____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Science 10
Name:_______Phurit____Chodpattarawanit_________
Unit 1: The Food Science Lab
Nickname:____Pooh____________________________
Lab #3: Relationship between Mass and Volume
October 2015
Introduction: There is a relationship between the mass and the volume of an object of a specific
material. The mass can be determined using an electric balance to record its weight in grams. The
volume of an object can be determined by calculating the amount of water displaced in a
graduated cylinder when the object is placed into water. By determining the mass and volume of an
object of a specific material, you can find its density. In this lab experiment you will be discovering
how to determine the density of an object using graphs and mathematical equations, instead of
simply searching for the formula for density on the internet.
Purpose: To see how mass and volume are related to determine density by experimental data. To
demonstrate how graphs can connect ideas from Science and Math.
Materials:
Electronic Balance
50-mL Graduated Cylinder
4 Sample of the Same Material (3 Materials)
Water
Ruler
Procedure:
1. Obtain three different types of material for your group. Each material has 4 sample sizes.
2. Find the mass of each of the sample sizes. Record in your data table.
3. Find the volume of each of the sample sizes by determining the amount of water displaced by
the object.
a. Set up a graduated cylinder and put 25 mL of water into it. Read the volume and write it
down.
b. Tip the graduated cylinder and gently slide one of the objects into it. DO NOT allow
water to splash out.
c. If the object floats, gently push it down with a pencil, until it is submerged under the
water. Do not push too hard.
d. Record the new volume of the water. Subtract the volume of the water from the
combined volume of the water
and object together. The result is the volume of the object. Record in your data table.
Data Table:
Title: _______________________________________________________________________
Smallest Sample

Small Sample

Medium Sample

Large Sample

Type of Material
Mass
Maple

Volume Mass

Volume Mass

3.95g

5mL

6.12g

7mL

8.5g

Polyvinyl Chloride 6.66g

5mL

10.95g

8mL

15.27g

Volume Mass
11mL 10.72mL
10mL 19.19g

Volume
13mL
14mL

Acrylic

5.57g

5mL

9.01g

8mL

12.38g

10.5mL15.85g

Graph #1 Title:
_____Maple__________________________________________________________________________

Mass
(g)

A
a
0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

14mL

Graph #2 Title:
_____Pollyvinyl_Chloride________________________________________________________________
B

0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

Graph #3 Title:
____Acrylic___________________________________________________________________________

0
15

10

20
Volume (mL)

Discussion (Analyzing Results) Questions:

1.

Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the first material ___Maple_________.
Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of ____2.5________, and a mass of ____2____________.
Point B corresponds to a volume of ____14_________, and a mass of ___11.25_________.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = ___11.25____________ minus ___2______________ = ___9.25___________.
Run = ___14_______________ minus ___2.50___________ = ___11.50__________.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = ___0.80______________.
2.
Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the second material
___Pollyvinyl_Cholride_. Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of __3____________, and a mass of ___4_____________.
Point B corresponds to a volume of __14.75________, and a mass of __20_____________.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = ___20_______________ minus ____4_____________ = ___16_____________.
Run = ___14.75_____________ minus ___3______________ = ____11.75_________.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = ___1.36______________.
3.
Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the third material ___Acrylic____. Follow
these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line
and far apart. Try to choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass
measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of ___3___________, and a mass of ___3.50__________.
Point B corresponds to a volume of ___16__________, and a mass of ___18____________.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = ___18_______________ minus ____3.5___________ = ___14.50___________.
Run = ___16_______________ minus ____3_____________ = ___13_____________.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = ___1.12______________.
Note: All parts of a straight line have the same, constant slope. When a mathematical constant
is discovered as the result of scientific experiments, it is often given a name. The slope you have
just calculated is called the density of that material.
4.

In your answers to question 1, the rise corresponds to ___mass_______ of the material,

while the run corresponds to the ___volume___ of the material. This leads to the formula for
density, which is ___slope____________________.

5.

Research the actual density for each of your materials. Determine your accuracy.
Maple: 0.77

Pollyvinyl Chloride: 1.37

Acrylic: 1.17
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Ive learn from the experiment that even the objects have a different mass but if they
are made from the same material then their density will be the same from the density equation
(Density = Mass(g)/Volume(mL))