Calculating the Density of Irregularly Shaped Objects

• Displacement

  • It's difficult to directly measure irregularly shaped objects
  • They can be measured using displacement
  • When the object is submerged in a cylinder, it will displace a certain volume of water
  • Vol of water displaced = vol of object

  1. Measure object mass
  2. Fill the measuring cylinder with water to a known volume
  3. Add the object
  4. Work out the volume of water displaced
  5. Calculate the density of the object

  
• Displacement using a Eureka Can

  • A Eureka Can measures an irregular object's volume
  • Filled with water to a spout's level
  • When an object is submerged, water overflows.
  • Vol of overflowed water = vol of object

  1. Find mass of a solid on a balance
  2. Add water into the can until just overflowing
  3. Place a measuring cylinder under spout
  4. Add object into the can
  5. Collect water & read off volume
  6. Calculate density