Name ___________________________________________Date _________________ Period _________
Density of Irregularly Shaped Objects Lab
Purpose: To determine which irregularly shaped object has the greatest density.
Hypothesis:____________________________________________________________________________
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Materials:______________________________________________________________________________
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Procedure:
1.) Find the mass of each object to the nearest 1/10th of a gram using the balance. Record
2.) Fill the overflow can to the top while holding your finger over the spout. Place the overflow can on the
table. Keep your finger over the spout. Place a small beaker under the spout and then remove your finger to
allow any excess water to drain out.
3.) Remove the beaker and hold a graduated cylinder under the spout.
4.) Place one object into the overflow can and collect the excess water that pours out by using the graduated
cylinder.
5.) Determine the volume of water to the nearest milliliter in the graduated cylinder.
6.) Convert the volume in mL to cm3. Use the relationship 1mL = 1cm3. Record the results in the data
table.
7.) Calculate the density of the objects using the formula Density = Mass divided by Volume
8.) Do all calculations, show all work and state your conclusion.
Analysis: Data Table
Object
Mass
Volume
Density
Calculations: Show ALL work in the spaces provided
Density of Object one:
D=
m
v
Density of Object two:
D=
m
v
Density of Object three:
D=
m
v
Conclusion: (remember the conclusion must 1.) restate your hypothesis, 2.) use data to support your
conclusion and 3.) state if the hypothesis was correct.
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Questions:
1.) Which measurement would be responsible for the largest error? Explain why. (HINT: which
measurement was the least accurate or was the most difficult to determine)___________________________
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2.) You determined the volume of a solid object using a water displacement method. Why must you convert
the measurement of milliliters into cubic centimeters? ___________________________________________
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3.) What is the relationship between a milliliter of water and a cubic centimeter. ______________________
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4.) You want to know if your will naturally float in a salt lake like the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Without
going to the lake and jumping in how could you determine if you will float or sink in the lake water?
(HINT: the density of the water in the Great Salt Lake is 1.1g/mL) _________________________________
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5.) The liquid ethanol has a density of 0.85 g/mL, rubber has a density of .9 g/mL, ironwood has a density of
1.1 g/mL, a steel bolt has a density of 7.5 g/mL and water has a density of 1.0 g/mL. Draw a picture of what
would happen in the graduated cylinder. (HINT: how would the substances layer, what would float to the
top, what would sink to the bottom?)