Volume of Irregular Objects

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 group: * graduated cylinder* beaker * water * food coloring * assorted objects such as paper clips, marble, coins, nails, screws, etc.

Procedure:

1. Each group will have a beaker of colored water.

2. Place some of the colored water into your graduated cylinder.

3. Carefully read the meniscus and record the volume to the nearest ml. Record in Table 1.

4. Place one object into the graduated cylinder and record the volume in Table 1.

5. Subtract the Final volume from the initial volume and you will have the volume of that object

. 6. Pour the water back into the beaker and retrieve the object.

7. Repeat with a new object.

Close Up View of Liquid in Graduated Cylinder 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.

Lab Notes

Data: Table 1:

Analysis/Results:

1. What is a meniscus?

2. Why is it important to keep the graduated cylinder on a flat surface when reading the meniscus?

3. How does water displacement work when finding the volume of an irregular object?

4. Why do you think we used colored water in this lab?

5. What object had the most volume? __________ with _________ml

6. Least volume? __________ with _________ml

Conclusion

Summarize what you have learned!