Determining Densities

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Author:

Mary R. Hebrank

Subject:

Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Duke University

Collection:

TeachEngineering

Grade Level:

Secondary

Abstract:

Students will use two different methods to determine the densities of a variety of materials and objects. The first method involves direct measurement of the volumes of objects that have simple geometric shapes, while the second uses the water displacement method to determine the volumes of irregularly-shaped objects. After the densities are determined, students will create x-y scatter graphs of mass versus volume, and these graphs will reveal that objects with densities less than water (floaters) lie above the graph's diagonal, and those with densities greater than water (sinkers) lie below the diagonal.

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

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Resources may be used on a nonprofit, non-commercial basis by educators, without any fee or cost to access, link to and use, or in any manner alter, revise, copy, edit, translate or digitize.

Copyright Holder:

Duke University