Labs

C.3 Lab Report: Density Lab

June 17, 2014

Danielle Goldmark, Abi Nosrati, Madison Lefler

Summer School

Dr. Forman

 C.3 Lab Report: Density Lab

Abstract:

            In this density lab, we discovered which liquids and which solids float and which ones sink in distilled water. By pouring 8-9ml of the liquid substances into distilled water, we saw that only 2 out of the 3 of the liquid substances floated. By placing the 4 solid objects in the water, we saw that all 4 objects sank. In this lab we also measured the masses, volumes, and densities of all substances we were testing, and predicted whether they would sink or float.

Procedure:

            In this density lab, we filled up a cylinder with 8-9ml of 3 different liquid substances. We weighed these substances in the cylinder one at a time and recorded their volumes, masses, dimensions, and density. Then we poured each individual substance into a beaker filled with 100ml of distilled water and recorded whether the liquid sank or floated. After, we did this with 4 different solid objects: a plastic, metal, marble, and rubber. We recorded their dimensions, volumes, masses, and densities and saw whether the objects sank or floated in the beaker of 100ml of distilled water.

 Subsance A                                                    Substance C

Results:

Unit 0: C.3 Data Table

   Investigation #          Solid or Liquid                   Mass               Volume/Dimensions            Density  Sinking or Floating                 

1	Liquid A	11g	10ml	1.1g per ml	Sink
2	Liquid B	9g	9.5ml	.9g per ml	Float
3	Liquid C	7g	8.25ml	.8g per ml	Float
4	Rubber	4g	H: 2.5cm W: 1.5cm, 1cm V: 1.5cm	2.6g per cm3	Sink
5	Marble	3.5g	.5cm3	7g per cm3	Sink
6	Metal	4.4g	H: 1.5cm D: 1cm V: 1.2cm3	3.6g per cm3	Sink
7	Plastic	1.9gm	H: 1.5cm D: 1cm V: 1.2cm3	1.6g per cm3	Sink
8	Cylinder	27g

·      This is the result of whether the solids sank or floated; they all sank

·      Here, we’re seeing if Substance C will sink or float; it floated

Answers to Questions 1-8 on pg. 14

1. All of the solids sank, not matter what.
2. If the substance placed in the water was denser than 1 g/ml, then it would sink into the water.  Also, if the substance placed in the water was less dense than 1 g/ml (ex. .6 g/ml), then it would float on the water's surface.
3. All of the substances that were less dense than the water (such as Substance B, which had a density of 0.9 g/ml and Substance C which had a density of 0.8 g/ml) floated on its surface, while the other substances (which were all denser than the water) sank.
4. The vinegar is more dense than the olive oil.
5. a) My theory would aid anyone making their predictions.                             b) While I was making my predictions, I wasn't thinking about the density of the water in relation to the density of the substance, I was just imagining the object floating.......... Needless to say, I was wrong at some points.
6. Yes it will still sink, because although it has less mass, it is still just as dense as before.
7. To predict the sinking/floating behavior of a solid sample in isopropyl alcohol, one should first find the density of the alcohol.  Then, they should find the density of the desired solids.  If the solids are denser than the alcohol, then they will sink and vice versa.  
8. To find the the sinking/floating behavior of a spherical object, one should find the volume and the mass of the object.  If the density of the object is greater than the density of the substance it is being placed in, then it will sink.