Density Notes
Determining the density of a liquid:
So we’ve already established that to calculate density, we
need to know the mass and volume of the substance that
we’re calculating the density of.
1. To calculate the mass of a liquid, first, weigh the container
that is going to hold the liquid on an electric balance
(using a measuring cylinder or a volumetric flask as a
container).
2. Record the mass shown.
3. Then add the liquid to the container (fill it up to the mark if
it’s a volumetric flask).
4. Then measure and record the mass of the container +
liquid.
The mass of container + liquid minus the mass of the
container will give you the mass of the liquid.
Now you need the volume of the liquid. Simply read the
volume from the graduations on the measuring cylinder,
or, if it’s a volumetric flask and you’ve filled it up to the
mark, you already know its volume (i.e. if you filled a
250cm3 volumetric flask to the mark, then you’ve got
250cm3 liquid).
Note that 1ml = 1cm3 and 1litre = 1dm3.
Now calculate the density of the liquid using d = m / V and
the appropriate units.
Determining the density of a regularly shaped
solid:
‘Regularly shaped’ solids are one that you can calculate
the volume of using math for example : cube or cuboid, a
cylinder, a prism, a pyramid, a sphere, etc.
1. So the first step is calculating and recording the volume of
the solid.
2. Then find and record its mass by weighing it on an electric
balance.
3. Calculate its density using the formula d = m / V and the
appropriate units.
Describe the determination of the density of an
irregularly shaped solid by the method of
displacement, and make the necessary calculation
It’s difficult to calculate the volume of an irregular solid, so
we use a slightly different method – we use the
displacement of water.
There are two ways to do this – if your solid is small
enough to not take up much space in a measuring
cylinder, then you can use just the measuring cylinder. If
not, then use a displacement beaker.
Calculating volume with a measuring cylinder:
1. First, fill a measuring cylinder with water to about half its
volume
2. record the volume of the water in the cylinder.
3. Then carefully drop the solid into the water, making sure
not to splash the water. Record the new volume.
4. The initial volume reading is the volume of the water
5. The final volume reading is the volume of the water +
solid, so the difference between the two volume readings
is the volume of the solid.
Calculating the volume with a displacement
beaker:
1. Fill the displacement beaker with water, filling it as much
as you can without having any water displaced.
2. Place a measuring cylinder at the spout of the beaker (like
in the diagram). Carefully place the solid into the beaker,
without splashing any water.
3. The measuring cylinder should collect all the displaced
water.
4. Read off the value of the volume of displaced water in the
measuring cylinder and record it.
5. This is equal to the volume of the solid in the displacement
beaker.
Note that for both these methods, you cannot use
water absorbent solids (e.g. dry dirt, a sponge) as
they will absorb some water.
This means that the volume of the displaced water
will be less than the volume of the solid.
Okay, so now you have the volume of the irregular solid.
1. All that’s left is finding its mass using an electric balance.
2. Calculate its density using the formula d = m / V and the
appropriate units.
Archimedes’ Principle
The buoyant force applied by the fluid is equal to the
weight of the displaced fluid
Buoyant Force
The buoyant force is the upward force on any object in any
fluid.
The relationship between Density and Archimedes’
principle
Density is how tightly packed the particles in an object
are. Archimedes' principle says that when you put an
object in a fluid (like water), it experiences an upward
buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
The more dense an object is, the less it displaces, and
therefore, the less buoyant force it experiences. So,
density affects how much an object floats or sinks in a
fluid, as per Archimedes' principle.
( This isint important it isn’t included it’s just helps
understanding )
