VOLUME

Volume: is the amount of space occupied by an object.

The SI unit for volume is cubic metres (m3)

Other units for volume are: cubic centimeter; 1cm3=10-6m3

Millilitres; 1ml=1cm3=10-6m3

Litres; 1 l =1000ml=1000cm3

Volume for regular shaped objects

cuboid cylinder sphere
r
h

w h
l
V=l ×w × h
V=4πr3/3
2
V=πr h

Volume for irregular shaped sinking objects e.g. a stone

Method 1

 Pour water in to a measuring cylinder and record the initial volume of water as V1.

 Tie the stone with a thread and gently place it in to a measuring cylinder and record the new
volume of stone and water as V2.

 Subtract the volume of water V1 from volume of water and stone V2 to obtain the volume of stone
only V i.e. V=V2 –V1.
Method 2: displacement method

 Fill the displacement can with water up to the hole of the spout.

 Put a measuring cylinder under the spout of the displacement can.

 Tie the stone with a thread and gently place it in to a displacement can.

 Volume of the displaced water in the measuring cylinder is equivalent to the volume of the
stone.

Volume for irregular shaped floating objects e.g. a cork

• A sinker is used to ensure that object is totally immersed.

• Pour water in to a measuring cylinder and gently place a sinker tied with a thread in to a
measuring cylinder containing water and record the new volume of stone and water, V3.

• Gently place a sinker attached to a cork tied with a thread in to a measuring cylinder and record
the new volume of sinker, cork and water, V4.

• Calculate volume of object using formula:

V =V 4−V 3
Examples

1. A measuring cylinder contains some water. When a stone is put in the water, the level rises.

cm3 cm3
200 200

150 150

100 100
stone
50 50

What is the volume of the stone?

A 60 cm3 B 70 cm3 C 75 cm3 D 130 cm3

2. The diagram shows a measuring cylinder.

Which unit is the most suitable for the scale?

A mm2 B mm3 C cm2 D cm3

DENSITY

This is the mass of a substance per unit volume.

The SI unit of density is kilogram per cubic metre (kg/m3).

m
ρ= where ρ = density in kg/m3
V

m = mass in kg

V = volume in m3
Note: Density indicates how much matter is packed in a certain volume (space).

Determination of density of objects (matter) experimentally

(a) A regular shaped solid: e.g. cuboid, prism, sphere etc.

(i) Measure and record the mass, m of an object using atop pan balance.

(ii) Calculate and record the volume, V of the object using an appropriate formula
depending on the shape.

(iii) Calculate the density of an object using equation

ρ =m/V

(b) An irregular shaped solid: e.g. stone

(i) Measure and record the mass, m of an object using atop pan balance.

(ii) Calculate and record the volume, V of the object using a displacement can method
or measuring cylinder.

(iii) Calculate the density of an stone using equation

m
ρ=
V

(c) Liquid: e.g water

(i) Measure and record the mass, m1 of an empty measuring cylinder using a top pan
balance.

(ii) Pour certain amount of water in to a measuring cylinder and record its volume, V.

(iii) Measure and record the mass, m2 of a measuring cylinder and water by using a top
pan balance.

(iv) Calculate the mass, m of the water only using

m =m2-m1

(v) Calculate the density of an water using equation

m
ρ=
V
 (d) Gas: e.g air

(i) Measure and record the mass, m1 of a 500 cm3 round flask filled with air.

(ii) Remove the air in a flask using a vacuum pump then measure and record mass, m2
of an empty flask.

(iii) Calculate the mass, m of the air only using

m = m 1- m 2

(vi) Calculate the density of an air using equation

m
ρ=
V

Hydrometer

This is an instrument used to measure density of liquids.

If the hydrometer sinks in to a liquid it indicates that the liquid has lower density.

Stem with scale

0
Stem with scale
0
1

1
2 Liquid denser
water than water
2
Weight to keep
hydrometer
Weight to upright
keep
hydrometer
upright

Note:

 In left diagram the hydrometer sinks in water to show that water has a lower density.

 In right diagram the hydrometer floats in other liquid to show that the liquid has a greater density.
Floating and Sinking

An object floats when placed in a liquid more dense than itself.

An object sinks when placed in a liquid less dense than itself.

Examples

1. The volume of an irregularly shaped object of mass m is found using a measuring cylinder. The
volume is shown by the scale on measuring cylinder increases from V1 to V2 as shown in the
diagram.

The density of the object is given by:

A. m/V2

B. (V1- V2)/m

C. m/(V1- V2)

D. m/(V2- V1)

2. The diagram shows two solid cuboids X and Y.

Which property of the cuboids will be the same if they are made from the same material?
A. volume
B. weight
C. mass
D. Density
3. Fig.3.1 shows a spring balance used to measure the weight of a metal block.

Fig.3.1

(a) (i) What is the weight of the block?

9.6 N
weight = …………………….
(ii) Calculate the mass of the block.
W
m=
g

9.6 N
m=
10 N /kg

0.96 kg
mass = ……………………………..[3]
(b)The block has a volume of 110 cm3.
Calculate its density. m
ρ=
V

960 g
m= 3
110 cm

8.73 g/cm3
density = …………………..[2]
4. (a) Fig.4.1 shows an unopened olive oil bottle of mass 0.97 kg and empty olive oil bottle of mass
0.51 kg.

Fig.4.1
Calculate the mass of the oil. m=m1−m2

m=0.97 kg−0.51 kg

0.46 kg mass = ………………………[2]

3
(b) The volume of the oil is 515 cm .
Calculate the density of the oil. m
ρ=
V

46 0 g
ρ= 3
515 cm
3 density =…………………[2]
0.893 g/cm