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Density Blocks

ACTIVITY ONE
    L: Density Blocks

Purpose:
• To practice measuring with the metric ruler, the triple beam balance and the graduated cylinder.
• To determine the density for each object measured
• To practice calculating density with known variables

Hypothesis: _______________________________________________________
 

Procedure
    1.  Obtain 8 density blocks.  Identify the substance in the block.
    2.  Measure the mass of each of the blocks separately using the triple beam balance.
    3.  Record the mass of the block in the appropriate space in the data table.
    4.  Measure the volume of the block using the formula:  Length times Width times Height. (L X W X H)
    5. Use the space below to show your measurements and then record the volume in the appropriate space in the data table.
    6.  For water, use the graduated cylinder and measure out 10 mL.  Remember to read at the meniscus.
    7.  Determine the density for the blocks and water, using the formula for density: density equals mass divided by volume. (D=m/v)

        Data Table 1:  Measurement and density of various substances
 
Substance 
Mass (g) 
Volume (cm3) 
Density (g/cm3) 
round to nearest 1/10 
Acrylic 
 . .
.
Aluminum 
. 
. 
. 
 Brass 
. 
. 
. 
Copper 
. 
. 
. 
Oak 
. 
. 
. 
 Pine 
. 
. 
. 
Polypropylene 
. 
. 
. 
 PVC 
. 
. 
. 
Steel 
 . . .
Water 
 . . .
 
 
Calculate the density from the data. (show formula, plug in measurements, solution with units)

 
Substances 
 true value
Percentage Error
correct value - your value  X 100%
correct value
Acrylic 
 
 
 
.
.
Aluminum 
 
 
 
.
.
Brass 
 
 
 
.
.
Copper 
 
 
 
.
.
Oak 
 
 
 
.
.
Pine
 
 
 
.
.
Polypropylene 
 
 
 
.
.
PVC 
 
 
 
.
.
Steel 
 
 
 
.
.
Water
 
 
 
.
 .
 
 
 
Interpreting Data

    1.  Compare the volume of each block.  What pattern do you notice?

    2.  Is this the same pattern evidence for the density you calculated?

    3.  What is causing the densities to be different?
 

Percentage error calculations
 

 
 
 

ACTIVITY TWO

    1.  obtain 4 blocks of the same type of substance.
    2.  Measure the mass of one block, then two blocks together and then three blocks together and then all four blocks together on the triple beam balance. You must measure, not assume anything.
    3.  Record the masses.
 

Mass of the substance ________________________
                                        name of substance
Number of blocks
Volume in cubic centimeters
 
One
.
Two
.
Three
.
Four
 .
Volume Measurements: (show formula, plug in measurements, solution with units)
    One Block
 

    Two Blocks
 

    Three Blocks
 

    Four Blocks
 

Volume of the substance ________________________
                                        name of substance
Number of blocks
Volume in cubic centimeters
round to nearest 1/10
One
.
Two
.
Three
.
Four
 .
 

Create a data table that would include both the mass (g) and volume (cm3)

Density of Substance ______________________
                                         name of substance
create your data table here in this space.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    8.  Using graph paper, create a graph that will show mass (g) on the Y axis and volume (cm3) on the X axis.

    9.  Title your graph  Density of _________________________________
                                                    name of substance
 

Interpreting Data

    1.  As volume increases, mass _____________________________

    2.  As volume decreases, mass _____________________________

    3.  What is the formula for calculating density?

    4.  What is the slope of your line?  Show your calculations.
 
 
 
 

    5.  What does the slope of the line on your graph represent?
 

    6.  Compare the slope of your line to the density for the substance you measured.  Are these two numbers similar or not?
 

    7.  As mass and volume increases, density _______________________

    8.  As mass and volume decrease, density _______________________