Name ___________________________________ Date _____________Period _________
How can you accurately measure volume?
Objective: To learn how to accurately measure the volume of a liquid and a solid.
Hypothesis:
Write an “If….then….” statement about which types of measuring instruments will help you make
measurements of volume.
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Materials:
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100 ml graduated cylinder
One large wooden block
One small wooden block
One metric ruler
One small rubber stopper
Procedure:
Part One - Volume of a Liquid
1. Add tap water to your graduated cylinder until it is about half full. Notice that the surface of the
water is curved where the water touches the side. This curved surface is called the meniscus. You
should read the level of the liquid at the bottom of the meniscus.
2. The correct technique for reading the volume of a liquid in a graduated cylinder is to hold the
cylinder with the meniscus at eye level. See diagrams below:
Not correct
Correct
3. Read the meniscus holding the graduated cylinder so the meniscus is above eye level and record
the volume of water in Data Table 1 to the nearest mL.
4. Read the meniscus again, this time holding the graduated cylinder so the meniscus is at eye level.
Record the volume of water in Data Table 1 to the nearest mL.
5. Read the meniscus again, this time holding the graduated cylinder so the meniscus is below eye
level. Record the volume of water in Data Table 1 to the nearest mL.
6. Fill the graduated cylinder with a different amount of water. Read the meniscus at eye level and
record the volume of water in Data Table 2 to the nearest mL.
7. Repeat step 6 another 4 times.
Part Two – Volume of a rectangular solid
8. Using the metric ruler, measure the length of the small block to the nearest tenth (0.1) of a
centimeter, and record in Data Table 3.
9. In a similar manner, measure the width and height and record your measurements.
10. The volume of a rectangular solid, such as your block, may be found by multiplying the linear
measurements of its length, width, and height.
11. When you multiply centimeters times centimeters time centimeters, the result is expressed in cubic
centimeters, cm3. The cubic centimeter is used for measuring volume of rectangular solids. One
cubic centimeter is equal to one milliliter.
12. Calculate the volume of your block by multiplying the length times the width times the height and
record using the proper units.
13. Now find the volume of the large block of wood and record.
Part Three – Volume of an irregular shaped solid
14. You will use the direct displacement method to find the volume of an irregular shaped object.
15. Fill the 100 ml graduated cylinder about half full of water.
16. Record the volume of water in Data Table 4.
17. Carefully drop the rubber stopper into the graduated cylinder. Be sure not to let any of the
water splash out of the cylinder. This will alter your data!
18. Notice the change of the water level.
19. Record the volume of the water and stopper in Data Table 4.
20. Subtract the volume of the water alone from the water and the stopper to find the volume of the
stopper alone.
21. Record your measurement in Data Table 4.
Analysis:
1. What is volume?
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2. Does the volume measurement appear to change when the meniscus is viewed at different angles?
Explain. From which position could you read the volume of water most precisely?
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3. What are the three dimensions one must measure to find the amount of space occupied by a
rectangular solid?
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4. Calculate the volume of a box that is 20cm long, 15 cm wide, and 10 cm high.
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5. Change the following measurements as directed:
a. 50 cm3 to ml
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b. 75 ml to cm3
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c. 125 cm3 to L
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6. Explain how you could use the direct displacement method to find the volume of your hand.
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Conclusion:
The conclusion section needs to have five sentences:
1st sentence: Repeat the objective
2nd sentence: Tell how you achieved the objective.
3rd sentence: State your hypothesis and explain if it was it correct or not and why.
4th sentence: Share what you learned.
5th sentence: This is a general summary of the lab. It ties into the first sentence of the objective.
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Data Table 1:
Above Eye Level
At Eye Level
Below Eye Level
Water
Data Table 2:
Water
Volume (ml)
1
2
3
4
5
Data Table 3:
Length
Width
Height
Volume
Small
Block
Large
Block
Data Table 4:
Volume
Water
Water and Stopper
Stopper
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA0/MOVIES/EYELEVEL.html