Physics 22 Laboratory Report

Lab E4:
Archimedes Principle

Prepared By:
____________________

Partner:
________________________
Date: Wednesday, October 29,
2014
Lab Instructor:
________________________________
Lab Section: ____________________
Recitation Instructor:
______________________
Recitation Section: _________
Remarks by Grader:








Grade: ___________________________
Laboratory Instructors Initials: ____


Physics 22 Laboratory Report

Lab E4:
Archimedes Principle

Prepared By:
____________________

Partner:
________________________
Date: Wednesday, October 29,
2014
Lab Instructor:
________________________________
Lab Section: ____________________
Recitation Instructor:
______________________
Recitation Section: _________
Remarks by Grader:








Grade: ___________________________
Laboratory Instructors Initials: ____

Lab E4:
Archimedes Principle

Objectives:
To determine the density of various solids and liquids using Archimedes Principle.

Background:
Recall that the mass of a body m is related to its density and volume V by
Eq. (1) m V



In the diagram above, the object is suspended from a string and submerged in a liquid.
The submerged object now displaces a volume V of liquid. The submerged object is
subjected to three forces now; the gravitational force, the tension T in the string, and an
upward force known as the buoyant force. Archimedes determined that the buoyant
force B is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the object:
Eq.(2)
L Liquid Displaced
B Vg m g
If there is no net force on the submerged object then:
Eq.(3)
L
B mg T W T gV
Solving for the volume of the body:
/
Eq.(4)
L
m T g
W T
g
L
V

mg
T
B
Liquid
Introduction:












Diagram:























Procedure:
You will determine the density of two objects: a regular shaped object and an irregularly
shaped object.

For the regular shaped object:
Use the Vernier calipers and balance to make the measurements needed to calculate the
density of the regular shaped solid you are using.

Use Archimedes Principle to make the measurements needed to calculate the density of
the regular shaped solid.
Remember that if you try to measure the force T using a scale, the scale reads T/g,
because it measures mass not force.

For the irregularly shaped object:
Use Archimedes Principle to make the measurements needed to calculate the density of
your irregular object.

Measurements:
Record the dimensions of the regular shaped object here:



Record the mass of the object here:



Record the mass of the submerged object here:



Repeat for the irregularly shaped object.












Analysis:
Calculate the density using your measurements of the dimensions and mass of your
regular object.

Calculate the density of your regular object using Archimedes Principle.

Calculate the percent difference between your calculated densities above.

Calculate the density of your irregular object using Archimedes Principle.

Using the table of densities below, determine the material your objects are made of.
Calculate the percent difference between your measured values and the tabulated values.
Material Density (g/cm
3
)
Aluminum 2.699
Brass, yellow (7% Cu, 30% Zn) 8.56
Copper 8.89
Gold 19.33
Iron 7.85
Steel 7.79
Lead 11.00
Magnesium 1.741
Nickel 8.75
Osmium 22.5
Potassium 0.87
From CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

Conclusions:
Brief summary of the procedure and analysis:

Summary of the sources of error:

If there are multiple sources of error, which is most important?

Which are less important?

How might you be able to improve your procedures to reduce measurement errors?