What is Volume
• Volume is defined as the amount of space
taken up by a three-dimensional object.
Volume often refers to liquid volume, which is
defined as the amount of space taken up by a
liquid, which spreads completely to fill its
container.
Volume of Liquids
Reading a Meniscus
Measuring Volume by
Displacement
• Used for irregular
shaped objects
• Select a graduated
cylinder large enough
to put the object in
• Add water - at least
10 mL and record
accurately
• SLOWLY add the object
to be measured:
rubber stopper
slug
metal cylinder
• Read the new level of the
water
• The water will rise an
amount equal to the
volume of the object
What not to do
Here’s what the cylinder should
look like
Do the math
1 . Original reading of volume
2. Final volume of water
3. This will equal the volume of the object
•
•
22.5 mL - 17.4 mL = 5.1 mL
Therefore, the volume of the object by
displacement is 5.1 mL
A penny is a flat cylinder – could
calculate the volume by direct
measurement.
Value of Error in Minting Pennies
•How close the individual volumes are to
each other
•Calculate as follows
% error = average volume - actual volume
actual volume
% error = error in minting the pennies
•The smaller the %error, the better the
precision in making of the pennies.
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Example:
% error in minting pennies = average volume - actual volume
actual volume
% error in minting pennies = 1.2g - 1.4g
1.4g
= 0.14 X 100%
= 14 %
So there is a 14% error in minting of these particular
pennies
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When are Equal Volumes Not
Equal?
100mL
250mL
250 mL
Procedure
Ruler
“equivalent volume”
Measure level of
water as each
“equivalent volume”
is added.