Sample Physics Lab: Density Handout provided by the teacher:

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Lab Measuring density Introduction The density, , of a material is an intrinsic property of the material of the object1. The density is given by:

M , where M is the mass of the material and V is the volume of the material. V

Since the density of a material is intrinsic, it should not be influenced by a) the actual mass of the sample or b) the shape of the sample. In this lab, you will be provided with four different rectangular parallel piped2 samples made of the copper. The density of copper is 8.92 g/cm3. g kg Note that 1 3 = 103 3 . cm m General procedure 1. You will use a ruler to measure the length, width, and height of each sample. 2. You will use a balance to measure the mass of each sample. 3. Make a graph of the mass as a function of the volume, and use the slope of this graph to determine a best estimate the density of the samples. 4. Compare the density measured in this way to the nominal value for copper, and determine a percent error for your measured value. Additional Questions to Answer 1. After evaluating your results, did you observe any measurement issues? 2. To what extent does your data support the hypothesis that all four samples were made from the same material? Extension You are provided with a sample that has a density of 4.3 g/cm3. If the volume of the sample is 123 cm3, what is the mass of the sample?

The Greek letter, , rhymes with row. A rectangular parallel piped is a three dimensional object that has six surfaces, and all of the surfaces are rectangles. A cube is a special case of a rectangular parallel piped in which all surfaces are squares of the same size.

Sample Physics Lab: Density The Lab Report Measuring Density Sam Student Lab Physics Period 2 9/8/02 Lab Partners: Peter Partner, Laura Labmate

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Purpose: This lab will check the validity of the concept of density. We will determine whether the measured density of copper agrees with standard reported values. We will also determine whether all of the samples that we were given have the same density. Procedure: Materials 4 samples of copper ruler balance The length, width, and height of each sample were measured using a ruler. To check for errors in measurement, each sample was measured two times by different observers, and the average value was recorded. The masses of the samples were measured with a balance. After it was balanced, the observed value was viewed by two observers and the agreed on the recorded value. Diagram: [No diagram required for this lab since layout is very simple.] Data
Sample 1 Measured Measured Measured Calculated Measured Length Width Height Volume Mass cm cm cm cm^3 3.4 2.2 11.3 3.5 2.4 11.3 3.5 2.3 11.2 90.2 814.1

Observer1 Observer2 Average

Sample

2 Measured Measured Measured Calculated Measured Length Width Height Volume Mass cm cm cm cm^3 4.4 2.7 5.3 4.4 2.9 5.6 4.4 2.8 5.5 67.1 608.9

Observer1 Observer2 Average

Sample Physics Lab: Density

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Sample

3 Measured Measured Measured Calculated Measured Length Width Height Volume Mass cm cm cm cm^3 2.6 2.8 2.4 2.8 3.1 2.5 2.7 3.0 2.5 19.5 184.1

Observer1 Observer2 Average

Sample

4 Measured Measured Measured Calculated Measured Length Width Height Volume Mass cm cm cm cm^3 3.5 3.8 4 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.9 52.6 569.3

Observer1 Observer2 Average

Observations: We felt that we were unable to measure length to better than 1mm (0.1cm). Therefore, all of our length measurements were reported to that significant digit. As a result, our volume measurement should only have two significant digits, and our final result for density should only have two significant digits. The additional digit was held in place in order to better perform our calculations. We will round off the value for density at the end of our calculations. Calculations and Data We calculated a value for volume according to: V = LWH , where L is the length, W is the width, and H is the Height. Rearranging the definition of density, we get: m = V So plotting mass as a function of volume, the slope should equal the density and the intercept should be zero. Based on our graph of the data (see below) the slope is 8.8 g/cm3 (after rounding to 2 significant digits).

Sample Physics Lab: Density

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900 800 700 600 Mass (g) 500 400 300 200 100 0 0.0 10.0

Volume Mass as a function Mass 90.2 814.1 67.1 608.9 19.5 184.1 52.6 569.3 Density = 8.9 g/cm^3

of Volume

y = 8.7558x + 41.888

20.0

30.0

40.0 50.0 60.0 Volume (cm^3)

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

Percent Error Oberserved - Reference % Error = =1% Reference Results and Conclusions The density of copper agrees with the accepted value to within 1% error. This is good agreement.

(Question 1) The fitted straight line for mass as a function of volume did not go through the origin. This is unphysical, since we know that an object with zero volume must have zero mass. Therefore, we must assume that there was an error in our measurement of mass. (Question 2) Sample 4 was significantly higher than the fitted straight line. Based on this, it seems that sample 4 may have a slightly different material structure from the other samples. Suggestions for improvements: There was an inaccuracy in the measurement of mass. Before starting the measurements, a known (standard) mass could be measured with the balance to be certain that the balance is working correctly.
Extension m = so m = V V = 4.3g / cm 3 V = 123cm3 m=528.9g rounded to correct significant figures: m=530g