Properties of Matter 

Introduction 
It  often happens that many of the words we are used to use may have another meaning if we 

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use  them  in  a  different  context.  For example, before being a scientist, when I heard the word 
mass, I could only think of pizzas (​yummy​…  ). When someone spoke to me about ​volume​, I 
thought  about  my  grandpa’s  radio;  and  when  they  said  ​density​,  it  came  to  my  mind  my 
mother’s shampoo, which was so dense it couldn’t even get out of the bottle. 
Nevertheless,  these  three  words  have  a different, much more important meaning, even more 
important  than  pizza!  Mass, volume and density are properties of all matter in universe, ​from 
a  bread  crumb  to  the  furthest  star.  We  should  know  and  understand  those  properties  by 
ourselves, so roll up your sleeves, because it’s experiments time! 
What’s  heavier:  a  kilogram  of  iron  or  a  kilogram  of  feathers?  What  takes  up  more  space? 
Why? These three questions directly touch on this theme. 

Purpose 
To  understand  what  mass,  volume  and  density  are,  and  define  those  concepts according to 
this experience. 

Research 
→ Mass ≠ Weight 
→ Weighing scale. How it works 
→ Archimedes’ Principle 
→ Graduated cylinder. How it works 
→ Density formula 

Questions & Hypotheses 

Hypotheses would be the answers 

Mass 
Q1. If we weigh two plasticine balls of different sizes, which will have more mass? Why? 
Q2. If  we  weigh two balls of equal size but of different material (glass and plasticine), will 
they have the same mass? Why? 

Volume 
Q3. If  we  immerse  two  plasticine  balls  of  different  sizes  into  a graduated cylinder, which 
will have more volume? Why? 
Q4. If  we  immerse  two  balls  of  equal  size  but  of  different  material  (glass and plasticine) 
into a graduated cylinder, will they have the same volume? Why? 
Density 
Q5. If  we  consider  two  plasticine  balls  of  different  sizes,  which  will  have  more  density? 
Why? 
Q6. If  we  consider  two  balls  of  equal  size  but  of  different material (glass and plasticine), 
will they have the same density? Why? 

Experimental details 

Materials & tools 

● Glass marble  ● Graduated cylinder 
● Plasticine  ● Water 
● Weighing scales  ● Pencil 

Procedure 

Mass 
1. Make  two  balls  with  plasticine,  different  size  each.  Weigh  them  and  note  down  their 
mass. 
2. Take a marble. Weigh it and note down its mass. 
3. Make  a  third  plasticine  ball  the  same  size  than  the  marble  you  have  used  before. 
Again, weigh them and note down their mass. 

Volume 
1. Pour some water into a graduated cylinder. Note down the initial level of water. 
2. Insert  the  plasticine  balls  you  have  used  before,  one  at  a  time,  and  note  down  the 
level of water every time. 
3. Insert the marble you have used before, and note down the level of water. 

Density 
There  is a difference between the properties of matter studied previously (mass and volume) 
and  this  one:  the  first  are  fundamental  quantities,  but  density  is a derived quantity. It means 
that  density  can  not  be  measured  directly,  but  has  to  be  calculated from the measurements 
of mass and volume. 
 
1. Divide the mass of each ball by its volume. 
 Analysis 

Results 
Note the results you have obtained in a chart like the following one: 
 
  Plasticine balls   
Glass marble 
Small  Medium-sized  Big 

Mass          
(g) 

Volume         
(mL) 

Density         
(g/mL) 

Result interpretation 
Mass 

RI1. What is the mass of an object?  

RI2. What unit is it measured in?  
RI3. What factors does it depend on? 
 
Volume 

RI4. What is the volume of an object?  

RI5. What unit is it measured in?  
RI6. What factors does it depend on? 
 
Density 

RI7. What is the density of an object?  

RI8. What unit is it measured in?  
RI9. What factors does it depend on? 
RI10. What is the density of plasticine and glass? 
Conclusions 

Hypotheses contrast 
Compare your hypotheses to the results. Do they match? 

Closure 
Summarize the final conclusions in one or a few short sentences.