Determining Density via Water Displacement


Drop objects in a beaker that is filled with water, and measure the water that flows over the edge. Using Archimedes' principle, determine the density of objects based on the amount of displaced water.

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Assessment Questions (5):

  1. An object floats in a beaker as shown. Assuming that the graduated cylinder was empty when the object was placed in the beaker and that the beaker was full to the level of the spout, what must be true?

    a beaker
  2. An object sits at the bottom of a beaker as shown. Assuming that the graduated cylinder was empty when the object was placed in the beaker and that the beaker was full to the level of the spout, what must be true?

    a beaker
  3. An object floats in a beaker as shown. When it was put into the beaker, it displaced an amount of water into the graduated cylinder at the left. Given that the liquid in the beaker is water (density = 1 g/cm3), what is the mass of the object?

    a beaker
  4. The two objects shown in the beakers below are exactly the same size (same volume). Given liquid in the beakers is water (density = 1 g/cm3), what is the density of the floating object?

    two beakers
  5. Imagine a washtub about half full of water. A toy boat containing a rock floats in the water. Imagine that you lift the rock out of the toy boat and set it aside (NOT in the tub). Would the water level in the tub become higher or lower or would it remain the same as it was when the rock was in the boat?

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