Experiments with Fluids: Measuring Volume of Irregularly Shaped Object
About 2 min read
SCSchool for Champions LLC
Volume is the space an object takes up. You can easily measure the volume of a rectangular box by measuring the lengths of the sides. The volume of a box is its length times width times height.
V = L x W x H
But suppose you had an object that had an irregular shape. How would you measure its volume?
Goal
Determine the volume of an irregularly shaped object.
Solution
Use the law that an object displaces its volume in water to determine the volume of the object.
What you know
You know that water takes the shape of its container. You also know that if you put an object in a full bucket of water, the excess water will spill out the bucket.
Verify concept
Now, if you put a can or bottle full of water into the bucket, the amount that spills out will be almost the same as the amount of liquid in the bottle (less the thickness of the bottle).
You can try putting a sealed soft drink bottle full of water into a bucket full of water. Collect the water that flows over the top of the bucket. Pour that water into a second soft drink bottle of the same size. The amount of water should be just about the same.
Therefore, if you put any object in a full container of water, the amount that spills out will be the same as the volume of the object.
Material
Irregularly shaped object
Container or bucket that is large enough to put the object in
Pan to place under the bucket
Gradated flask to measure volume of liquid
Steps
Full the bucket with water up to its brim.
Place the bucket in the pan.
Carefully place object in water.
Collect water that overflows into the pan.
Measure the volume of overflow water.
Steps
1Full the bucket with water up to its brim.
↓
2Place the bucket in the pan.
↓
3Carefully place object in water.
↓
4Collect water that overflows into the pan.
↓
5Measure the volume of overflow water.
Outcome
This experiment shows an application of the principle that objects displace their volume in a liquid.
Do you have a good experiment that you’ve done and would like to tell others about it? Or do you have a great idea for an experiment that you’d like to try?
If so, send an email with your experiment or idea and I will add it to our pages, along with your name and other information you’d like.
Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.
