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Food Science 10
Unit 1: The Food Science Lab
Lab #3: Relationship between Mass and Volume
October 2015

Name: Sirapat Amornkul

Nickname: Pat

Introduction: There is a relationship between the mass and the volume of an object of a specific material. The mass can be
determined using an electric balance to record its weight in grams. The volume of an object can be determined by
calculating the amount of water displaced in a graduated cylinder when the object is placed into water. By determining the
mass and volume of an object of a specific material, you can find its density. In this lab experiment you will be discovering
how to determine the density of an object using graphs and mathematical equations, instead of simply searching for the
formula for density on the internet.
Purpose: To see how mass and volume are related to determine density by experimental data. To demonstrate how graphs
can connect ideas from Science and Math.
Materials:
Electronic Balance
50-mL Graduated Cylinder
4 Sample of the Same Material (3 Materials)
Water
Ruler
Procedure:
1. Obtain three different types of material for your group. Each material has 4 sample sizes.
2. Find the mass of each of the sample sizes. Record in your data table.
3. Find the volume of each of the sample sizes by determining the amount of water displaced by the object.
a. Set up a graduated cylinder and put 25 mL of water into it. Read the volume and write it down.
b. Tip the graduated cylinder and gently slide one of the objects into it. DO NOT allow water to splash out.
c. If the object floats, gently push it down with a pencil, until it is submerged under the water. Do not push too hard.
d. Record the new volume of the water. Subtract the volume of the water from the combined volume of the water
and object together. The result is the volume of the object. Record in your data table.
Data Table:
Title: Relationship between mass and volume
Smallest Sample

Small Sample

Medium Sample

Large Sample

Type of Material
Mass

Volume

Mass

Volume

Mass

Volume

Mass

Volume

Polypropylene

4.31g

5.0ml

7.08g

7.0ml

9.67g

9.0ml

12.41g

12.0ml

Polyvinyl Chloride

6.61g

5.0ml

10.85g

8.0ml

15.12g

11.0ml

19.80g

15.0ml

Acrylic

5.47g

4.5ml

8.95g

7.9ml

12.41g

10.5ml

15.96g

13.0ml

Mass (g)

Graph #1 Title: Mass and Volume of Polypropylene

10
Volume (mL)

15

20

Graph #2 Title: Mass and Volume of Polyvinyl Chloride

10
Volume (mL)

15

20

Graph #1 Title: Mass and Volume of Acrylic

10
Volume (mL)

15

20

Discussion (Analyzing Results) Questions:

1. Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the first material 1.02 . Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line and far apart. Try to
choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 2, and a mass of 2 .
Point B corresponds to a volume of 16 , and a mass of 16.3.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 16.3 minus 2 = 14.3
Run = 16 minus 2.1 = 13.9
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 1.02.
2. Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the second material 1.31. Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line and far apart. Try to
choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 6, and a mass of 8.1.
Point B corresponds to a volume of 12, and a mass of 16.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 16.00 minus 8.1 = 7.9.
Run = 12.00 minus 6.00 = 6.00.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 1.31.
3. Find the slope of the graphed line from the data for the third material 1.12. Follow these steps:
a. Mark two points on the line, and label them A and B. The points should be on the line and far apart. Try to
choose points that will make it easy to read the volume and mass measurements.
b. Point A corresponds to a volume of 6.00, and a mass of 6.98.
Point B corresponds to a volume of 12.00, and a mass of 14.10.
c. Use your answers from part b above to calculate the rise and run:
Rise = 14.10 minus 6.98 = 7.12.
Run = 12.00 minus 6.00 = 6.00.
(Did you remember to include the units of measurement in your work above?)
d. Now calculate the slope:
Slope = rise divided by run = 1.12.
Note: All parts of a straight line have the same, constant slope. When a mathematical constant is discovered as the
result of scientific experiments, it is often given a name. The slope you have just calculated is called the density of that
material.
4. In your answers to question 1, the rise corresponds to mass of the material, while the run corresponds to the volume of
the material. This leads to the formula for density, which is mass/volume.
5. Research the actual density for each of your materials. Determine your accuracy.
The first material, polypropylene have an actual density of 0.90 cm3, but the result that I got is 1.02cm3. It is 0.12 more
than the actual density. For the second material, the polyvinyl chloride, I got 1.31 cm3. The result is 0.06 less than the
actual density which is 1.37cm3. So I think I am quite accurate for the second one. The Third material is acrylic, The
actual density of the material is 1.17cm3 and the result I got is 1.12 which is 0.5 less than the actual density so I think I
am quite accurate.

Conclusion:
After the experiment that I did with my friends, I have learnt that even if the volume of 2 object s are the same
it doesnt mean that the mass and density have to be the same too, as the 2 object are not the same objects and
another thing that I learnt is if you want to find the density of an object, you have to divide the mass of the
object with the volume of the of object.