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Food Science 10
Unit 1: The Food Science Lab
Lab #3: Relationship between Mass and Volume
October 2015

Name: Apisara Yooyuen

Nickname: Jaja

Introduction: There is a relationship between the mass and the volume of an object of a specific
material. The mass can be determined using an electric balance to record its weight in grams. The
volume of an object can be determined by calculating the amount of water displaced in a
graduated cylinder when the object is placed into water. By determining the mass and volume of an
object of a specific material, you can find its density. In this lab experiment you will be discovering
how to determine the density of an object using graphs and mathematical equations, instead of
simply searching for the formula for density on the internet.
Purpose: To see how mass and volume are related to determine density by experimental data. To
demonstrate how graphs can connect ideas from Science and Math.
Materials:
Electronic Balance
50-mL Graduated Cylinder
4 Sample of the Same Material (3 Materials)
Water
Ruler
Procedure:
1. Obtain three different types of material for your group. Each material has 4 sample sizes.
2. Find the mass of each of the sample sizes. Record in your data table.
3. Find the volume of each of the sample sizes by determining the amount of water displaced by
the object.
a. Set up a graduated cylinder and put 25 mL of water into it. Read the volume and write it
down.
b. Tip the graduated cylinder and gently slide one of the objects into it. DO NOT allow
water to splash out.
c. If the object floats, gently push it down with a pencil, until it is submerged under the
water. Do not push too hard.
d. Record the new volume of the water. Subtract the volume of the water from the
combined volume of the water
and object together. The result is the volume of the object. Record in your data table.
Data Table:
Title: Measure the volume and mass of three different type of substances
Smallest Sample

Small Sample

Medium Sample

Large Sample

Type of Material
Mass(g)

Volume(mL)
Mass(g) Volume(mL)
Mass(g) Volume(mL)
Mass(g) Volume(mL)

Nylon (Black)

5.49

5.0

8.97

8.0

12.36

10.5 15.73

13.0

Phenolic (Brown)

6.33

5.0

10.19

7.5

14.30

11.0 18.20

13.0

5.0

18.47

7.0

26.72

10.0 37.75

14.0

Aluminum (Silver) 13.11

Graph #1 Title: Measure the volume and mass of Nylon (Black)

Mass
(g)

4
0
3
5
3
0
2
5
2
0
1
5
10

5
0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

Graph #2 Title: Measure the volume and mass of Phenolic (Brown)

Mass
(g)

4
0
3
5
3
0
2
5
2
0
1
5
10

5
0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

Graph #3 Title: Measure the volume and mass of Aluminum (Silver)

Mass
(g)

4
0
3
5
3
0
2
5
2
0
1
5
10

5
0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

Discussion (Analyzing Results) Questions:

1.

Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the first material Nylon (Black).Follow
these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 2, and a mass of 2.5.
Point B corresponds to a volume of 20, and a mass of 22.5.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 22.5 minus 2.5 = 20.
Run = 20 minus 2 = 18.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 1.11.
2.
Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the second material Phenolic (Brown).
Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 15, and a mass of 20.
Point B corresponds to a volume of 19, and a mass of 25.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 25 minus 20 = 5.
Run = 19 minus 15 = 4.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 1.25.
3.
Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the third material Aluminum (Silver).
Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 1, and a mass of 2.5.
Point B corresponds to a volume of 15, and a mass of 40.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 40 minus 2.5 = 37.5.
Run = 15 minus 1 = 14.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 2.68
Note: All parts of a straight line have the same, constant slope. When a mathematical constant
is discovered as the result of scientific experiments, it is often given a name. The slope you have
just calculated is called the density of that material.
4.

In your answers to question 1, the rise corresponds to mass of the material, while the run
corresponds to the volume of the material. This leads to the formula for density, which is
mass/volume.

5.

Research the actual density for each of your materials. Determine your accuracy.
Density of Nylon is 1.15 g/mL, Phenolic is 1.31 g/mL and Aluminum is 2.71 g/mL, so
from the experiment the value is not really accuracy because the density of Phenolic that I got
in the experiment is so far from that it should be, but others is very close.
Conclusion:

On the experiment, Density of materials depend on the mass of each sample, if

they are same size or same volume. High mass make sample high density and low mass
make sample low density, on that they are same volume.