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Density

Basics
The density is a physical property of materials. The density of an object is given as

m
ρ= [1]
V

where
ρ density [kg/m³], common non SI-units: g/cm³; g/L
m mass of the object [kg]
V volume of the object [m³]

Different materials of the same volume have usually different weights. Heating and cooling
cause changes in the density. The volume of a material generally increases as the temperature
increase which means that the density decreases as the temperature increases (with the
exception of water between 0 – 4 °C → water anomaly).

One way of determining the density is to measure the buoyancy of a body and use
Archimedes' principle:

Buoyancy: Every body immersed in a liquid apparently looses some of its weight. In the
liquid a force called buoyancy reduces the weight of an immersed body. The buoyancy in a
liquid with a density ρ F results from the hydrostatic pressure p S which increases with the
depth:

pS = ρF ⋅ g ⋅ h [2]

To calculate the buoyant force


the body is divided into small
cuboids with a base area A.
Forces on the vertical surfaces
cancel each other out (see Fig.
1, forces FS1 , FS 2 , FS 3 and
FS′1 , FS′ 2 , FS′ 3 ). Due to its
deeper immersion the force F2
on the lower horizontal surface
of the body is greater than the
force F1 on the upper
horizontal surface. The
resulting force is the buoyant
force.

FA = F2 − F1 [3]

The base of the cuboid is at a


depth h2 below the surface of
Fig. 1: Buoancy
the liquid. Therefore we can
calculate the force acting on the base with the aid of Eq. [2]:

F2 = A ⋅ p s = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h2 [4]

Similar the force on the upper surface at depth h1 can be calculated as:

F1 = A ⋅ p s = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h1 [5]

Therefore, the buoyant force is:

FA = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h2 − A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h1
= A ⋅ (h2 − h1 ) ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g [6]
= V ⋅ ρF ⋅ g

In this formula the shape of the body is not being used but only the volume V. Therefore, this
formula can be applied to bodies of arbitrary shape.

Archimedes' principle: The buoyant force of a body in a liquid is equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by the body.

By measuring the weight of a body outside of a liquid (FG) and completely immersed into a
liquid (FRes) it is possible to determine the buoyant force (FA). The volume VF displaced by
the liquid is equal to the volume VK of the immersed body. By measuring FRes it is possible to
either determine the density of the body ρK or the density of the fluid ρF:

FRe s = FG − FA = m ⋅ g − ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ VF = g ⋅ (ρ K ⋅ VK − ρ F ⋅ VF ) [7]

The density of a material can be determined by different methods:

• Measurement of mass and volume:


o For solids of simple geometric shape the mass and volume is measured
separately. The mass can be weighed with a balance and the volume is
determined by measuring the edges (for example with a vernier caliper). For
complex shapes the volume can be determined by measuring the amount of
liquid displaced by the body.
o The density of liquids or resins can be determined by means of a pycnometer.
This is a small bottle of exactly known volume. The mass of the content is
determined by weighing.

• Application of Archimedes' principle: The buoyant force equals the weight of the
liquid or gas volume displaced by the immersed body.
o With a hydrostatic balance or Mohr’s and Westphal’s balance the density of a
liquid is determined by measuring the buoyant force on a body of known
volume.
o With a hydrostatic balance the density of a solid body can be determined as
well. In this case the body is immersed into a fluid of known density. By
measuring the buoyant force the volume of the body can be calculated.
o The aerometer (hydrometer) offers a fast and easy to use method to determine
the density of liquids.

Problem
The seawater of the Dead Sea has a remarkable salt content of 23% - 27% and therefore a
higher density in comparison with the saltwater of the ocean with a salt content of 3,5 %. You
will get a sample of water with the volume V=500mL from the Dead Sea. Determine the
densitiy of the solution at 30°C (corresponding to the water-temperature in the Dead Sea in
September) by means of several methods.
The following devices are available:
• Mohr’s balance
• Aerometer
• Tension spring balance
• Pycnometer
• Vernier calliper
• Precision balance
Select at least 3 methods and discuss the pros and cons and carry out the measurements with
these methods.

General remark
Discuss the usefulness of repeating your measurements.
The accuracy of a method depends among other things on the resolution and the reading
accuracy of the devices. Keep in mind that the calibration of the measuring devices depends
on the temperature. How does this affect your measurement?

Handling of the instruments

Mohr balance
The density of liquids can be
measured by the buoyancy method
using the Mohr balance as shown in
Fig. 2.

A plummet is on one side of the


balance and sliding weights on the
other side of the balance.
After the plummet is immersed into
the fluid the sliding weights are moved
between the different notches on the
beam until the system is balanced. The
scale on the beam is calibrated in such
a way, that the positions are converted
to densities.
The balance is placed on a lifting
platform. The platform is lowered
until the plummet is completely
immersed into the fluid.
Before each measurement the
plummet has to be dried.
Fig. 2: Mohr balance
Zero point adjustment (Fig.2)
• Clean and carefully dry plummet (1)
• Hang plummet onto hanger (5)
• Sliding weights (11, 8) in slots 0
• Hang hanger weight (15) on beam (9) in position (10)
• Zero point adjustment by turning the foot screw (17) until both pointers (12, 13) are on
the same level
• If the adjustment with the screw at the foot is not enough, adjust compensating spindle
(6) accordingly

Handling Mohr balance


• Fill measuring liquid in jar (2) up to about 20mm below the rim.
• Place the jar into a thermostat to adjust the temperature to the desired value
• Lift the platform upwards till the plummet is completely immersed in the liquid
• Push sliding weight (11) from 0,00 along the slot-path as long as pointer (12) swings
freely upwards
• If pointer (13) is below pointer (12), push sliding weight one slot back
• Push sliding weight (8) from 0,0000 along the slot-path as long as pointers (12,13) are
opposite on the same level

1 Plummet 10 Hanging position f. hanger weight


2 Jar 11 Sliding weight 0,00 – 1,00
3 Thermometer 12 Pointer at the beam
4 Plummet suspension 13 Pointer at the support
5 Hanger 14 Damping magnet
6 Compensating spindle 15 Hanger weight 1,00
7 Centre bearing 16 Support
8 Sliding weight 0,0000-0,0100 17 Foot screw
9 Beam

Correction of the value: because of air buoyancy and residual liquid at the plummet wire a
correction of the indicated value is necessary.

Density Correction density correction


g/cm³ g/cm³ g/cm³ g/cm³
0,6 +0,0003 1,4 -0,0006
0,7 +0,0002 1,5 -0,0008
0,8 +0,0001 1,6 -0,0010
0,9 0,0000 1,7 -0,0011
1,0 0,0000 1,8 -0,0013
1,1 -0,0002 1,9 -0,0015
1,2 -0,0003 2,0 -0,0017
1,3 -0,0005
Aerometer
The aerometer is a cylindrical body made of glass (Fig. 3) to measure the density of a liquid
by the buoyancy method. In this method, the aerometer sinks into the liquid until it displaces
its own mass. The scale on the aerometer is calibrated in such a way, that the volume of the
displaced liquid is automatically converted into the density of the liquid. It uses the following
relationship:

Vl ρ A
= [8]
VA ρ l

Handling aerometer
• Clean and dry aerometer
• Use a clear cylinder or jar that is suitable
for the amount of liquid
• Immerse aerometer slowly in liquid
• Do not make reading until the aerometer
and liquid are at rest and free from air
bubbles

Fig. 3: Aerometer

Pycnometer
Pycnometers allow a very precise measurement of volumes. They consist of a
glass bottle, closed by a glass plug with a capillary (Fig.2). They contain the
full volume when the plug is inserted and the liquid is at the upper margin of
the capillary. The volume of the pycnometer at a specific temperature can be
determined with a liquid of known density. The mass of the content of the
filled pycnometer can be determined by weighing.

Fig. 4: Pycnometer
Handling pycnometers
Measurement of the volume of the pycnometer
• The pycnometer is completely filled with distilled water, the plug is inserted and the
pycnometer with the water is heated with the aid of a thermostat to the appropriate
temperature
• Determine the mass of water by weighing (mass of the filled pycnometer minus the
mass of the empty pycnometer)
• Look up the density of water at the appropriate temperature in the literature
• Calculate the volume of the pycnometer at the corresponding temperatures

Measurement of the density of the liquid


• Heat up the filled pycnometer with liquid
• Determine the mass of liquid in the pycnometer
• Calculate the density of the liquid

Tension spring balance


The density of liquids and solids can also be determined with the aid of a spring balance. The
spring balance is used to determine the buoyant force by measuring the weight of a body
outside of a liquid and completely immersed into a liquid. The volume of the body can be
determined by immersing it into a liquid of known density (water). There are two alternatives:
1) To determine the density of the body measure the weight of the body with a balance. 2) To
measure the density of an unknown liquid determine the buoyant force of this body in the
unknown liquid.

Handling spring balance


• Fix the test body at a spring balance of appropriate range
• Determine the weight of the test body in air (FG)
• Pour the liquid into a jar and determine the temperature of the liquid
• Look up the density of the liquid (water) in the literature
• Immerse the test body carefully in the liquid
• Determine the apparent weight of the test body (FRes)
• Remove the test body from the liquid and dry it carefully
• From the measured values of the weight and the density of water the density of the
solid body can be calculated.

Questions in preparation for the experiment


Answer the questions and bring along your notes to the practical course

1. Why is it necessary to repeat all measurements?


2. Why do bottles filled with water burst in the icebox? What will happen if the bottle
is filled with an organic liquid?
3. What possibilities do you know to determine the density of a) a regularly formed
solid and b) fine-grained resins?
4. If a body fixed on a spring balance completely immersed in a liquid weighs
698mN and 775mN in air, what is the magnitude of the buoyant force? What is the
density of the liquid if the displaced volume is 10cm³? What kind of liquid could it
be?
5. Convert the density of 0,997 g/cm³ in kg/m³ (comprehensible).

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