Lab 1 - Measuring Density Lab

Greg Houselander
Name: ______________________________ February 5, 2018
Date: ________________________________
Tharnie Vallikanthan
Instructor: ___________________________
Show all work for full marks. Where required, apply rounding and significant digit rules. /20 marks
REPORT SHEET
Part A – Determination of the density of a regular solid (3 marks)

Object Mass Volume Density

cylinder (cork) 5.2g 13.1947cm3 0.39g/cm3

sphere(marble) 5.7g 3.3510cm3 1.7g/cm3

cube(block) 114.4g 145.2000cm3 0.7879g/cm3

Calculations:
Part B – Determination of the densities of irregular solids (5 marks)

Object Mass Volume Density

Clothespin 10.0g 10.0mL 1g/mL

Plastic Diamond 3.9g 4.0mL 0.98g/mL

Rock 11.1g 4.5mL 2.5g/mL

Nut & Bolt 15.8g 2.0mL 7.9g/mL

Thread Spool 3.8g 1.0mL 3.8g/mL

Calculations:
Part 3 – Determination of the density of a liquid (3 marks)

Substance Mass of grad. Mass of Mass of Volume Density

cylinder liquid and liquid
grad. cylinder

Seawater 20.4g 34.7g 14.3g 14.0mL 1.02g/mL

Tap Water 20.4g 38.1g 17.7g 18.0mL 0.983g/mL

Table Syrup 20.4g 33.9g 13.5g 10.0mL 1g/mL

Calculations:
Review Questions
1. In order to determine the density of a substance, it is necessary to find both the mass of a
sample of the substance and the volume of the sample (2 marks; ½ mark each point).
(a) State briefly how you would determine the mass of the sample if it is (i) a solid; (ii) a
liquid?
i) For a solid, simply put the item on a simple balance and record the mass.
II) For a liquid you must first record the mass of the empty graduated cylinder then record the mass of the
graduated cylinder filled with the sample. Then subtract the second mass from the first to determine the mass
of the substance itself.

(b) How would you determine the volume of a sample if it is (i) a regular solid; (ii) an
irregular solid; (iii) a liquid?
i) can be calculated using the formula for cylinder, cube, or sphere as provided in the lab manual.
ii) can be determined by putting water into a graduated cylinder at a specific amount (i.e. 30 mL) and then
submerge the sample into the water. Subtract the 2nd measurement from the first.
iii) for liquid you simply read the mL measurement on the graduated cylinder.

2. An empty graduated cylinder has a mass of 45.6 g. When filled with 38.6 mL of a liquid, the
total mass of the container and the liquid is 58.2 g. Calculate the density of the liquid (1 mark).
0.326g/mL

3. Calculate the unknown quantities in the following table (4 marks):

Mass Volume Density
123 g 48.6 mL 2.53g/mL
30.8 g 80.3 cm3 0.384g/cm3
65.0 g 99.4mL 0.654 g/mL

194g 59.6 cm3 3.26 g/cm3

4. What is the density of whole blood for a human (use units g/mL)? (2 marks)
1.06 g/mL @ 37c. (Herman 406)

Herman, Irving P. Physics of the Human Body. Springer; 2nd ed., 2016.
Reference for question above: _________________________________________________