Determining The Density of a Non-porous Solid

Basic Theory Behind the Experiment

The experiment “Determining the Density of a Non-porous Solid” aims to find the density of a solid substance. Density is a measure of how much mass is packed into a certain amount of space. In simple terms, it tells us how heavy an object is compared to its size. The formula for density is:

Density (D) = Mass (M) / Volume (V)

Where:

• Density (D) is what we want to find.
• Mass (M) is the amount of matter in the object (measured in grams or kilograms).
• Volume (V) is the space the object occupies (measured in cubic centimetres or cubic meters).

To determine density, we need to measure the mass of the solid and its volume. We can do this by using a spring balance to measure the force of gravity on the solid (which is directly related to its mass) and by measuring the volume of the solid indirectly using water displacement.

Things You’ll Need

• Solid Sample
• A Spring Balance
• A Measuring Cylinder
• A String of Thread
• Water in a Container

Procedure

1. Measure the Mass: Attach the string to the solid and suspend it from the spring balance. Read the mass of the solid directly from the spring balance.

2. Measure the Volume: As the solid is submerged in the water, it displaces an equal volume of water. Measure the initial volume of water in the measuring cylinder and then note the final volume after the solid is completely submerged. The difference between these volumes represents the volume of the solid.

3. Calculate Density: Divide the mass of the solid (obtained from the spring balance) by the volume of the solid (obtained from water displacement) to calculate its density.

Density (D) = Mass (M) / Volume (V)

4. Record Your Results: Note down the density value, typically expressed in grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm³) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).

Observations

By following this procedure, you will obtain the density of the non-porous solid. Density is a characteristic property of the material, allowing you to identify unknown substances or determine the purity of known materials. The experiment relies on precise measurements of mass and volume using a spring balance and water displacement method, respectively.

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