Alex Logan
9-8-14
Density Lab
The purpose of our lab was to use the most precise measurement that a tool allowed to find a
precise density.
Materials
Candy Bar: snack sized Snickers, snack size Milky way, snack sized Three Musketeers, cm
ruler, and balance precise to the 0.01
Precision Density: 3 marbles, 3 density cubes,one marbel, one hex nut, one rubber stopper,
ruler, balance, and graduated cylinder
Online Density: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/density
Marble was blue and smaller. The hex nut was the smallest of the ones in Mrs. Sorensen's
collection. The rubber stopper was the middle size of the three sizes.
Candy Bar: Fist put the candy bar on the Balance that is precise to the hundredth place. Next
record the mass on your chart, this will use this later to calculate density. Next take the wrapper
of the candy bar and pull it tight to the candy bar, this make it easier to get a correct volume
reading. Measure the length, width, and height of the candy bar in cm and times them together
to get the volume, this will also be used to calculate density. Then take the mass of the candy
bar divided by the Volume to get a density reading. When determining if this candy bar will float
or not you must see if the density if more or less than that of water. If the Density is more the
candy bar will sink, if the candy bar’s density is less than water’s it will float. When the candy
bars density is exactly of close to water’s density it will flink. Repecat this procedure for the rest
of the two candy bars.
Precision Density: To determine the density of the tree blocks used in this experiment finding
the mass and the volume are the two most important parts. To find the mass of the block you
must put it on a balance that is precise to the hundredth place and record the mass. To find the
volume measure, in centimeters, the length, width, and height of the block; then times these
three numbers together. To find density divide the mass by the volume and label it. Repeat for
the next two blocks. To find the mass of the marble put it on the balance that is precise to the
hundredth place, and record it. Next, to find the volume, fill a graduated cylinder up to 20 ml and
drop the marble into the graduated cylinder. To measure the volume look at how much the
water went up and subtract it from 20. To find the density divide the mass by the volume and
label it. Repeat the process to find the density to find the density of the rubber stopper and the
hex nut.
Online Density: Follow instructions on worksheet for the Online Density.
Online Density:
Material
Styrofoam
Wood
Ice
Brick
Aluminum
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Calculated
Density
(kg/L)
Does it
Float?
0.75kg
5.00 l
.15kg/L
Yes
Accepted
Density
(kg/L)
*from the
chart
0.15kg/L
2.oo kg
5.00 l
.4 kg/L
yes
0.04kg/L
4.60kg
5.00l
.92kg/L
Yes
0.92kg/L
10.00kg
5.00L
2kg/L
No
2.00kg/L
13.50kg
5.00 L
2.7kg/L
No
2.70kg/L
Same Mass
Material
Blue
Yellow
Green
Red
Material
Blue
Mass (kg)
o.64kg
Volume (L)
.64L
Density (kg/L)
1 kg/L
Does it Float?
Yes
65.14kg
3.38L
19.27kg/L
No
4.08kg
4.08L
1kg/L
Yes
3.10kg
3.10L
1kg/L
Yes
Mass (kg)
6kg
Volume (L)
5L
Density (kg/L)
1.2kg/L
Does it Float?
No
8kg
5L
1.6kg/L
No
Yellow
Green
Red
Material
Blue
Yellow
Yellow
Green
Red
Material
A
B
C
D
E
4kg
4L
1kg/L
Yes
2kg
2L
1kg/L
Yes
Mass (kg)
3kg
Volume (L)
3L
Density (kg/L)
1kg/L
Does it Float?
Yes
4kg
4L
1kg/L
Yes
2kg
2L
1kg/L
Yes
1kg
1L
1kg/L
Yes
Mass (kg)
Volume (L)
Density
(kg/L)
Does it
Float?
65.14kg
3.38L
19.27kg/L
No
Using the
“show
table”
determine
the
substance
Gold
.64kg
.64L
1kg/L
yes
Water
4.08kg
4.08L
1kg/L
yes
Water
3.10kg
3.10L
1kg/L
yes
Water
3.53kg
1L
3.53kg/L
No
Diamond
Candy Bar Lab:
Three Musketeers
Mass-
Volume-
Density-
Snickers
Mass-
Volume-
Density-
Milky way Bar
Mass-
Volume-
Density-
Float o o o o o
o o
o o oo
o o o
o
oo
o
o
o o
o
o o
o o
o
o
o
o
o
o o
o
o
o o o
o
o
Sink
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooo
Flink
o
o ooo o
o
o
oooooo o
oo
ooooo ooooooo
ooo
ooooo
oooo ooo o ooo
ooo ooo ooo
ooo
o
o o oo
o oo o o o o o o o
oooo
ooooo
oooo
o
Float: When something floats in water it is because its density is less that one. This means that
the particles are less packed together so it has less weight that is is putt on the water.
Sink: Something with a density that is over one will sink. It sinks because of the amount of
particles that are packed into one area. The more particles that are packed into one area the
more weight that that object puts on the water.
Flink: When something flinks its because the amount of particles that are packed into a space.
Conclusions: In these labs we learned how to use different tools to determine density to the
most precise measurements possible.
Questions: Candy Bar Lab: The difference between a king sized, snack sized, and regular sized
candy bars densities would not change because of the size.
1. Online Density:Was your calculated density the same as the accepted density for
each object? (The density is shown on the bottom line of the chart in the top left
corner)No
2. What would be the source of error for incorrect density? We are only calculating the
first two decimals in the number.
3.
In the custom setting, choose the ‘My Block’ option in the top left box. Set the mass
of your object to 4.00 kg (You can physically type this in if the slide bar is being
tricky). Adjust the volume to find the minimum volume needed to make the object
float.
Volume_______4.06__________
Density_____.98kg/L_____________
4.
What would the minimum volume needed be to make the object “flink”, partial
floating and partial sinking.
Volume_________3.99_____________
Density_______1.ookg/l___________
5.
Looking at the data on the previous page, what must be true about the density of
an object in order for it to float? The density of the object has to be one or lower
for it to float.
6.
Explain why both the yellow and red objects float when they have different
sizes.They are made up of different things with the particles packed in different
ways.
7. From the Custom section describe the difference between how Styrofoam and ice
floated. Also explain why you think this is the case?Ice floats under the water, while
Styrofoam sit on top of the water. I think that Styrofoam has air all over it sat the air keeps
it up.
8. From the Same Mass Section discuss what was interesting about the blue object’s
behavior in the water. Its density is one but it doesn't float.
9. From the Mystery Section, click on the “Show Table” button. What is the most dense
object on the list? . Gold, 19.2
10. What is the precision that each measurement could be measured to? the hundredth
place.
11. Research Archimedes's Principle and describe how it relates to this lesson. It explains
how we can use water displacement to find volume of an irregular sized object. Using water
displacement it was easier to find the volume of a marble, hex nut, and rubber stopper.
Errors: Candy Bars had the wrappers on the which could have caused false measurements.
Irregular shape in the candy bars.