DJJ20073 Fluid Mechanics

EXPERIMENT : EL2-1S
TITLE : PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLUID
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 1 0F 4

1.0 Experiment outcome

To explore and compare the density of various substances.

2.0 Theory

The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume.
Different materials usually have different densities, so density is an important concept
regarding buoyancy, purity and packaging.

Less dense fluids float on more dense fluids if they do not mix. This concept can be
extended, with some care, to less dense solids floating on more dense fluids. If the
average density (including any air below the waterline) of an object is less than water
(1000 kg/m3) it will float in water and if it is more than water's it will sink in water.

The mass density of a material varies with temperature and pressure. (The variance is
typically small for solids and liquids and much greater for gasses.) Increasing the
pressure on an object decreases the volume of the object and therefore increases its
density. Increasing the temperature of a substance (with some exceptions) decreases its
density by increasing the volume of that substance.

3.0 Apparatus/Equipment

Measuring scales, beaker / measuring cup, water, object with different materials

4.0 Safety Precautions

1. Make sure the student follow the laboratory or workshop safety regulators.
2. Experiment must be conduct by lecturers or experience lab assistance
 DJJ20073 Fluid Mechanics

EXPERIMENT : EL2-1S
TITLE : PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLUID
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 2 0F 4

5.0 Procedures

Experiment 1: Determine the density of selected material

1. Open the simulation in

https://pbslm-contrib.s3.amazonaws.com/WGBH/arct15/SimBucket/Simulations
/densitylab/content/index.htmll
2. Set on the “Turn Fluid into Water”. Make sure the fluid density in the simulation
is 1g/mL.
3. Wait till the fluid in the beaker stabilize. Take the volume reading of the red
block inside the beaker.
4. Drop the weight onto the scale and write the mass value in Table 1.
5. Take the initial volume.
6. Repeat step 1 till 5 using other objects.

Experiment 2: Exploring Changes in Mass and Volume on Density

1. RESET the simulation, the red cube should be reappeared in the beaker.
2. Click on “Turn Fluid into Water” again. Make sure the fluid density in the
simulation is 1g/mL.
3. Place the cube on the scale and move the mass slider.
4. Using the slider under the beaker, increase the volume slider and the mass
slider.
5. Record the initial volume, final volume and mass into the data table
6. Determine the weight of each object given.
7. Repeat step 1 till 6 with decrease the volume slider and the mass slider.
 DJJ20073 Fluid Mechanics

EXPERIMENT : EL2-1S
TITLE : PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLUID
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 3 0F 4

6.0 Results/Data
Table 1: Experiment 1
Initial Final
Mass Vf - V i Density Density
Object volume Volume
(g) (mL) g/mL (kg/m3)
(mL), Vi (mL), Vf
Red Cube

Gold

Iron

Lead

Wood

Foam

Rubber

Ice

Mystery Object

Table 2: Experiment 2
Initial Final
Vi - V f Density Density
Object Mass (g) volume Volume
(mL) g/mL (kg/m3)
(mL), Vi (mL), Vf

Increased mass and volume

Decreased mass and

volume
 DJJ20073 Fluid Mechanics

EXPERIMENT : EL2-1S
TITLE : PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLUID
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 4 0F 4

7.0 Discussion
1. Compare the results for each material in Table 1 with standard density.
2. Can you guess what is the mystery object in Experiment 1.
3. Discuss what are the factors that affect the density.
4. Is there any changes of the object density if the mass and volume value is being
increase or decrease?

8.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

What conclusion can you make regarding how density

9.0 References
i. Cengel, Yunus A., and Cimbala, John M., (2017). Fluid Mechanics: Fundamental and
Application Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill Education
ii. Hibbler R.C (2017). Fluid Mechanics (2nd Edition). Pearson