In this experiment, you will measure the mass of ice by noting how much water it displaces.
Materials:
a clear, round, drinking glass with straight vertical sides (in other words, cylindrical)
ice
water
a felt tip marker or masking tape
a metric ruler
Procedure:
In this experiment, you will measure the mass of a handful of ice by observing how much water it displaces. This will be done by measuring how much the water level rises when the ice is placed in a glass of water.
Using the ruler, measure the diameter of your glass and record in a data table.
Find the radius of your glass by dividing the diameter by 2 and record in a data table.
Fill the glass halfway with water and mark the level of the water using a marker or masking tape.
Place a handful of ice in the water.
Mark the new water level using a marker or masking tape.
Using the ruler, measure the increase in water level by measuring the distance between your two marks on the glass. Record in a data table. Repeat your measurement to make sure you have accurate data.
How does the amount of water displaced depend upon the mass of the ice?
Most ice has some air bubbles in it. What effect does this have on the mass of the ice? What effect does this have on the amount of water displaced? Is this a concern, or will your measured mass still be correct if air bubbles are present?
What are some errors in this experiment?