Excel Graphing
in Middle School Science
An Investigation to Determine the Relationship
of Mass to Volume Using 3 Different Liquids
(Pp 100-101, Science and Technology 8 Text)
Rationale:
This investigation will allow students to understand the relationship between the
mass and volume of various substances as an introduction to the study of density.
Students will use lab equipment to gather data on the mass and volume of three
different fluids. They will then effectively integrate technology into their
investigation by using Microsoft Excel to create a data table and a scattergraph
that will help them to display collected data. Finally, students will analyze their
data and draw conclusions about the relationship between mass and volume.
The scatterplot, or scattergraph, is a powerful graphing technique to examine
relationships between two variables. These graphs utilize a “line of best fit” to
illustrate the relationship between variables. If the data points form a straight line
on the graph, this indicates a strong correlation between the two variables.
A line that slopes from the bottom left to the top right indicates a positive or direct
relationship. In other words, an increase in the value for x will result in an
increase in the value for y. If the line slopes from the top left to the bottom right
of the graph there is an inverse or negative relationship between the two variables.
That is, an increase in the value for one variable will result in a decrease in the
value for the other.
Background
How are volume and mass related to each other? If you double the volume of a
substance, how will the mass change? Would the same volume of a different
substance have a different mass? Which is heavier: a kilogram of feathers or a
kilogram of lead? The answer seems obvious, but there is an important difference
between feathers and lead. Equal masses of these substances have very different
volumes.
Question
What does mass have to do with the amount of space (volume) a liquid occupies?
Hypothesis
Write a hypothesis about how you think the mass and volume of a liquid are
related. Explain any previous knowledge or experiences you used to make your
prediction. Consider the following:
• When you add to the volume of a liquid will the mass of the liquid change?
Explain.
• Will you notice a difference if you use different liquids? Explain your
reasoning.
Materials
Triple Beam Balance
150ml Graduated Cylinder
150ml Beaker
Computer with Microsoft Excel
Safety Goggles
Water
Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)
Corn Syrup
Procedure
1. With a partner, measure the mass of an empty graduated cylinder and record this
figure in the data table under Liquid 1. You will need to do this before using
liquid 2 and 3 also.
2. Obtain a sample of Liquid 1.
a. Add 10ml of the liquid to the graduated cylinder.
b. Record the mass of the cylinder and liquid in your data table.
c. Calculate the mass of the added liquid alone by subtracting the mass of the
cylinder from the mass of the cylinder and liquid combined. Enter this in
the data table.
3. Continue to add the liquid, in 10ml amounts, until you have a total of 100ml in the
cylinders. Calculate and record the mass of each new volume of liquid in your
data table.
4. Clean the cylinder and repeat steps 1 to 3 with the other two liquids.
Results
1. Record your data in the table below.
Liquid 1: Water
Mass of Cylinder:
Volume
of
Liquid
Added
10ml
20ml
30ml
40ml
50ml
60ml
70ml
80ml
90ml
100ml
Mass of
Cylinder
and
Liquid
Liquid 2: Alcohol
Mass of Cylinder:
Mass of
Added
Liquid
Volume
of
Liquid
Added
10ml
20ml
30ml
40ml
50ml
60ml
70ml
80ml
90ml
100ml
Mass of
Cylinder
and
Liquid
Liquid 3: Syrup
Mass of Cylinder:
Mass of
Added
Liquid
Volume
of
Liquid
Added
10ml
20ml
30ml
40ml
50ml
60ml
70ml
80ml
90ml
100ml
Mass of
Cylinder
and
Liquid
Mass of
Added
Liquid
Analysis
Part A
1. Open Microsoft Excel. You will see a spreadsheet page on your screen. Each cell
is identified using a grid system using numbers and letters. Cell A1, for example,
is located where column A and row 1 meet. When you select (click on) any cell,
it becomes active and you can enter data. SAVE OFTEN!
2. Select cells A1-D1. Under Format on the toolbar, click Cells… On the
Alignment tab, under Text Control, check Merge cells and click OK. Enter the
title of your graph as: “Mass to Volume Relationship for 3 Different Liquids” in
this merged cell. Click outside of this cell so the title will be entered into your
spreadsheet. Select the title, increase the font size, and bold it.
**Don’t worry if you can’t see it all now. This will be fixed in a later step.**
3. Enter the following information in the appropriate cells:
A2 “Volume of Liquid”
B2 “Mass of Water”
C2 “Mass of Alcohol”
D2 “Mass of Syrup”
4. When you finish this, select all of these cells. Under Format choose Column and
then AutoFit Selection. This will expand your column width to allow your
headings to be viewed. SAVE!
5. Now enter the volume and mass data under each heading for all three liquids.
6. Select the entire data table and click the centering button on your toolbar. Under
Format, click Cells… On the Border tab select a line Style and Color. Then,
click Outline and Inside. Click OK. You will now have a nice neat data table.
7. Select your entire data table except the title. Under Insert select Chart (or click
the Chart Wizard button) and on the Standard Types tab, under Chart Type,
select (XY) Scatter. Under Chart sub-type, select the graph in the bottom righthand corner (this will create a scatter graph with data points connected by lines
without markers).
Click Next > twice until you get to Chart Options. Under the Titles tab, enter
your Chart title: as “Mass to Volume Relationship for 3 Different Liquids
(Scattergraph)”; Value (X) axis: as “Volume of Liquid (ml)”;and Value (Y)
axis: as “Mass of Liquid (g)”. Click Next >. Under Place chart: click on As
object in: and make sure Sheet 1 is selected. Click Finish and you will have
created a neat and professional looking scattergraph showing the relationship of
mass to volume for the three liquids in your investigation.
8. Click and hold below the legend and drag the chart down so that it is not covering
your data table. SAVE and Print!
Part B
1.
Calculate the mass-to-volume ratio for the 20ml and 60ml volumes of each liquid.
Volume
M/V Ratio Water
M/V Ratio Alcohol
M/V Ratio Syrup
20 ml
60 ml
2.
How do the mass-to-volume ratios of each liquid compare to one another? Try to explain what
this means.
3.
Is there a difference between the mass-to-volume ratios you calculated using the 20 ml volumes
versus the 60 ml volumes? Explain.
4.
Examine your scatterplots. They illustrate the relationship between the mass and volume for the
three liquids. State this relationship in a way that answers the question at the beginning of this
investigation.
5.
Using your graph, tell whether there is a positive or negative relationship between the mass and
volume of these liquids? Explain.
6.
Using the particle model of matter, and with specific references to each of the three liquids you
used, explain why each of your scatterplots has a different slope.
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct? Explain how the results of your investigation either confirmed or
disproved your initial prediction.
Extension:
Visit http://teacherweb.com/NS/ParkWest/ADriscoll/ and click on TECHTORIALS
For:
Advanced Excel – Online Excel Tutorials
More Tech in the Science Classroom – An Online Density Simulation
Sources:
Alexander, N., Glegg,C., Hammill, C., Hirsch, A., Ritter, B., & Williams, P., Science and Technology 8
(Nelson Thomson Learning, Ontario, 2000), Pp. 100-101.
Dartmouth College, Sources: Their Use and Acknowledgement (2001) Available at
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sources/ (17 May 2004).
Florida Gulf Coast University, Excel 2000 Tutorial- FGCU Technology Skills Orientation (2002) Available
at http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/excel/index.html (17 May 2004)
Microsoft in Education, Emphasizing Your Point with Charts with Excel 97 (2004) Available at
http://www.microsoft.com/Education/Excel97Tutorial.aspx (17 May 2004)
Statistics Canada, Power from data! Scatterplots (2003) Available at
http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/power/ch9/scattergraphs/scatter.htm (17 May 2004).