MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY

Abstract:
This lab is performed to determine or understand the meaning and significance of the
density of a substance and calculate the density of a substance from measurements of
its mass and volume.
Apparatus:
Vernier caliper, Micrometer,etc.
Introduction
In order to classify and identify materials of a wide variety, scientists use
numbers called physical constants (e.g. density, melting point, boiling point, index of
refraction) which are characteristic of the material in uestion. !ensity is a basic
physical property of a homogeneous substance" it is an intensive property, which means
it depends only on the substance#s composition and does not vary with si$e or amount.
To determine the density of a substance, you need to measure both its mass and its
volume. %ou have carried out both of these procedures in previous labs. !ensity is the
ratio of a substance#s mass to its own volume, and is defined by the euation&
!ensity ' mass(volume e ).
The standard metric units in use for mass and volume respectively are grams and
milliters or cubic centimeters. Thus, density has the unit grams(milliter (g(ml) or
grams(cubic centimenters (g(cc). The literature values are usually given in this unit.
!ensity may be calculated from a separate mass and volume measurement, or, in the
case of liuids, may be determined directly by the use of an instrument called
hydrometer.
MEASURING DEVICES:
The meter stic* and the triple beam balance are both self+explanatory" however, the
Vernier caliper and the micrometer may be new to you, so some discussion is ,ustified.
The Vernier -aliper& This device can measure both inside and outside dimensions down
to ...)cm (don/t use the top scale which measures in inches). -lose the caliper gently
on some test ob,ect to get an outer dimension reading, or expand the horns of the
caliper into some cavity for an interior reading. 0ee picture below&
The centimeter reading is ta*en by finding the first whole digit (as on a meter stic*) on
the fixed scale to the left of the $ero mar* on the sliding scale, 1 in the figure. The next
number, the first decimal place, also comes from the fixed scale& it is the last small
22hash// mar* to the left of the $ero, ..3 in our case. It is the last number, the second
decimal place, that is most difficult to establish. 4ind where a hash mar* on the sliding
scale ma*es a straight line with a similar mar* on the fixed scale, ...5 in the figure on
the sliding scale. 6ow add 1cm7 ..3cm 7 ...5cm for your reading. 8hat is the
uncertainty here9
The Micrometer: This instrument measures outer dimensions down to ...)mm, a
factor of ten more precise than the caliper. !o not ad,ust the small *nob at the end of
the handle in any way: This is the calibration *nob, and is pre+set by the lab technician.
-lose the micrometer gently around some test ob,ect. 0ee picture below&
;ach turn of the thimble opens the instrument ..<mm" therefore two turns gives )mm,
four turns means 3mm, etc. These millimeter readings are notated by the hash mar*s
which originate from the hori$ontal line on the barrel. The other mar*s which don/t touch
that line indicate ..<mm increments. In the figure the thimble has been turned eleven
times, revealing the <mm mar* and the ..<mm mar* beyond it. The last number comes
from the number on the thimble which lines up with the hori$ontal line on the barrel, in
our case ..3=mm. This ..3=mm is added to ..<mm so that the decimal side of the
reading is ..>=mm. ?dd this to the <mm above for the result. @f course, if the ..< mar*
had not been revealed, indicating only ten turns, then the reading would have been
<.3=mm.
Density of Block O!ect:
AB@-;!CB;&
). Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the height of the Dloc* @b,ect.
3. Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the Eength of the Dloc* @b,ect.
1. Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the width of the Dloc* @b,ect.
F. Measured the mass of the Dloc* @b,ect.
8e too* the following reading.
Beading ) Beading 3 ?verage Beading ?verage Beading
mass F).)) g F).)) g F).)) g ...F) Gg
Eength F.5=F cm F.H=3 cm F.551 cm ...F55 m
width 3.<1. cm 3.<3H cm 3.<13 cm ...3<1 m
height ).3H== cm ).1=) cm ).3HH cm ...)3HH m
Volume )<.H5> cmI1 )=.)3< cmI1 )=..<= cmI1 ).=.Fx).I+< mI1
;xp !ensity
3.<=g( cmI1
;rror <J
Density of Cylin"er O!ect:
AB@-;!CB;&
). Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the height of the -ylinder @b,ect.
3. Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the radius of the -ylinder @b,ect.
1. Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the diameter of the -ylinder @b,ect.
F. Measured the mass of the -ylinder @b,ect.
8e too* the following reading.
Beading ) Beading 3 ?verage Beading ?verage Beading
mass 3H.)3 g 3H.)3 g 3H.)3 g ...3H)3 g Gg
!iameter ).3>) cm ).3>1 cm ).3>3 cm ...)1 m
Badius ..=1=< cm ..=15 cm ..=1> cm ...=1> m
height 3.<>5 cm 3.<>. cm 3.<>F cm ...3< m
Volume 1.3=H< cmI1 1.35F5 cmI1 1.3>> cmI1 1.)5>x).I+= mI1
;xp !ensity
5.55= g( cmI1
;rror )3.<J
Density of Irre#$l%r O!ect:
AB@-;!CB;&
). Csed the Vernier caliper to measure the volume of the -ylinder @b,ect.
3. Measured the mass of the -ylinder @b,ect.
8e too* the following reading.
Beading ) Beading 3 ?verage Beading ?verage Beading
mass == g == g == g ...== g Gg
Volume )= mE )= mE )= mE .....)= mE
;xp !ensity
F.)3< g( cmI1
;rror& <3.5 J
-onclusion& In this lab we measured the densities of different ob,ects experimentally.
The experimental values agree with the formula values.