Required Practical Activity 5

Question 1

What two broad categories can objects be divided into?

Answer 1

• regular objects
• irregular objects

Question 2

Method for determining the density of a regular object:

Answer 2

1. Determine the mass of the regular object using a mass balance.
2. Use a ruler to measure the length of the sides of the object. Calculate the volume of the regular object using the formula: volume = area of the object’s cross section x length
3. Use the formula p = m/v dividing the mass by the volume of regular object to find its density.

Question 3

Method for determining the density of an irregular object:

Answer 3

1. Determine the mass of the irregular object using a mass balance.
2. Fill a Eureka/displacement can with water (Eureka can has a spout so water can flow out of the can) allowing any excess water to flow out the can.
3. Place a measuring cylinder at the spout of the Eureka/displacement can.
4. Place the object into the water in the Eureka/displacement can. This will cause the water to be displaced and flow out the can through the spout and into the measuring cylinder.
5. Measure the volume of water displaced using a measuring cylinder. The volume of water in the measuring cycling = the volume of the irregular object.
6. Now calculate the density of the irregular object using p = m/v, by dividing the irregular objects mass by its volume.

Question 4

Method for determining the density of a liquid:

Answer 4

1. Calculate the mass of the liquid using a mass balance. First by placing the container that will hold the liquid on the mass balance and then setting the mass balance to 0. Pour the liquid into the container and then find the mass of it using the mass balance.
2. Next calculate the volume of the liquid by pouring it into a measuring cylinder and reading of the measurement of the volume.
3. Calculate the density of the liquid using the formula p = m/v