BME 2034

LAB 1

2011/2012

EXPERIMENT: DENSITY OF SOLID

1.0

OBJECTIVE
To determine the density of a regular shape and an irregular shape object.

2.0

INTRODUCTION
Density, like color, odor, melting point, and boiling point, is a physical property of matter. Therefore,
density may be used in identifying matter. Density is defined as mass per unit volume and is
expressed mathematically as d = m/V (d is density, m is mass, and V is volume).

Unit;

3.0

or

where; 1 mL = 1 cm3

MATERIAL/APPARATUS
1. Scale/ruler
2. Solid block
3. Electronic balance
4. Steel bolt
5. Beaker
6. Water

4.0

PROCEDURE
4.1

Density of Regular Shaped Object (Solid Block)

1. Use a centimeter scale to measure length, height and width of a solid block and record
measurements on Table 1.
2. Use electronic balance to determine the mass of the solid block rod and record the
reading on Table 1.
3

3. Calculate the density of the solid block (grams per cm )

4.2

Density of Irregular Shaped Object (Steel Bolt)

1. Obtain a steel bolt to be used as an irregular shaped object.
4. Determine the mass of the steel bolt by using electronic balance and record the reading
on Table 2.
2. Use a beaker with half-full of water to find the volume of bolt. Record all the readings on
Table 2.
3. Calculate the density of the steel bolt.

BME 2034

5.0

LAB 1

2011/2012

DATA & RESULT

TABLE 1
Regular Shaped Object: ________________
Mass

Height

Width

Length

Volume of object

Density of regular shape object:

TABLE 2
Irregular Shaped Object: ________________

Initial
Mass

Beaker Used

Reading
(Water)

Final
Reading
(Water +

Volume of object

bolt)

Density of irregular shape object:

BME 2034

6.0

LAB 1

2011/2012

QUESTION & DISCUSSION

1. A lecturer performing a demonstration finds that a piece of cork displaces 23.5 mL of

water. The piece of cork has a mass of 5.7 g. What is the density of the cork?

2. Gold is one of the densest substances on Earth. A gold bar 20 cm by 5 cm by 5 cm has a

mass of 9.7 kg. What is the density of gold? Express your answer in g/cm3.

3. A piece of PVC plumbing pipe displaces 60 mL when placed into a container of water. If
the pipe has a mass of 78 g, what is the density of PVC?

4. A machinist begins work on a block of granite that measures 20 cm by 10 cm by 5 cm. If

the block of granite has a mass of 2700 g, what is the density of the granite?

5. A steel sphere (V = 4/3 r ) has a radius of 0.5 cm and a mass of 4.15 grams. What is its
density?

BME 2034

LAB 1

2011/2012

6. From experiment, which method of determining volume is more accurate? Explain why.

7.0

CONCLUSION
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