Name: Date:

Year and Section: Teacher:

Experiment No. 2
Density of Solids

I. Introduction:

Density is a measure of the ratio of mass per unit volume. Its n other words, it is the value
of mass over volume which usually has the unit g/ml. There are two known of getting the
density of an object. The first is the displacement method while the other is through the use
of the formula which is D = mass/volume. Whichever you use, you are sure to arrive at
almost the same values for density.

II. Problems:

1. What are the average density and average volume of the metal ball and the copper
wire?
2. What does the data indicate?

III. Abstract:

In experiment no.2, our objectives were to solve for the volumes and densities of the
objects and to know how to perform the water displacement method in order to find the density.
We computed for the densities three times and we noticed some variations in their values. For
example, when we got the densities of the copper wire, the first trial gave us 0.91 g/cm3, the
second gave us 1.00 g/cm3 and the third trial gave us 0.916 g/cm3. For the metal ball, we used
two methods in order to find the densities. First method is the water displacement method
wherein trials 1, 2 and 3 gave the values for density as 2.75 g/ml, 2.75 g/ml, and 2.60 g/ml
respectively. The second method is through the use of the formula. The three trials under this
method gave the densities as 1.35 g/ml, 1.45 g/ml, and 1.35 g/ml. As seen from these values,
there are really slight differences from the values.
In this experiment, we also learned the use of a new instrument known as micrometer
caliper. The micrometer caliper was like a miniature version of the vernier caliper. It also gave
accurate measurements just like the vernier caliper.
To sum it all up, there were basically two main things we did in this experiment, one is to
perform the water displacement method and the other is to use the formula for density. In the
end, we were able to come up with results with several variations but are still close enough to
one other.

IV. Materials:

20 cm long thick, solid copper wire stone or metal ball

micrometer caliper graduated cylinder
platform or beam balance

V. Procedure:
 The procedure for this experiment was simple. For the copper wire, we were asked to use
the micrometer caliper to get its diameter and the triple beam balance to get its mass. Then,
we were supposed to use these values to solve or the volume and density. For the metal ball,
we performed two methods: the water displacement method and the use of formula of
density.

VI. Data and Results:

A. Copper Wire

Trial Diameter (cm) Radius (cm) Volume (cm3) Mass (g) Density (g/cm3)
1 0.390 0.195 2.39 2.20 0.921
2 0.390 0.195 2.39 2.40 1.00
3 0.400 0.200 2.51 2.30 0.916
Average 0.393 0.197 2.43 2.30 0.946

B. Metal Ball

Trial V1 (ml) V2 (ml) Mass (g) D1 (g/ml) D2 (g/ml)

1 10.0 10.2 5.50 2.75 1.35
2 10.0 10.2 5.50 2.75 1.45
3 10.0 10.2 5.20 2.60 1.35

Average 10.0 10.2 5.40 2.70 1.38

Computations:

Copper Wire:
V = ∏r2h
= (3.14)(0.195 cm)2(20 cm)
= 2.39 cm3

D=m
V
= 2.20 g
2.39 cm3
= 0.921 g/cm3

VII. Error/Data Analysis:

Data Analysis:
I noticed that the density of the copper wire is almost the same as of the density of the water.
On the other hand, the densities of the metal ball obtained through water displacement
method and formula method were far from each other. The density computed using the
formula method was less than the density obtained from the water displacement method.
Percentage Error of Density (Copper Wire):
Ea = /O – A/
 1. Ea = /0.921 – 0.946/
= 0.0250 g/cm3
2. Ea = /1.00 – 0.946/
= 0.0540 g/cm3
3. Ea = /0.916 – 0.946/
= 0.0300 g/cm3

Er or % Error = Ea x 100%
A
1. % Error = 0.0250 x 100%
0.946
= 2.64 %
2. % Error = 0.0540 x 100%
0.964
= 5.60 %
3. % Error = 0.0300 x 100%
0.964
= 2.11 %

Percentage Error of Density (Metal Ball) Water Displacement Method:

Ea = /O – A/

1. Ea = /2.75 – 2.70/
= 0.0500 g/cm3
2. Ea = /2.75 – 2.70/
= 0.0500 g/cm3
3. Ea = /2.60 – 2.70/
= 0.100 g/cm3

Er or % Error = Ea x 100%
A
1. % Error = 0.0500 x 100%
2.70
= 1.85 %
2. % Error = 0.0500 x 100%
2.70
= 1.85 %
3. % Error = 0.100 x 100%
2.70
= 3.70 %

VIII. Conclusion:

The average volumes of the metal ball and the copper wire are 2 cm3 and 2.43 cm3
respectively. For the copper wire, the average density is 0.964 g/cm3 while the average
density for the metal ball is 2.70 g/ml or 1.38 g/ml. These data indicate that the density of the
copper wire is almost equal to the density of water which is 1.00 g/ml. They also suggest that
the density of the metal ball obtained from water displacement method is far from the one
obtained from using the formula method.

IX. Questions/Applications:
1. Why do you have to wet the lead pellet before dropping it into the graduated container
when determining its volume?

We have to wet the pellet before dropping it into graduated cylinder so that the particles
stuck to its surface will be washed away. By doing this, the particles that might affect the
volume will be removed.

2. What general property of matter is illustrated when the volume of an object is measured
by the displacement method?

The general property of matter shown by performing the water displacement method is
that no two matters can occupy the same space at the same time.

3. The density of wood is 0.72 g/cm3. What will be the mass of a block which measures 30
cm x 10 cm x 10 cm?

Given: D = 0.72 g/cm3

V = 30 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm = 3000 cm3
Formula: D = m
V
m = DV
Solution: m = (0.72 g/cm3)(3000 cm3)
= 2160 g
Final Answer: The mass of the block is 2160 g.

4. A sample of metal alloy has a density of 6.67 g/cm3. What is its volume if it weighs
500g?

Given: D = 6.67 g/cm3

m = 500 g
Formula: D = m
V
V=m
D
Solution: V = 500 g
6.67 g/cm3
= 75.0 cm3