PHYSICS

LAB MANUAL
Grade IX

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 CONTENT
EXP.NO NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT PAGE NO
1. DENSITY OF A SOLID

2. ARCHIMEDE’S PRINCIPLE

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OBSERVATION

Reading of the Spring Balance to Record the Weight of a Solid Body

Weight of solid body in air

S.No Observed weight (g wt) Corrected weight (g wt)
W’ W= W’ ±(e)
1.
2.
3.

Mean value of the weight = W g wt

‡ Mass M of the body = W grams = W x 10-3 kg
If the weight of a body is expressed in g wt, then its mass has the same numerical value
expressed in gram.

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 Experiment -1
DENSITY OF A SOLID
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT
To determine the density of a solid (denser than water) by using a spring balance and a
measuring cylinder.
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS REQUIRED
A spring balance of appropriate range, a solid body ( a piece of stone), thread, water and
graduated cylinder of appropriate range.
THEORY
 The amount of matter contained in a body is measured by its mass.
 SI unit of mass is kilogram and CGS unit of mass is gram.
 The force with which a body is attracted towards the centre of the earth is called weight.
Mathematically, it is the product of mass M and acceleration due to gravity g.
W = Mg
 The density of a given substance is the mass of its unit volume. Let M be the mass of the
given solid body and V be its volume, then its density ρ is given by the relation.
M
ρ=
V
To determine density ρ, we have to measure two quantities, the mass M and the volume V of the
body.
PROCEDURE
A. For determining mass ‘M’ of the solid body by using a spring balance.
1. Take a spring balance of appropriate range.
2. Find the number of divisions between two long graduation marks on the scale of the
spring balance and find its least count.
3. Tie a thread to the given solid body (a piece of stone) and suspend it from the hook at the
lower end of the spring balance. Note the reading of the pointer on the scale of the spring
balance. Let it be ‘W’. Thus ‘W’ is the weight of the given solid body in g wt. Mass of the
solid body is W grams thus, M = W x 10-3 kg.
4. Repeat the observations two more times.

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Part (B) Determination of the volume of the solid body.
Reading of the Measuring Cylinder to Record Volume of the Solid Body

Reading of lower meniscus of water

S.No Solid body not immersed in Solid body is fully immersed Volume of body
water V1 (mL) in water V2 (mL) (mL) V= V2- V1
1.
2.
3.

Calculations
1. Mean value of M = ____________________ g
2. Mean value of V = ____________________ mL

M
ρ= ____________g/mL= ____________ kg/m3 (1 kg/m3=0.001 g/mL)
V

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 B. For determining the volume of the given solid body by measuring cylinder.
1. Take a graduated cylinder of suitable range and note down its least count.
2. Pour some water into the cylinder and note the initial level of water in the cylinder.
Take the reading at the lower meniscus of water (P) on the graduated cylinder. Let it
be V1.
3. Now immerse the solid fully in water without touching the side walls of the cylinder.
The level of water rises. Note the reading at lower meniscus of water level (Q) on the
graduated cylinder. Let it be V2.
4. Repeat the observations for two more times.
5. Record the observations in tabular form as detailed further for both parts (a) an (b).
Result
Density of a given solid = ______________ kg/m3.

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 Experiment -2
ARCHIMEDE’S PRINCIPLE
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT
To establish the relation between the loss in weight of a solid when fully immersed in tap
water.
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS REQUIRED
A spring balance of appropriate range, a glass stopper (about 50g), a brass weight (50g),
thin cotton thread, an overflow can, a wooden block, a pre-weighed beaker showing its weight on
the label affixed it, 250mL, beaker containing tap water.
THEORY
 Archimedes’ Principle: It states that when a body is partly or wholly immersed in a fluid
(i.e. liquid or gas), it experiences an apparent loss in weight, which is equal to the weight
of fluid displaced by it.
 The apparent loss in weight can be calculated by weighing the body, firstly in air and
then completely immersing in water, with the help of a spring balance. The difference in
weights, given the appeared loss of weight of the body in water.
PROCEDURE
1. Take a glass stopper and tie it to a fine cotton thread. Make a loop on the other end of
the cotton thread.
2. Check the spring balance for zero error and record it. Let zero error be x gf.
3. Find the number of divisions in between two long graduation marks on the spring balance
scale and find the least count.
4. Suspend the glass stopper from the hook of the spring balance. Read and record its
weight in air. Let the weight be W gf.
5. Calculate the true weight of glass stopper in the air, by subtracting the zero error from
the observed weight of glass stopper.
6. Place the overflow can on the wooden block and slowly pour tap water in it till the water
first starts overflowing through its spout. At this moment stop pouring the tap water. In a
few moments the water from spout stops overflowing. In this situation the water in the
overflow can is at the verge of overflowing.

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 7. Place the clean and dry pre-weighed beaker (say its weight is P gf) under the spout of the
overflow can.
8. Now, gently lower the glass stopper (which is suspended from the hook of the spring
balance) into the water of the overflow can till it gets completely immersed. It is noticed
that as the glass stopper goes under water, the spring balance registers less weight. Also,
at the same time, the water overflows through spout and gets collected in the measuring
pre-weighed beaker.
9. Read and record the weight of glass stopper when fully immersed under water. Let its
weight be W1 gf. Find the true weight of glass stopper when fully immersed under water
by subtracting the zero error from the observed weight.
10. Weigh the beaker along with displaced water on the common compression balance. Let
the weight be P1 gf.
11. Calculate the loss of weight of the glass stopper when fully immersed in water.
12. Calculate the weight of water displaced by the glass stopper.
13. It is noticed that:
Loss of weight of glass stopper in water = Weight of water displaced by the glass stopper

RESULT
1. It is clear that weight of water displaced by the glass stopper is equal to the apparent loss
of weight of glass stopper in water.

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