Volume of Irregular Objects
by Liz LaRosa
Objectives:
to define the word Meniscus
to learn how to use a graduated cylinder
to learn how to find the volume of irregular objects using water displacement
Materials:
Per lab couple:
graduated cylinder
beaker
water
food coloring
assorted objects such as paper clips, marble, rocks, nails, screws, etc
Procedure:
Each lab couple will have a beaker of colored water.
Place some of the colored water into your graduated cylinder.
Carefully read the meniscus and record the volume to the nearest mL. Record in Table 1.
Place one object into the graduated cylinder and record the volume in Table 1.
Subtract the Final volume from the initial volume and you will have the volume of that object.
Pour the water back into the beaker and retrieve the object.
Repeat with a new object.
|
|
The curved surface of the liquid is called a meniscus. As a standard procedure, always read the level of the liquid at the bottom of the curve Source: http://www.lincoln.smmusd.org/staff/burdettet_web/meniscus.html |
Data:
Table 1: Volume of Irregular Objects in mL
Object # 1 _____________ Object # 2 _____________ Object #3 _____________ Object #4 _____________ Starting Volume mL Ending Volume mL Volume of Object
Analysis/Results:
What is a meniscus?
Why is it important to keep the graduated cylinder on a flat surface when reading the meniscus?
How does water displacement work when finding the volume of an irregular object?
Why do you think we used colored water in this lab?
What object had the most volume? __________ with _________mL
Least volume? __________ with _________mL
Conclusion
2-3 sentences on what you learned.
Links:
