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Calculating Density

To calculate density, one must determine an object's mass and volume. For a cube, directly measure its dimensions to calculate volume. For irregular solids, use water displacement to find volume by measuring the water level change with and without the object. For liquids, directly measure the mass of a known volume poured into a measuring cylinder.

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52 views15 pages

Calculating Density

To calculate density, one must determine an object's mass and volume. For a cube, directly measure its dimensions to calculate volume. For irregular solids, use water displacement to find volume by measuring the water level change with and without the object. For liquids, directly measure the mass of a known volume poured into a measuring cylinder.

Uploaded by

Tonikay Miller
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CALCULATI

NG DENSITY
SCHOOL: MUNRO COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT: NATURAL SCIENCES
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
FORM: 4TH FORM
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2020
RECALL

Density is a physical property of


matter that expresses a relationship of
mass to volume.

The particles in a solid, liquid or gas are


arranged differently. Density depends on how
closely packed the particles are.
Let’s Recap
What is
matter?
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up
space.
All matter contains particles. The
difference between the different
states of matter is how the particles
are arranged:.
Soli
ds
Particles are tightly packed in a regular

structure
Liqui
ds
Particles are tightly packed but free to

move past each other


Gases
Particles are spread out and move

randomly
Density also depends on an objects

material. A piece of iron with the

same dimensions as a piece of

aluminium will be heavier because

the atoms are more closely packed.


VOLUME

To calculate the density of an object, the


volume needs to be found firstly.

If the object is a regular shape, the volume can

be found by using a ruler and then using the

volume equations
VOLUME

If the object has an irregular shape, the


volume can be measured using a
displacement can
The displacement can is filled with water above a

narrow spout and allowed to drain until the water is

level with the spout.


VOLUME

As the irregular object is lowered into


the displacement can, the water level
rises. Since the level was already up to
the bottom of the spout, all the
displaced water comes out of the spout
and is collected in a measuring
The displaced water in the cylinder occupies the same
cylinder. amount of space that the object now does in the can,
which means that their volumes are the same.
Note: If an object can fit into the measuring cylinder, you can:

1. Take the original reading of the water in the measuring

cylinder.

2. Lower the object in the measuring cylinder and take that

reading.

3. The difference between both readings would be the

volume of the object.


Practical Experiments
for Density
State the method/procedure to ascertain the

density of each of the following:

a. A cube

b. Irregular Shaped Solid

c. Liquid
A Cube
 

• Use a ruler to measure the length (l), width (w) and


height (h) of the object.
• Place the object on the top pan balance and measure its
mass.
• Calculate the volume of the cube using
• Use the measurements to calculate the density of the
object.
An Irregular Shaped
Object
• Place the object on the top pan balance and measure its mass.
• Fill a measuring cylinder so that there is enough water to cover the
object when it is placed inside the cylinder. Take the reading of the
volume.
• Carefully lower the object into the cylinder.
• Take the new reading of the volume. Subtract the original reading to
obtain the volume of the object.
• Use the measurements to calculate the density of the stone.
Liquid
 
• Place the measuring cylinder on the top pan balance and measure its
mass.
• Pour e.g. 30 of liquid (e.g. water) into the measuring cylinder and
measure its new mass.
• Subtract the mass in step 1 from the mass in step 2. This is the mass of
30 of water.
• Use the measurements to calculate the density of the water.

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