Julian's Science Experiments
  • Famous Experiments and Inventions
  • The Scientific Method
  • Home Physics Experiments Physics Science Fair Projects Physics Videos Physics Jokes Warning!
       

    How to Determine the Density of an Object
    For Science Labs, Lesson Plans, Class Activities & Science Fair Projects
    For Middle School Students & Teachers







    This experiment is courtesy of 

    Sink or Swim


    Developers:

    Joseph Dinich
    Beck School
    Cherry Hill, New Jersey

    Noel G. Harvey
    Exploratory Plastics Research
    Robin Queenan
    Plastics Research
    Rohm and Haas Company
    Bristol, PA


    Grade
    Level:

    7 through 9


    Discipline:

    Physical Science - Chemistry


    Goal:

    Students will identify density as a characteristic property of matter.


    Specific Objectives:

    Students will define density and explain how to determine the density of an object.


    Background:

    Sometimes it is useful to know the amount of mass in a given volume of an object.This quantity is known as density. Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance. The following formula shows the relationship between density, mass, and volume:

    Density = 

    Mass    

    Volume



    This demonstration shows the differences in the densities of different liquids, and how these differences affect the liquid's physical properties and interaction with other materials.


    Materials:

    2 ice cubes

    2 250-mL beakers

    2 400-mL beakers

    salt water solution

    12-oz. diet soda

    12-oz. regular soda

    isopropyl alcohol

    2 eggs

    battery jar or aquarium

    goggles

    food coloring


    Management Tips:

    1. Add approximately 150 g of salt to 300 mL of water for the salt solution.
    2. Use raw eggs. Also, use the same brand of diet and regular soda.
    3. The density of water is l.00g/cm3 . Ice is 0.92g/cm3 ; sea water is 1.03g/cm 3 ; alcohol is about 0.79 g/cm3.
    4. This activity can be adapted for use in cooperative learning groups.


    Procedure:

    1. This demonstration is a very simple way to introduce and interest students in the concept of density. Before the students arrive, prepare the following examples of density differences as seen through buoyancy:

      a. Two 250-mL beakers for ice cubes - one with water, one with isopropyl alcohol, or any nontoxic liquid with a density of less than 0.92 g/cm 3 .

      b. Two 400-mL beakers for eggs - one with 300 mL of water, and one with 300-mL of a concentrated salt solution.

      c. An aquarium or battery jar of water for the soda cans (save this for the following activity- �The Choice is Yours: A Density Excursion�).

    2. Place the ice cubes, eggs, and soda cans in the respective containers when you are ready to perform the demonstration.

    3. After students make an initial observation, add food coloring to each container to improve visibility.

    4. Have students record and discuss their observations and explanations leading to the concept and definition of density.

    5. Explain how density is calculated using sample problems.

      a. If 96.6 g of gold has a volume of five cubic centimeters, what is the density of gold?

      b. If 96.5 g of aluminum has a volume of 35 cubic centimeters, what is the density of aluminum?

    6. Have students make some mass and volume measurements of the water and alcohol and calculate their densities.


    Questions:

    1. Explain why the eggs, ice cubes, and soda cans floated in one liquid but not in the other.
    2. Why do you think oil floats on water?
    3. Give a stepwise procedure by which you could find the density of any object.


    References:

    This activity was adapted from an experiment entitled "The Mysterious Sunken Ice Cube" from the book Chemical Demonstrations, Vol. 2, 2nd edition, Lee R. Summerlin, Christie L. Borgford, and Julie B. Ealy, American Chemical Society, 1988.


    Extended Activities:

    1. The �Choice is Yours - a Density Excursion� may be used as a follow up to this activity to further practice calculating the density of matter.
    2. Determine the density of salt water.
    3. Using the substances and density information given, show where the following substances would be located if they were placed in a graduated cylinder by writing the names of the objects on the lines provided in the figure:

      Air 0.001 g/cm3
      corn oil 0.93g/cm3
      corn syrup 1.38g/cm3
      glycerine 1.26g/cm3
      plastic 1.17g/cm3
      rubber 1.34g/cm3
      steel 7.81g/cm3
      water 1.00g/cm3
      wood 0.85g/cm 3


    4. Imagine that the squares below are beakers filled with 100 mL of two different liquids, and that the dots inside them are molecules of the different liquids. Draw a circle around the square that contains the most dense liquid.



    This experiment is courtesy of 



    My Dog Kelly

    Follow Us On:
         

    Privacy Policy - Site Map - About Us - Letters to the Editor

    Comments and inquiries could be addressed to:
    webmaster@julianTrubin.com


    Last updated: June 2013
    Copyright © 2003-2013 Julian Rubin