1. Copy everything in blue on your lab sheet.
How Dense is it?
Copy everything in blue on your lab sheet.

2. Density Lab
Purpose: To investigate density and the ability to use density as an identifying property of a substance.
Materials:
-4 objects -Graduated cylinder
-Balance -Calculator
-Water
Background:
Density is a property of matter that is specific to the substance. A substance can be identified based on its density. In order to calculate the density of the substance, you must first measure the mass by the volume for each object. Then divide the mass by the volume.

3. Procedure Observe each object.
Measure the mass of each object using the balance and record the mass in the data table. (measure to the nearest 0.1g)
Fill the graduated cylinder roughly half full and record the volume of water in the data table.
Gently place one of the objects in the graduated cylinder filled with water.
Record the volume of water after the object is placed in the graduated cylinder in the data table.
Subtract the two volumes to find the volume of just the object.
Repeat this process for all four objects at each station.
Determine the density of each object by dividing the mass by the volume (round to the nearest tenth).

4. Data Object Observations Mass (g) Volume of water (mL) Volume of
water with
object
submerged
Object =
Subtracted
water
volume
Density
(g/mL)
Bowling Pin
Stopper
Marble
Fossil Shell
Weight
Calculations:
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Therefore, the equation for density is: D = m/V

5. Analysis 1. What is the difference between mass and volume?
2. Does the size of an object alter the density of the object? Explain.
3. Does the density of matter affect the substance’s ability to float? Explain.
4. Based on the information in the lab, would a rock with a density of 1.75 g/mL sink or float in water that has a density of 1.0 g/mL? Explain.

6. Calculations
Write the formula and show your work for each problem.
5. A cube has length of 7 cm a width of 8 cm and a height of 2 cm. What is its volume?
6. Using the cube from problem #1, if the cube has a mass of 50 grams, what is its density?
7. A marble has a volume of 20 ml. It also has a mass of 10g. Calculate the density of the marble.

7. Calculations
Write the formula and show your work for each problem.
8. A box has a length of 5 cm, width of 10 cm and a height of 2 cm. If the box has a mass of 20g, what is the density of the box?Using the cube from problem #1, if the cube has a mass of 50 grams, what is its density?
9. The density of aluminum is 2.7 g/ml. If the aluminum has a volume of 20 ml, what is the mass of the aluminum?

8. Problem Solving
10. Look at the graduated cylinder. It contains the following liquids. Label the liquids in the graduated cylinder based on the data below. a.
Liquid
Density (g/ml)
corn syrup
1.38
ether
1.2
canola oil
.93
salt water
1.1 b. c. d.

9. Problem Solving
Put the following steps IN ORDER to demonstrate your understanding of how to find the density of an irregular object.
1. _____ a. Mass the object on a balance.
2. _____ b. Place object in graduated cylinder
3. _____ c. Using the formula for density, calculate the density of the object
4. _____ d. Subtract initial volume from the volume of the object + water
5. _____ e. Fill graduated cylinder with water above the size of the object
6. _____ f. Include final units for mass and volume in final answer
7. _____ g. Record initial volume in milliliters
8. _____ h. Record mass in grams
9. _____ i. Record volume of object only in milliliters
10. _____ j. Record volume of object + water in milliliters