Measuring volume and

density
Grade 9 Physics
St. Hugh’s High
Objectives
Students should be able to:
1) Define volume
2) Define regular and irregular solids
3) Determine volume of solids
4) Determine volume of liquids
5) Define density
6) Calculate density of solids and liquids
Volume
Volume is a measure of the space occupied by an object.
The S.I. unit for volume is cubic metres (m3).
 Solids
There are two types of solids, regular and irregular.
Regular solids
A regular solid is one whose dimensions are constant.
The volume of regular solids can be determined using
formulae.

Solid Formula for Solid Formula for

volume volume
Cube / Sphere
cuboid
Cylinder
Irregular solids
An irregular solid is one who dimensions are not constant
or fixed. For example a rock is an example of an irregular
solid.
Volume of irregular solids are determined by the
displacement method.
Displacement method
The displacement method
is based on the
assumption that an
impermeable solid will
displace a volume of
liquid equal to its own
volume! This inference
was made by Archimedes
when he was taking a
bath.
Displacement method
The volume of displaced
water is equal to the
volume of the stone.
Using the measuring cylinder
To measure volume

accurately, read the

meniscus at eye level!

What is the volume of the rock?
Volume of water only =
30 cm3
Volume of water + rock =
40 cm3
Volume of rock
= 40 cm3- 30 cm3
= 10 cm3
What is the volume of the objects
below?

B
A
What is the volume of the nugget?

C D
What is the volume of the objects?

E F
Why are the liquids immiscible?
Density
Liquids of differing densities
Density
Each substance has a specific density.

The density of water is 1 g/cm3.

Substances with densities less than 1 g/cm3will float in

water.

Substances with densities greater 1 g/cm3 will sink in

water.
Density chart
Substance Density g/cm3
Gold 19.3
Mercury 13.5
Lead 11.4
Iron 7.87
Aluminum 3.7
Bone 1.7 – 2.0
Gasoline 0.66 – 0.69
Air 0.00119
When will a substance float or sink?
An object floats when its density is less than the liquid
it is in.

An object sinks when its density is greater than the

density of the liquid it is in.
Calculating density – example 1
A rectangular block of brass has a mass of 0.5 kg. The
block measures 0.025m × 0 .05 × 0.05m. Find the
density of the block.

Volume = length × width × height

= 0.025 m × 0.05 m × 0.05 m
= 0.0000625 m3
ρ = mass = 0.5 kg = 8000 kg/m3
volume 0.0000625 m3
Example 2
Example 3
A vertical rectangular column
with base of cross –sectional
area 30 cm2 and height 20 cm
is carved from granite. What is
the volume of granite used to
make the column? If the mass
of the column is 1620 g, what
is the density of granite
column?
Example 3 solution
Example 4-what is the volume of the
ore?
Example 4 -What is density of the ore?
b) If the mass of the ore is 642 g, what is the density of
the ore?

c) If the ore is placed in a beaker with a liquid whose

density is 23 g/cm3, will the ore sink or float?
Solution – example 4
Classwork
1)A loaf of bread has a volume of 2270 cm3 and a mass
454 g. what is the density of the bread?
SOLUTION
Density chart
Substance Density
Gold 19.3
Mercury 13.5
Lead 11.4
Iron 7.87
Aluminum 3.7
Bone 1.7 – 2.0
Gasoline 0.66 – 0.69
Air 0.00119
Identify the substance!
3) Use the data below to calculate the density of each unknown
substance. Then use the density chart o slide 27 to determine
the identity of each substance.

Mass Volume Density Substance

a) 4725 350 4725 ÷ 350 = 13.5 Mercury
b) 171 15
c) 148 40
d) 475 250
e) 680 1000
Density worksheet
Density worksheet
3) A carver begins work on the following block of granite
that weighs 2700 g. What is the density of the granite?
Density worksheet
4) A student performs an experiment with three unknown
fluids and obtains the following measurements:
Fluid A: m = 2060 g, V = 2000 ml
Fluid B: m= 672 g , V = 850 ml
Fluid C: m= 990 g, V = 1100 ml
Density worksheet
Draw how the fluids would be layered if they were
combined in a beaker.
Density worksheet
Use your density skills to find the identity of the
following mystery objects.
Table of densities

Solids Density g/cm3 Solids Density g/cm3

Marble 2.56 Copper 8.92

Quartz 2.64 Gold 19.32

Diamond 3.52 Platinum 21.4

Density worksheet - identity of the
following mystery objects.
1) While digging in the backyard, you find an old coin.
Its mass is 26.76 g and its volume is 3 cm3. What is
the coin made of?

2) You think you have found a diamond. Its mass is 5.28

g and its volume is 2 cm3. what did you find?
 Density worksheet - identity of the
following mystery objects.
3) You find a ring with a mass of 107 g. you fill a
graduated cylinder up with 10 ml of water and put the
ring into the cylinder. The water rises to 15 ml mark.
What is the ring made of?

4) There is a block on your desk that acts as a

paperweight. Its measurements are 3 cm by 4cm by
6cm. The block has a mass of 184.32 g.
What is the block made of?
Further work – volume and density
1) A can has a volume of 600 cm3 and has a mass of
5352 g. What is the density of the can?
2) The mass of the granite block below is 12,960 g.
What is the density of the block?
Further work – volume and density
3) The mass of an empty 50 ml bottle is 25 g. When is
filled with cooking oil, the mass is 68.5 g. What is the
density of the cooking oil? 1 ml = 1
cm3
Further work – volume and density
4) A small solid cylinder
as shown below was
found buried in the
junkyard. The mass of the
cylinder is 6591.2 g. If
the radius of base of the
cylinder is 7 cm, what is
the density of the
cylinder?
Further work – volume and density
5) Some concrete was poured into the mould as seen below.

a) What is the volume of the mould?

b) What is the density of the concrete block if the mass of
concrete was 21.6 kg?
Further work – volume and density
6) What is the density of a golf ball whose mass is 46 g.
The diameter of a golf ball is 4.2 cm.
(Hint golf ball is a sphere)

7) Some water was poured into a measuring cylinder. The

reading was 33 cm3. A piece of ore was lowered into the
measuring cylinder and the new volume reading was 92
cm3.
a) What is the volume of the ore?
b) If the mass of the stone was 1,139.9 g, what is the
density of the ore?
Further work – volume and density
8) A hollow aluminium drum has a cross –sectional area
of 0.75 m2.
a) What is the volume of the drum?
b) What is the density of the drum if its mass is 7929
kg?
c) If the drum was placed in a vat containing a liquid of
density 4000 kg/ m3, will the drum sink or float?
Explain. 0.75 m2
4m