SCN110

FOUNDATION SCIENCE
Workshop Manual

Student Name: __G.A. NETHUNI VIHANGA______

Workshop Day: ____________________________

Workshop Time: ___________________________

Workshop Room: ___________________________

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WORKSHOP 5: Material Density Part 1: Density of an Irregular Shape MATERIALS

• 100mL measuring cylinder

• a selection of irregular shaped objects (such as a small eraser, paper clip, pipette tip, pipette
filler, matchstick, clothes peg, rubber band)

• short length of thin wire

• electronic balance

METHOD

1. Make sure that every object that you are about to test fits inside 100mL measuring cylinder.

2. Use the electronic balance to measure the mass of each object. Record each mass in a table like
that shown below.

3. Half fill the measuring cylinder with water.

4. Record the start volume in mL in the measuring cylinder in your table. Make sure you read the
water level from the bottom of the meniscus.

5. Carefully slide an object into the measuring cylinder. If it floats, use the piece of thin wire to
push the object completely under the water.

6. Record the final volume in mL in the measuring cylinder in the table below.

RESULTS

1. Refer to the table below to calculate the volume of the object (in mL) by subtracting the starting
volume of water from the final volume of water.

2. Convert your answers into cm3 (Remember: 1mL = 1cm3)

3. Use the formula d=m/V to calculate the density (in g/cm3) of each object you tested.

4. Complete the table below using this information.

Table 1: Calculation of Volume and Density of Various Objects Using Displacement Method

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 Column
Column 1 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7
2
Volume = Density =
Volume =
Initial Final Volume Column 4 - Column 2 ÷
Object Mass (g) Column 5
Volume (mL) (mL) Column 3 Column 6
(cm3)
(mL) (g/cm3)

Stone 520 1000 1220 1220-1000 220 2.36

Wooden
266 1000 1263 1263-1000 263 1.01
block

Metal bolt 85 1000 1031 1031-1000 31 2.74

Glass marble 14 1000 1018 1018-1000 18 0.78

Eraser 5 1000 1004 1004-1000 4 1.25

Candle 9 1000 1010 1010-1000 10 0.9

Marshmallow 2 1000 1003 1003-1000 3 0.67

DISCUSSION

1. List the objects from least dense to most dense.

Answer: Marshmallow (0.67 g/cm³) < Glass marble (0.78 g/cm³) < Candle (0.90 g/cm³) < Wooden block
(1.01 g/cm³) < Eraser (1.25 g/cm³) < Stone (2.36 g/cm³) < Metal bolt (2.74 g/cm³).

How does the density of the objects relate to their composition?

Answer: Low-density objects (e.g., marshmallow, glass marble): Composed of light materials, air pockets,
or low atomic masses.
High-density objects (e.g., stone, metal bolt): Composed of tightly packed, heavier materials with higher
atomic masses.

Part 2: Density Tower PURPOSE

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To construct a tower of different liquids, layered according to their densities.

MATERIALS

Large measuring cylinder

Corn syrup or honey
Food dyes
Water
Vegetable oil
Ethanol or methylated spirits
Dishwashing liquid (coloured)
A variety of small solids (such as a cornflake, penne pasta, spiral pasta, sultana, screw, Lego block,
TicTac)
Digital camera, mobile phone with camera (optional)

PROCEDURE

1. Carefully squeeze the honey into the measuring cylinder so that it forms a layer at least 1cm
thick on the bottom.

2. Carefully squeeze or pour a similar quantity of dishwashing liquid into the measuring cylinder
and slowly pouring the dishwashing liquid down its side.

3. Choose a food dye that is a different colour from the dishwashing liquid and add a few drops of it
to small beaker of water. Tilt the cylinder again, and carefully pour the coloured water in to form
a layer of about the same thickness as the others.

4. Use the same method to carefully pour a layer of vegetable oil on top of the coloured water.

5. Add a few drops of food dye to a small beaker of ethanol or methylated spirits. As before, make
another layer by gently pouring the ethanol or methylated spirits down the side of the
measuring cylinder.

6. Stand the measuring cylinder upright and allow the contents to settle.

7. Construct a labelled sketch showing the layering of liquids in the tower.

8. Gently lower the small solids, one by one, into the measuring cylinder. Record on your diagram
the level at which each one settles.
9. Pour the contents of the measuring cylinder in the waste container and wash the measuring
cylinder with hot soapy water.

RESULTS

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1. Sketch and label the density tower

DISCUSSION

1. Explain why the liquid formed layers and some objects floated and other sank.

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Answer: Liquids layering: Immiscibility and varying densities prevent the liquids from mixing and cause
layering.
Objects floating/sinking: Objects float if their density is less than the liquid's density and sink if it is
greater.

2. Identify the least dense liquid.

Answer: Ethanol or methylated spirits

3. Identify the least dense object.

Answer: cornflake

4. Explain how you came to this conclusion.

Answer: Objects that settle near the top of the liquid tower are less dense compared to the
liquids that are beneath them.

5. List in order from most to least dense all the liquids you tested, solids you tested and liquid and
solids you tested.

Answer:
Liquids - From Most to Least Dense
Honey (~1.42 g/cm³)
Dishwashing Liquid (~1.03-1.06 g/cm³)
Coloured Water (~1.00 g/cm³, depending on dye concentration)
Vegetable Oil (~0.92 g/cm³)
Ethanol (~0.79 g/cm³)

Solids - From Most to Least Dense

Screw (steel or iron; ~7.8 g/cm³)
Tic Tac (~1.0-1.3 g/cm³ depending on composition)
Lego Block (plastic; ~0.9-1.2 g/cm³ depending on type)
Sultana (~0.7-1.1 g/cm³ depending on water content)
Spiral Pasta (~0.8-0.9 g/cm³)
Penna Pasta (similar to spiral pasta; ~0.8-0.9 g/cm³)
Cornflake (~0.3-0.6 g/cm³)

Combined List - From Most to Least Dense (Liquids and Solids)

Screw (Most dense)
Honey
Tic Tac

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Dishwashing Liquid
Lego Block
Sultana
Coloured Water
Spiral Pasta
Penna Pasta
Vegetable Oil
Cornflake
Ethanol (Least dense)

NOTES

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