Physics Experiment - Density of Solid
Mass per unit volume is one method for describing a material's density. The lab can use a spring balance to determine the material's mass. The mass that was determined shall be referred to as weight per convention. If a solid has a regular geometric shape, its volume can be measured directly. Here, we will experiment to measure the density of a solid by measuring its mass and volume.
Table of Contents
Aim
Apparatus required
Theory
Result
Precautions
Aim
The aim of this experiment is to determine the density of a solid, which will be denser than water.
Apparatus Required
Spring balance, a beaker filled with water, a metal object, a measuring cylinder, string and a stand
Theory
The mass per unit volume of a substance is defined as the density of the substance. The formula for density is:
\[Density = \dfrac{{Mass}}{{Volume}}\].
S.I. unit of density is \[Kg/{m^3}\]. The ratio of a density of a substance to the ratio of the density of reference (water, in our case) is defined as the Relative density of the substance. The difference between density and relative density is that the density is mass divided by volume (its unit is ${kg/m^3}$). In contrast, relative density is the density of a substance divided by the density of reference (it has no units).
The density of water is 1000\[Kg/{m^3}\]. So, if the density of the solid is less than the water, then the solids will float on the water, and if the density of the solid is more than the water, i.e., the solid is denser, the solid will sink in water.
Spring balance is used to measure the weight of a substance, and weight can be defined as the force on an object due to the earth's gravity.
Force = mass x acceleration,
As weight is a force, so weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity,
Weight = m x g
Procedure
Tie the metal object with a string and attach the string to the hook of the spring balance. Take the reading of spring balance before attaching a metal object. Write it down as ‘x’. Make sure it’s zero. This is called zero error.
Tie the spring balance to the stand or hold it in hand. Measure the weight of the object. Consider this weight as ‘WF’.
Pour water into a given measuring cylinder. And note down its initial volume as ‘V1’.
Now put the metal object in a measuring cylinder which contains water. Do not let the object touch the sides of the cylinder or base. The water level rises after putting metal objects in the cylinder. Now note down the increased volume in the measuring cylinder. Write this volume as ‘V2’.
Take some more readings and perform the calculations to find the density of a given metal object.
Density of Solid
Observations
An initial reading of spring balance x = 0
Weight of the metal object = W = WF – x
Mass of metal object = M = WF/9.8
Initial volume in measuring cylinder at P = V1
The final volume in the measuring cylinder at Q = V2
Volume of Metal object V = V2- V1
Calculations
${Density= {\dfrac{Mass (M)}{Volume(V)}}}$ = ……… (${kg/m^3}$)
Result
Density of Metal is ……………. (${kg/m^3}$)
Precautions
Make sure the spring balance reads zero initially.
Take all the readings of spring balance and measuring cylinder carefully such that your eyes are parallel to the reading.
Make sure that the metal object does not touch the sides of the cylinder.
Lab Manual Questions
1. Can you determine the density of any porous solid by using the spring balance and measuring cylinder setup?
Ans: We cannot find the density of porous solid using spring balance and measuring cylinder. Because the porous solid will absorb water, the mass of the solid will increase instead of decrease. This will affect the volume of water displaced.
2. How will the presence of air bubbles in the measuring cylinder affect the volume of the solid?
Ans: Air bubbles in liquid in the measuring cylinder will affect volume because air bubbles will occupy some space in the liquid, increasing the volume of the liquid.
3. What will happen to the density if we melt a metal cylinder and cast it in the shape of a cube? Give reason
Ans: Density will remain the same as the mass, and the volume of water displaced by the cylinder and cube will remain the same. So, the density will also remain the same.
4. At what temperature the density of water is maximum?
Ans: The density of water is maximum at 40C.
Viva Questions
1. Define density.
Ans: Density is mass divided by volume.
2. State SI unit of density.
Ans: SI unit of density is Kg/m3.
3. Define density and give its SI unit
Ans: We can define density as mass upon volume, SI unit is Kg/m3.
4. What is C.G.S unit of density?
Ans: C.G.S. unit of density is g/cm3.
5. What is relative density?
Ans: Relative density is the density of a substance divided by the density of reference.
6. What is the value of acceleration due to gravity?
Ans: 9.8m/s2
7. What is the difference in mass and weight?
Ans: Mass does not change with location but weight changes with a change in location.
8. What is the unit of relative density?
Ans: It is unitless.
9. What does spring balance measure?
Ans: Weight of body.
10. If we double the mass, what happens to density?
Ans: Density also doubles
Practice Based Questions
1. SI unit of Density is
N
g/cm3
kg/m3
m
Ans: c) kg/cm3
2. Formula of density is
${Mass \times Volume}$
${Mass/Volume}$
${Mass \times Weight}$
${Mass/Weight}$
Ans: b) ${Mass/Volume}$
3. Which of the following has the highest density?
Water
Ice
Oil
Iron
Ans: d) Iron
4. Relative density of water is
1000
100
10
1
Ans: d) 1
5. Two substances of relative densities d1 and d2 are mixed in the same volumes, then the relative density of the mixture becomes 4, and if mixed in the same masses, then the density of the mixture is 3. The values of d1 and d2 are _____ respectively
6, 2
4,2
12, 3
5, 6
Ans: a) 6, 2
6. What happens when we put ice in water?
Ice floats
Ice sinks
Ice floats partially and partially sinks
None of these
Ans: a) Ice floats
7. The body floats on water when its density is
More than water
Less than water
Equal to water
None of above
Ans: b) Less than water
8. If the mass of a body is halved
Density doubles
Density halves
Density remains same
None of these
Ans: b) Density halves
9. Density is
Directly proportional to mass
Directly proportional to volume
Inversely proportional to mass
Equal to Volume
Ans: a) Directly proportional to mass
10. Weight =
${m \times g}$
${m \times v}$
${v \times g}$
${v \times m}$
Ans: a) ${m \times g}$
Conclusion
In this experiment, we found the density value of a given solid using a spring balance and measuring cylinder. The density of a substance is mass divided by volume. When we put an object in water, the volume of water increases. This increase in volume is equal to the volume of the object.
FAQs on Density of Solid
1. Why do solids have higher density?
In solids, particles are very closely arranged. They have very few intermolecular spaces in between particles. In liquids, particles are not closely arranged. They have intermolecular spaces in between particles. Due to these low intermolecular spaces, solids have high density. In gases, the intermolecular spaces are even higher. Therefore, gases have even lesser density than solids. In the case of density, solids>liquids>gases. Solids are denser than liquids. Liquids are denser than gases.
2. What is the Volume of a solid?
The volume of solid measures the amount of space an object takes up. It can be measured by the number of unit cubes needed to fill the solid. The unit of volume is m3, mm3, cm3, etc. The volume of any three-dimensional object is the capacity of that object to hold the matter. Solids have definite volumes as they have definite shapes. The volume of the solid can be found by the method we used in the above experiment. The Volume of the solid will equal the amount of water displaced when we put that solid in water.
3. What is the difference between mass and weight?
Mass is a property of matter; it remains the same everywhere, while weight is the effect of gravity, it changes when acceleration due to gravity changes. Mass can never be zero, whereas weight can be zero where there is no gravity. Mass is a scalar quantity. It does not have direction; it has only magnitude, while weight is a vector quantity. It has magnitude and direction too. The unit of mass is g or kg. The unit of weight is N(Newton). Weight is a force, and mass is not a force.
4. When does the solid expand?
When we heat a solid, atoms vibrate faster around their fixed points. The relative increase in size is when heated is small. Metal railway tracks are kept small because the size increases when they heat due to the sun's heat. And the tracks fill small gaps and don’t buckle up on each other. This happens due to kinetic energy. This expansion decreases the density of the solid because the mass amount remains the same, but the volume it requires is increased.
