MYSTERY MATTER DENSITY LAB ANSWERS
Please check and correct your lab write-up. Please go over this sheet to see what you missed and Fix any
Errors.
1. PURPOSE To find the density of 3 different objects
 To find the density marbles, an object with a density greater than water and an object with a
density less than water.
2. INTRODUCTION (BACKGROUND INFORMATION) Formulasi. Density = (Mass) ÷(Volume)
ii. 1 mL = 1 cm3 = Volume
 Definitions- (all of these should be in your notebook)
i. Density- amount of mass in a given amount of space (volume)
ii. Mass- the amount of matter (stuff) an object contains
iii. Volume- the space occupied by a given mass
 General Information on Subjecti. Water has a density of 1g/cm3
ii. Objects that are less dense than water float (ex: ping-pong ball).
iii. Objects that are denser than water sink (ex: a metal block).
3. HYPOTHESIS "The density of the marble is greater than the H2O so it will sink".
 "The density of the cube or sphere is greater/less than the H2O so it will sink/float".
 (or) Any other statement that you think qualifies as a logical prediction that helps to address the
purpose of the lab.
4. MATERIALS- (in a neat list or bullets (must have at least 5))
 Marbles, metal wood and/or plastic cube, Ping-Pong ball, balance, graduated cylinders, overflow
containers, petri dish, beaker, water bottle, spatula and anything else you used to do the lab.
5. PROCEDURES- (should be clearly explained in case you wanted to do this lab 27 years from now for
your children or at your best friend’s wedding)
1. Get all the materials for the lab
2. Zero the balance (very, very important)
3. Weigh the petri dish and write down the mass: ______ grams.
(MAKE SURE YOU SUBTRACTED THE WEIGHT OF THE PETRI DISH FROM THAT OF THE OBJECT)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Weigh the object and record the mass into data table.
Fill overflow cup with water (to end of little nose).
Place object in overflow cup and collect water with the beaker.
Pour water into graduated cylinder and record the volume into data table.
Pour water back into the water bottle and dry area.
Repeat steps 4-8 for the other objects and record data into data table.
Cleanup lab stations (dry and put equipment in order).
density_lab_ANSWERS 6/2/2014
6. DATA DATA TABLE- (with TITLE and ALL UNITS)
Mass, Volume & Density of Marbles
Object
4 Marbles*
Ping-Pong Ball
Metal (Brass)
Metal (Aluminum)
Wood Block (Pine)
Plastic Block (PP)
MASS (g)
68-86
2.2-2.8
137-141
42-46
6-8
13-15
VOLUME (cm3)
28-44
32-36
14-18
14-18
14-18
14-18
DENSITY (g/cm3)
1.5 – 3.5
.06 - .08
7.6 – 9.6
2.5 – 2.9
.4 – .6
.8 – .9
*Individual marbles have a mass between 15g to 22g depending of which color & size marbles were used. The volumes also ranged
from 7ml to 11ml depending on which marble was selected. The density for 1 or 2 or 3 or all 4 of the marbles at your table should
ideally be the same irrespective of the size or volume because they are all made of the same material (colored glass).

SHOW ALL CALCULATIONS & WORK - include each the units for all measurements.
(Example: Density of 1 Marble = 18 g ÷ 9 cm3 = 2.0 g/cm3 )

GRAPH (Density of Marbles) - With Density (g/cm3) on y-axis and Marbles on x-axis (with
the correct units). The graph should be a BAR GRAPH and at least 1/3 to 1/2 the page.
7. CONCLUSION- (4 to 6 sentences)
 Did they discuss if the HYPOTHESIS was correct or incorrect?
 Did they discuss the data they came up with and (in a few sentences) if it made sense and why
(ex: marbles sank because their density was greater than H2O and that makes sense when you
look at our data because H2O = 1 g/cm3).
 Did they include any data (numbers) like the density of the objects vs. that of water (1g/cm3)
 SOURCES OF ERRORi. Balance was not zeroed or tried to zero balance with Petri dish on it (bad)
ii. Water splashed when objects were dropped in
iii. Marbles were different sizes so data may have varied depended on which marbles used
iv. Readings from graduated cylinder were off (didn’t measure at meniscus)
v. The cohesive (stickiness) force (surface tension) of water (+/- 3 ml)
vi. Anything else you can think off that affected your data negatively.
density_lab_ANSWERS 6/2/2014