Bulacan State University

College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Department

SUBJECT: ME Laboratory 1 (ME 311)

EXPERIMENT NO. 1: Layered Liquids

GROUP NO.: 6

LEADER: Guidoc, Luna Mae C.

GROUP MEMBERS: Agnote, Rea T., De Guzman, Aaron Choco S., Parungao, Al Christian P.

COURSE / YEAR / SECTION: BSME 3A

DATE OF SUBMISSION: June 12, 2021

SUBJECT INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Adrian C. Flores

I. OBJECTIVES:

The experiment to be performed has the following objectives:

1. Compare the different density of liquids by referring to the arrangement of liquid layers in a
container.
2. Determine the effect of upper layers of liquids to the lower ones.
3. Identify practical applications of the experiment performed.

II. INTRODUCTION:

Density is an essential characteristic of a substance. It is defined as the mass of a

substance or object per unit volume, or in equation form, ρ = m / V. All types of substance –
solids, gas as well as liquids, are made up of many different atoms. Different substances have
different densities depending on the mass of their atoms, size, and arrangement.
 From the smallest substance up to the bigger once, density is significant. For instance, a
piece of wood floats on the river and a rock that is being thrown to the pool. See, how is it
possible that objects such as wood floats and how does rock sink when placed on water? It is
because of density. Substances float as long as their density is less than that of the liquid they
are placed in, whereas substances with higher density than of water will sink. So, density allows
us to determine which substances will float and which will sink in a liquid.

It is also possible for a liquid substance to float into another liquid substance. This
experiment will show how liquids with different densities will react when stacked/placed with one
another.

III. MATERIALS and DESCRIPTIONS:

Materials Images Descriptions

1. Drinking glass A transparent glass that holds

liquid substances.

2. Dropper A small glass tube that will be

used to drop ink into the liquid
substances.

3. Drinking straw A pre-made tube that is used

for drinking beverages.
4. Cooking oil A purified fat from plants or
vegetables, has a density
value ranging from 0.91 to
0.93 g/cm³.

5. Tap water A liquid substance that has a

density value of 1 g/cm³.

6. Dishwashing liquid A concentrated liquid having a

density value of 1.03 g/cm³
widely used in households as
a cleaning ingredient.

7. Black ink A liquid that contains various

pigments or dyes that are
used for coloring. It has a
density value of 1.0669 g/cm³
at room temperature.
 8. Food coloring Any dye, pigment, or
substance that will add color to
the water.

IV. EXPERIMENT PROCEDURES:

Procedures Illustrations Remarks

1. Gather the materials Unavailable liquid may be

needed for the substituted with a closer
experimentation. density liquid to it.

2. To begin the Ensure the flow of the liquid

experimentation, carefully will not touch the sides of the
pour about one inch of glass.
liquid dishwashing soap
into an empty glass.

3. Gradually add cooking oil Ensure the flow of the liquid

to the glass. will not touch the sides of the
glass.

4. Then, fill the glass with The colored water may touch
the sides of the glass. The
 colored water slowly. color of the water is suggested
to be more contrasted to the
other liquids.

5. One at a time, add a few Use an ink denser than the

drops of ink into the glass water.
using the dropper.

6. Then, observe the liquids Do not tamper the glass with

on the glass for about a layered liquids.
minute and record the
observations.

7. Using the same glass The straw should be still and

filled with different liquids, not cause mixing.
stand a clear straw
upright in the glass
enough to avoid reaching
the top layer of the
colored water.

8. Finally, cover the top Properly covered the top of the

opening of the straw by
placing a finger over it
and gently lift the straw.
Record again the
observations.
straw to stop air from entering
and exerting a downward force
on the liquid.
V. FINDINGS, ANALYSIS, and PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:
Findings Analysis
1. The liquid dishwashing Density of each liquid causes
soap, colored water, and them to separate and create
cooking oil remained to layers. High dense liquids will
unmix and create layers. float to the bottom while less
dense will float on the top.
2. Ink droplets remained on Other than density, buoyancy
the top layer of the is also the reason behind why
colored water at some ink droplets remain on the top
time. layer of the colored water. This
is because the buoyant force
exerted by the water is greater
than the weight of the ink and
less than the cooking oil.
3. A column of colored Covering one end will reduce
water in the straw was air pressure inside the straw
able to rise above the and create a suction. The
cooking oil. water stayed inside the straw
when lifted because the
pressure of the air outside is
greater than the air inside the
straw.
Practical Applications
This concept is commonly
used in wastewater treatment
facilities, and food industries
(usage of equipment such as
grease trap and oil-water
separator).
This concept is commonly
used in several transportations
technologies such as ships,
submarines, and airplanes to
meet stability under different
conditions.
This concept is widely used in
the medical field, for example,
suction machines that are
used for people with
respiratory problems. This is
also used in manual and
automated handling
applications.
VI. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

The three liquid layers are arranged in the following order: Cooking Oil - Water -
Dishwashing Liquid. The density of each liquids are measured when mixing the different liquids
together, the properties of the liquids identifies the extent in which one is more denser. The
densest liquid is at the bottom, while the least dense liquid is at the top.

The buoyancy is affected by the density of a liquid. The substance (ink) that is put in a
fluid weighs less than the weight of a fluid, that's why the ink remains at the top layer of water.
Buoyancy is directly related to the weight, or the density of the fluid. A more dense, or heavier
fluid will then have the ability to float heavier objects.

The concept of pressure is also applied in this experiment. The pressure is directly
proportional to density. A force acts on the liquid above another liquid which the rate of pressure
increase is equal to the specific weight of the fluid.