Archimedes Principle Lab
Partners: Kyle Higgins & Max McCandless
Date: May 30, 2014
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to investigate Archimedes Principle by taking an object and weighing it both in and out of a solution in hopes of finding out the density of that solution.
Partners: Kyle Higgins & Max McCandless
Date: May 30, 2014
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to investigate Archimedes Principle by taking an object and weighing it both in and out of a solution in hopes of finding out the density of that solution.
Theory:
Archimedes Principle clearly states that the weight of water that an object displaces is equal to that objects buoyant force. Archimedes also stated that an objects apparent weight, or the weight it appears to have when submerged in a liquid, is equal to the actual weight of that object minus the buoyant force acting on that object. Below are examples of the equations we used to solve this problem |
Experimental Technique:
- First derive an equation that can be solved for the density of the fluid by using values that can be measured when the object is suspended in the fluid.
- Take the normal mass of the object that will be used.
- Fill a beaker with one of the random liquids and place it on the mass balance after zeroing the mass balance with the empty beaker.
- Record the mass and the volume of the liquid before submerging the object.
- Repeat this for all other liquids that are desired to be used.
- Next set up mass balance to record apparent weight, to do this use the hook apparatus.
- Tie a string through the object and hang this string on the end of the hook apparatus.
- Submerge the object in the liquid in the beaker
- Make sure the object is not touching any sides of the beaker to effect the mass balances reading.
- Record the apparent mass of the object in all of the liquids that are being used.
- Now take a graduated cylinder and fill it up with any liquid to the 40mL mark.
- Slowly slide the object being used in the cylinder.
- Record the volume of the object.
- Calculate density with this volume and compare results with those of the first method.
Data & Analysis:
The below chart displays all the values that where both measured and calculated, note that all numbers that needed to be converted to SI units have been in the calculation.
Conclusion:
In this lab we used data that we collected to investigate Archimedes principle. By using the statement of the buoyant force acting on an object is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by that object we where able to fairly accurately determine the density of the fluid the object is suspended in. These calculated values very closely match those that where calculated using the second method of simply dividing the objects mass by its volume. Since the two values where so close together we got very low percent differences. This helps show to us that Archimedes principle can be used as an accurate way to calculate out an objects density. Some possible errors in this lab could have been simple human error in reading the mass balances wrong, also the mass balances themselves could have been reading wrong, and finally the string that was attached to the object when measuring the objects apparent mass can influence our measurement a very minute amount but was a measurable one.
In this lab we used data that we collected to investigate Archimedes principle. By using the statement of the buoyant force acting on an object is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by that object we where able to fairly accurately determine the density of the fluid the object is suspended in. These calculated values very closely match those that where calculated using the second method of simply dividing the objects mass by its volume. Since the two values where so close together we got very low percent differences. This helps show to us that Archimedes principle can be used as an accurate way to calculate out an objects density. Some possible errors in this lab could have been simple human error in reading the mass balances wrong, also the mass balances themselves could have been reading wrong, and finally the string that was attached to the object when measuring the objects apparent mass can influence our measurement a very minute amount but was a measurable one.
References:
The Physics Classroom.com. Retrieved on May 30th, 2014, from http://www.physicsclassroom.com
The Physics Classroom.com. Retrieved on May 30th, 2014, from http://www.physicsclassroom.com