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Lab Report

Uploaded by

adhinesh45
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Water Temperature and Density

Lab Report

Name: Ashwinbabu Dhineshbabu, Due Date: Dec 2, 2024 , Period: 3


In this experiment, the relationship between the temperature of water and its density was

investigated to understand how temperature influences density. The hypothesis is: "If the water is

colder, then it will have a higher density." Water at different temperatures was prepared, with

food coloring added for visibility, and combined to observe. “Both temperature and saltiness

(salinity) affect the density of water. Cold water is denser than warm water, and salty water is

denser than freshwater. Thus, deep currents are typically made of cold and salty water that sank

from the surface” This was stated in an article named Slow down of the Motion of the Ocean by

NASA. According to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a decrease in temperature causes the

water molecules to lose energy and slow down, which results in water molecules that are closer

together and a decrease in water volume. When water is heated, it expands, or increases in

volume. When water increases in volume, it becomes less dense. The independent variable in

this experiment is the temperature of the water. The dependent variable is how the water layers

or mixes due to density differences. The constants are the type of water, food coloring,

measurement tools, and liquid volumes.

Materials:

● 2 100-mL graduated cylinders

● 2 test tubes

● 2 beakers

● Food coloring or dye

● Stirrer

● Ice

● Tap water

● colored pencils
Procedure:

To begin the experiment, cold tap water was mixed with several ice cubes in a beaker and stirred

until well combined. Next, 100 mL of the cold water was transferred into a graduated cylinder,

ensuring no ice pieces entered. A test tube was then filled halfway with hot tap water mixed with

2 to 3 drops of food coloring. The colored hot water was slowly poured into the graduated

cylinder containing the cold water, and observations were recorded. For the second setup, a

beaker of cold tap water mixed with food coloring and ice was prepared and stirred thoroughly.

A test tube was then filled halfway with the cold colored solution, making sure no ice was

included. Meanwhile, a second graduated cylinder was filled with 100 mL of hot tap water. The

cold colored liquid was carefully poured into the cylinder of hot water, and observations were

recorded. Finally, all glassware and materials were cleaned and returned to the teacher

Data Analysis and Observation: In step 4 hot water was poured into cold water, floated on top

of the cold water. In Step 8 when cold water was poured into the hot water, the cold water sank

to the bottom.
Analysis/ Conclusion

This experiment successfully demonstrated the relationship between water temperature and

density, addressing the purpose of observing how temperature differences influence water

layering. The results confirmed the hypothesis, as hot water, being less dense, floated on top of

cold water, and cold water, being denser, sank when introduced to hot water. These observations

align with the expected results, which are supported by scientific principles outlined by NASA

and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The decrease in temperature caused water molecules to

slow down and pack closer together, increasing density, while an increase in temperature caused

expansion and decreased density.

Potential sources of error include inconsistencies in water temperature during preparation, which

could have affected density differences. Additionally, residual ice in the cold water or uneven

pouring could have influenced the layering and mixing. These errors may have impacted the

precision of the observed results, but overall, the experiment provided a clear demonstration of

how temperature affects water density.

Sources:

“Slowdown of the Motion of the Ocean - NASA Science.” Nasa.gov, 5 June 2023,

science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-atmosphere/slowdown-of-the-motion-of-the-ocean.

Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

University of Hawai‘i. “Weird Science: Macroscopic Changes in Liquid Water Volume |

Manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth.” Hawaii.edu, 2019,

manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/density-effects/density-temperature-an

d-salinity/weird-science-macroscopic-changes-liquid-water-volume.

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