Name: ________________________________________________ Date:______________________ Period: __________________
What Does An Aquarium Weigh?
Work through the sample below to familiarize yourself with this assignment. Use an outside source of your choice and the hints
listed below to obtain the correct conversions to accurately determine the characteristics of the aquarium described.
Practice Problem
Calculate the following characteristics of an aquarium that measures 30 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 13 inches
tall and filled it with water only.
1. Convert the size of the tank from inches to centimeters.
_______________ cm long
_______________ cm wide
_______________ cm tall
2. What is the volume of your Aquarium?
______________ inches3
_________________ cm 3
4. About how much would your Aquarium weigh without water?
____________ lbs. US
___________ grams
____________ kilograms
5. About how much would your Aquarium weigh with water only (no gravel, plants, fish, etc.)?
____________ lbs. US
___________ grams
____________ kilograms
HINT 1: Water Weight
The weight of a gallon of water is about 8.5 pounds.
You can verify your calculations by doing the following:
1.
Find an empty, clean pail.
2.
Weigh yourself holding the pail on a bathroom scale. Write down how much you and the empty pail weigh.
3.
Now, measure a gallon of water into the pail. (A gallon is four quarts or 16 cups.)
4.
Re-weigh yourself holding the filled pail on the same bathroom scale. Write down how much you and the filled pail weigh.
5.
Subtract what you weighed holding the empty pail from what you weighed holding the filled pail. What is the difference in
these two weights?
HINT 2: Water Volume
The volume of a gallon of water is 231 cubic inches.
You can estimate this yourself:
1.
Find a one gallon rectangular container (or 2 half-gallon containers, placed side by side). Milk, juice or other drinks often
come in gallon containers. (If your container is not a perfect rectangle [that is, if it slopes, curves, or has a handle] your
number will be an estimate, and somewhat different from 231 in3.)
Aquatic Science / Marine Biology
Name: ________________________________________________ Date:______________________ Period: __________________
2.
Measure the height of the container, in inches. Write down this number.
3.
Measure the width of the container, in inches. Write down this number.
4.
Now measure the length of the container, in inches. Write down this number.
5.
A cubic inch is a three dimensional measure of volume, determined by multiplying the height by the length by the width, in
inches.
6.
Multiply these three numbers, the height, width and length, together. Is your answer close to the volume of a gallon of water,
231 cubic inches?
If you still aren't sure about cubic inches, cut a piece of cheese, banana or apple that is one inch by one inch by one inch and think how
many would fit into your aquarium.
HINT 3: Glass Aquarium Weight
An empty 20 gallon glass tank would weigh about 25 pounds; an empty 55 gallon glass tank would weigh about 85 pounds.
HINT 4: Computation
To determine the weight of a water-filled aquarium, you will need to add the weight of the tank itself and the weight of the
amount of water it would take to fill the tank.
1.
Determine the Capacity of the Aquarium Tank in Cubic Inches. (Capacity is the volume or the amount of water the tank will
hold.) Multiple the Tank's length by its width by its height (in inches).
2.
Determine the Capacity of the Aquarium Tank in Gallons. Divide the tank capacity in cubic inches (the number you got in
No. 1) by the number of cubic inches in a gallon of water (See Hint 2).
3.
Determine the Weight of the Water the Aquarium Tank. Multiply the number of gallons the tank will hold (the number you
got in No. 2) by the weight of a gallon of water (See Hint 1).
4.
Add the weight of the Water (the number you got in No. 3) and the weight of the glass tank (See Hint 3).
Assignment
Now look at the “Practice Work Sheet”’ Use the “Work Sheet / Data Sheet” to record the data about the five sample aquariums
listed. Use the converters and formulas that you learned in the first sample to complete the chart. Once you have completed the first
practice problem and the five sample problems, locate the “Work Sheet”. Find the tanks marked 1 – 24, measure each tank and record
the data on the “Work Sheet”. Using a meter stick, tape measure, calculator, and your student planner (or another source of
conversion tables), determine the volume and weight of the water of all the marked tanks and major water holding containers. Tanks /
containers can be found in locations such as the courtyard, the classroom and greenhouse. When you have completed the
measurements transfer all data to the “Data Sheet” chart and complete the remaining calculations.
Attach this page to the front of your assignment.
Assignment is due: _____________________________________________
Aquatic Science / Marine Biology