LESSON 3

Topic : Measurements of Volume & Density .

Learning Objectives :
1. Define the term Volume and give unit of measurement
2. Measure volume of regular and irregular objects
3. Measure the volume of a liquid using the measuring cylinder.
4. Measure the volume of air (Gas).
5. Define the term density and give expression & unit for density.
6. Explain how the density of a regular object and an irregular shaped object can be
determined.

Lesson Starter : Students watch a short video clip on volume of both regular and
irregular shapes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5u5cmA9Dp0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd5GFjRSlqY
Keywords: Volume, capacity, regular & irregular shaped objects, measuring cylinder,
units for Volume measurement, mass & Density
Volume is defined as the capacity of an object. It is the space occupied by a 3-D shape.
The SI unit for volume is the m3. Other units for measurements of volume include; cm3,
mm3, ml, cl, litre etc. Objects can be regular or irregular.
For Volume, 1cm3= 1ml, 1000cm3 = 1000mL = 1 litre, 1000litres = 1m3. Note that
1000,000cm3 = 1m3.
For regular objects, their respective dimensions are measured and a suitable expression
for that volume is used to calculate the volume of that 3-D shape. Examples include
cuboid, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, Cube etc.
For irregular shaped objects, the displacement method is employed in estimating the
volume of that object. Examples include a small rock pebble, a wooden wine cork etc.
The displacement method is a method used in determining the volume of irregular
shaped objects by measuring the volume of liquid displaced when that object is
completely submerged in a liquid contained in a measuring cylinder. Here the volume of
liquid displaced is equal to the volume of the irregular shaped object.

Density is defined as mass per unit volume. It is measured in kg/m3 as the S.I unit. Other
unit of measurement include g/mm3, g/cm3, etc
NOTE: Density = mass / Volume. (kg/m3) 1g/cm3 = 1000kg/m3
Thus mass = density x volume and volume = mass / density.
Here are some short video clips on measurement of density.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPq-m9Ch5aw regular shaped objects

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QZndSmWOhA regular shaped objects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2fILAp5sqY measuring the density of a rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sTvjlDazac measuring the density of irregular
shape
An illustrative diagram showing how the volume of an irregular shaped object can be
measured using the displacement method.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Class activity, Ques. 2, 3 & 4 page 23 IGCSE red/white Physics text book.

1. Outline the procedural steps taken when determining the density of a regular
shaped solid 3-D shaped object.
2. Outline the procedural steps taken in finding the density of an irregular shaped
object (rock pebble).

Learning Objectives :
7. Explain how the density of a regular object and an irregular shaped object can be
determined.
8. Explain how the density of an irregular shaped object which cannot sink in a liquid
(water) can be determined.
9. Explain why solid ice can float in water and why massive heavy ships float in water
but an iron 9” nail cannot.

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10.Solve some calculations on Density related problems.
For regular shaped objects, their volume is found using their volume expressions and
their mass are found by measuring with the Top pan balance of digital scale balance.
Hence their density is determined using the expression for density.
(density = mass / volume).

For irregular shaped objects, their volume is found using the displacement method and
their mass are found by measuring with the Top pan balance or digital scale balance.
Hence their density is determined using the expression for density.
(density = mass / volume).

For irregular shaped objects that cannot sink in a liquid (a wooden cork), a sinker is
tied to the object and their volumes are found; volume of sinker alone, volume of sinker
attached to the irregular object and then necessary subtraction is done to get the volume
of the wooden cork (V2 – V1). The mass is found using the Top pan balance or the digital
scale balance. Hence their density is determined using the expression for density.
(density = mass / volume).

Why solid ice can float on water.

Solid ice can float in water because it is less dense than liquid water. When water freezes,
its molecules arrange themselves in a crystalline open structure, causing the ice to take up
more space (increase in volume) than the liquid water did. This increased volume
decreases the density of the ice, making it lighter and causing it to float on the denser
liquid water. Density = mass / volume.

Why massive heavy ships float in water and an iron 9” nail cannot.
Massive heavy ships float in water because they are designed to displace a large volume
of water, also due to their hollow structure and buoyant materials. This displacement
creates an upward force called buoyancy, which counteracts the weight of the ship thus
allowing it to float. On the other hand, an iron 9" nail sinks in water because it is denser
than water. Its density is greater than the density of water, so the buoyant force acting on
it is not enough to counteract its weight, causing it to sink.
Ques, 1.
Outline the procedural steps taken when determining the density of a regular solid 3-D
shaped object. [10 marks]
QUES. 2.
Outline the procedural steps taken in finding the density of an irregular shaped object
(rock pebble). [10 marks]
QUES. 3.

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Outline the procedural steps taken for finding the volume of an irregular shaped object
that cannot sink in a liquid. (E.g a wooden cork) [10 marks]
HOMEWORK
1.

[Total marks = 6]
2. When a golf ball is lowered into a measuring cylinder of water, the water
level rises by 30cm3 when the ball is completely submerged. If the ball
weighs 33g in air, find its density. [3 marks]

3. What is the mass of air in a room measuring 10m × 5.0m ×2.0m if the
density of air is 1.3kg/m3? [3 marks]

4. An IGCSE student is investigating the differences in density of small pieces

of different rocks. She is using an electronic balance to measure the mass of
each sample and using the ‘displacement method’ to determine the volume
of each sample. The figure below shows the displacement method.

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 (i) Write down the volume shown
in each measuring cylinder.
(ii) Calculate the volume V of the
rock sample. (iii) Calculate the
density of sample A using the
equation density = m/v where the
mass m of the sample of rock is
109g. [Total marks = 6]
5. (a) The table shows the readings that the student obtains for samples of rocks B and C.
Copy and complete the table by :
(i) inserting the appropriate column headings with units
(ii) calculating the densities using the equation density = mass / volume.

(b) Explain briefly how you would determine the density of sand grains.
[Total marks = 6]
More questions on Volume and Density can be found using the past IGCSE papers
Both May/June and Oct/Nov Papers 3 and 4.
Top 5 Websites to download IGCSE Past Papers
 Xtremepapers.
 GCE Guide. ...
 Papa Cambridge. ...
 Pastpapers.co. ...
 EduTV Online.

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