Density Blocks and Cylinders
Equal Mass and Equal Volume
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LAB
Density Blocks
In this activity, you will be dealing with nine cubes of different materials and five
cylinders of various sizes and materials. Make all your measurements first, and
save your calculations for later. In this way, everyone will get a chance to make
the necessary measurements.
Show all of your work, and be sure to include units!
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Cubes
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cubes in order by estimating the
mass. The cubes should be labeled with a letter. If not, see the instructor.
Using the letters from the cubes, write your order below:
Smallest Mass
____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____
Largest Mass
2. Using the triple beam balance, determine the mass of each cube (you should be able to
measure to the nearest 0.1 g, or perhaps the nearest 0.05 g).
Data Table 1:
Description
Cube
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Mass
Volume
Density
(g)
(cm3)
(g/mL)
Diameter vs. Radius vs. Circumference
v = pr2h
diameter
radius
Cylinders
v = pr2h
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cylinders in by estimating the mass.
Smallest mass ________< ________ < ________ < ________ < _______ Largest mass
A
B
C
D
E
1. Using the method of your choosing (two possible methods), determine the volume of each cylinder.
Report your volume in cm3 (remember that 1 cm3 = 1 mL). If you decide to use the displacement
method, please be sure to dry off the cylinders after determining the volume.
Data Table 2:
Sample
Cylinder
A
B
C
D
E
Color
Length
(cm)
Initial Volume
of Water (mL)
Volume of Water &
Sample Cylinder (mL)
Float
or Sink?
Volume of
Sample
Cylinder (cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
Post-Lab Questions:
• Was the same amount of water displaced for each sample cylinder? Why?
• If all the sample cylinders were of equal volume, would the same amount of
water be displaced for each sample?
• What was the relationship between the volume and density of sample cylinders?
(Remember, they all have the same mass.)
• Did any of the sample cylinders float in water? If so, why?
A
C
B
D
E
F
G
H
I
Cubes
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cubes in order by estimating the
mass. The cubes should be labeled with a letter. If not, see the instructor.
Using the letters from the cubes, write your order below:
Smallest Mass
Least Dense
____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____ <____
I < H < A < B < G < C <
D < F < E
Largest Mass
Most Dense
2. Using the triple beam balance, determine the mass of each cube (you should be able to
measure to the nearest 0.1 g, or perhaps the nearest 0.05 g).
Data Table 1:
Description
Cube
Mass (g)
Volume
(cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
Opaque white plastic (nylon)
A
14.04 g
16.4 cm3
0.856 g/cm3
Clear plastic (lucite)
B
17.94 g
16.4 cm3
1.09 g/cm3
Gray solid metal (aluminum)
C
42.76 g
16.4 cm3
2.61 g/cm3
Rusty gray metal (steel)
D
128.04 g
16.4 cm3
7.81 g/cm3
Copper metal (Cu)
E
143.44 g
16.4 cm3
8.75 g/cm3
Brass metal
F
139.65 g
16.4 cm3
8.52 g/cm3
Dark gray plastic
G
21.47 g
16.4 cm3
1.31 g/cm3
Oak wood
H
11.41 g
16.4 cm3
0.696 g/cm3
Pine wood
I
6.18 g
16.4 cm3
0.377 g/cm3
Cylinders
v = pr2h
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cylinders in by estimating the mass.
Smallest mass ________< ________ < ________ < ________ < _______ Largest mass
ALL SAMPLES HAVE IDENTICAL MASS
3. Place the cylinders in order from least dense to most dense.
Least Dense
B
<
A
<
C
<
D
<
E
Most Dense
4. How were you able to determine this order?
Calculating density from mass and volume data
(or place in order of length...longest to shortest)
1. Using the method of your choosing (two possible methods), determine the volume of each cylinder.
Report your volume in cm3 (remember that 1 cm3 = 1 mL). If you decide to use the displacement
method, please be sure to dry off the cylinders after determining the volume.
Data Table 2:
Sample
Cylinder
Color
Length
(cm)
Initial Volume
of Water (mL)
Volume of
Water & Sample
Cylinder (mL)
Float
or
Sink?
Volume of
Sample
Cylinder (cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
A
Offwhite
11.2
50.1
62.9
Sink
12.8
1.17
B
white
12.5
55.1
71.1
Float
16.0
0.938
C
Dark
gray
8.1
50.2
61.0
Sink
10.8
1.39
D
Shiny
gray
4.4
52.1
57.7
Sink
5.6
2.68
E
brass
1.4
49.8
51.8
Sink
2.0
7.50
Post-Lab Questions:
• Was the same amount of water displaced for each sample cylinder? Why?
No, cylinders had different volumes.
• If all the sample cylinders were of equal volume, would the same amount of
water be displaced for each sample?
Yes, if they all had cylinders had the same volume they would displace
the same volume of water. They would not have had the same mass.
• What was the relationship between the volume and density of sample cylinders?
(Remember, they all have the same mass.)
Smaller volume was most dense.
Volume and density were INVERSELY related.
• Did any of the sample cylinders float in water? If so, why?
Yes, cylinder B floated because it was less dense than water.
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LAB
Teacher Notes
• This lab can easily be completed in one 50-minute class period.
• Do not allow students to determine the volume of the blocks using
water displacement method. Several metals will oxidize (rust).
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