E206: ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE

DE LARA, Ricard Jand T.

OBJECTIVE
The main purpose of this experiment is to
observe the Archimedes principle by applying it
in determining the density and specific gravity of
unknown solid and liquid samples.
Archimedes principle, also called as the physical
law of buoyancy, it states that anybody
completely or partially submerged in a fluid (gas
or liquid) at rest is acted upon by an upward, or
buoyant force the magnitude of which is equal to
the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.

The experiment has three main objectives; first it

to determine the specific gravity of an unknown
solid sample that is heavier than water, second
one was the determining of the specific gravity of
unknown liquid and determining what liquid was
used. The third one was to determine the specific
gravity of an unknown liquid sample using a
hydrometer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Procedure:
This experiment is composed of four parts; the
first part is the determining of specific gravity on
an unknown solid sample heavier than water, first
we get one of the two sample and suspend it one
side of the platform balance and find its weight in
air, then we completely submerged the sample in
a beaker of water and measure its weight in
water. Then we compute for its specific gravity.
Then for the next metal sample we have just
repeated all the steps that we have done for the
first sample. And on the second part of the
experiment, which is the determining the specific
gravity on an unknown liquid sample, using the
two samples. We first choose a metal that will be
used in this part, we submerged it to the liquid a
record its weight in the liquid, and we sure that
the metal is thoroughly dry before immersing it in
the liquid. Then we find the loss weight of the
body in the liquid and determine the specific
gravity. For the second metal sample we just
repeat the steps we have done. For the third part
of the experiment, which is to determine the
specific gravity of an unknown liquid sample
using a Hydrometer, this time we are given a two
graduated cylinders with two unknown liquid
sample. Then we measure its specific gravity by
using a hydrometer. The values that weve get
form this part will be verified the values that we
obtained from the second part

Fig1. These are the materials that were used

during the whole experiment; platform balance,
hydrometer, set of weights, 2 pcs of 250-ml
graduated cylinder, 3 pcs of 250-ml beaker, cork,
string, and 2 pcs of metal (aluminum and brass).

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OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS

TABLE A. Determination of Specific Gravity of

Unknown Solid Samples Heavier than Water
Sample 1

And for the last part of the experiment is the

determining of the specific gravity of a solid
lighter than water. This time, we choose again
one of the metal samples that we would use as
the sinker for this part, and we suspend the cork
from a string and then leave it while the sinker
has hanged below it. Then we find the weight
with just the sinker under the water, and the
other one is we find the weight of both the cork
and the sinker under the water. Then we compute
for the loss weight if then and determine the
specific gravity of the cork.

Sample 2

weight in air,
Wa

44.4

48.9

weight in
water, Ww

27

43.3

Specific
Gravity, SG
Name of
Sample (see
table 1)
Percent Error

2.551

8.732

Aluminum

Brass

5.491698
595

3.461408
26

The table above shows the different specific

gravities obtained from the first part of the two
metal samples.
Sample computation: Sample 1

SG=

WA
W AW W

SG=

44.4 g
44.4 g27 g

SG=2.551

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TABLE B. Determination of Specific Gravity of

Unknown Liquids
Sample 1

Sample 2

weight in air, Wa

44.4

49

weight in water,
Ww

27

43.3

Weight in the
liquid, Wl

27

44.3

Loss of weight in
liquid Wa-Wl

17.4

4.7

Specific Gravity,
SG

The table above shows the two specific gravities

of the unknown liquids being obtained using
hydrometer

The table shows the specific gravity of the

TABLE D. Determination of Specific

Gravity of Solid Lighter than Water

0.82456
1404
Name of sample: CORK

Name of Sample
(see table 1)

Water

Percent Error

Alcohol
%

0.55626
8721

weight of cork in air, Wa

1.9

weight of cork in air and

sinker in water, W(CASW)

28.7

weight of both sinker and

cork in water, W(C+S)W

17.9

The table above shows the specific gravities of

the two unknown liquid samples.
Sample computation: Sample 1

W W L
SG= A
W AW W

0.175925
926

Specific Gravity, SG

SG=

44.4 g27 g
44.4 g27 g

SG=1

/ Water

cork obtained from the experiment.

Sample Computation: cork

TABLE C. Determination of Specific Gravity

of Unknown Solid Samples Heavier than
Water
Sample
1
Specific Gravity

Name of Sample
(see table 1)

Water

Percent Error

Sample
2
0.825
Alcoh
ol3 | P a g e

0.61

all of the techniques to make the all the

experiment easier and more convenient for us.

SG =0.175925926

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

As shown in the previous part, the results that

we obtained during the experiment have high
significant values in terms of their specific
gravities that we have obtained from the first
part of the experiment up to the last part of it.
And it shows that specific gravity could be
computed through the ratio of the objects weight
in air over the difference of its weight in air plus
in water. In our experiment, we computed for the
percent difference of the actual and experiment
values of the specific gravities that we obtained
from the second and third part. The second part
being the experimental value while the third part
being the actual value of the unknown liquids
specific gravities. And for the last part of the
experiment, the computed value for the corks
specific gravity is 0.18 which is significant one
because it is almost exact value for the corks
actual specific gravity value.

And lastly, we couldnt this experiment in time if

its not because of our God, almighty who always
guides and protect us in every time we are in
trouble and I am grateful that we finished all the
experiments that no one is hurt and nothing goes
wrong.
References:
The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica.
(n.d.). Archimedes' principle | physics |
Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved
September 9, 2015, from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top
ic/32827/Archimedes-principle
Archimedes' Principle. (n.d.). Retrieved
September 9, 2015, from
http://physics.weber.edu/carroll/archimed
es/principle.htm

With these obtained data. I therefore conclude

that the experiment was performed well and each
of every step was executed properly because of
our obtained percent of error values in first and
second parts of the experiment was a low one.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND REFERENCE
In this experiment, I am very thankful to my
group mates and especially to our temporary
groupmate because he makes our time more
efficient in conducting the experiments and he is
not shy in participating in conducting the whole
experiment.

I would also like to thank our professor Sir

Leon who is very patient and considerate
giving us chances not only for that day but
the whole term. Also I also thank sir De Leon

De
in
for
for
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