Density Experiment Guide
Density Experiment Guide
1 Objective
To understand the concept of density and how it relates to the mass and volume
of objects. To measure the density of various objects using a simulation and
compare it with the density calculated using theoretical values.
2 Background
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance. It is calculated
using the formula:
Mass(m)
Density(ρ) =
Volume(V )
Density is an important property of matter and is used to determine the buoy-
ancy of objects and to distinguish between different materials.
3 Apparatus
Objects of various materials and shapes (in simulation)
Balance or scale to measure mass (in simulation)
Graduated cylinder or measuring container to measure volume (in simu-
lation)
Water (in simulation)
Calculator
4 Procedure
1. In the simulation, select an object and determine its mass using the virtual
balance.
2. Fill the virtual graduated cylinder with water up to a certain mark to
establish the initial volume Vi .
1
3. Carefully submerge the object in the virtual water and measure the change
in water level (displacement) to determine the final volume Vf .
4. The volume of the object is calculated as V = Vf − Vi .
5. Calculate the density of the object using the formula.
Object Mass (m) [g] Initial Volume (Vi ) [cm3 ] Final Volume (Vf ) [cm3 ] Density (ρ) [g/cm3 ]
6 Analysis
Compare the densities calculated using the simulation with the theoretical den-
sities of the materials. Discuss any discrepancies and possible sources of error.
7 Questions
1. How does the density of an object affect its buoyancy in water?
2. What are some everyday examples where understanding density is impor-
tant?
3. Discuss how you would measure the density of an irregularly shaped object
using the simulation.
2
9 Identifying the Material
After calculating the density of an unknown substance using the Density Sim-
ulation, students can use the following link to identify the material:
Material Finder
The Material Finder website provides a comprehensive database of materials
and their properties, allowing students to match the calculated density to the
corresponding material. This can be a useful tool for further understanding the
properties of the substance under investigation 1 .
1 Note that the Density Simulation uses liters (L) as the unit of volume, which is equivalent
to 1000 cm3