Core Practical: Determining Density Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What are the steps to determine the density of a regular solid?
e.g. a rectangular metal block

1. Measure the mass on a balance.
2. Measure length, width and height and multiply them to get the volume.
3. Divide mass by volume to get the density.

What are the steps to determine the density of an irregular solid by displacement?
e.g. a glass marble

1. Find the mass of the marble on a balance.
2. Note the water level in a measuring cylinder, add the marble so it is fully submerged, note the new level; the difference is the volume.
3. Divide mass by volume.

What are the steps to determine the density of a liquid?
e.g. cooking oil

1. Measure the mass of the empty measuring cylinder.
2. Pour in the liquid, read its volume and measure the new mass; mass of liquid = difference in masses.
3. Divide the mass of the liquid by its volume.

Why can the displacement method not be used to find the volume of a piece of wood?

The density of wood is less than that of water, so it floats; less water is displaced than the volume of the wood.

What volume in cm³ is equal to 1 ml?

1 cm³, so a measuring cylinder reading in ml gives the volume in cm³.