Investigation: Density of Play-Doh

Investigation: Density of Play-doh

Jessica Ji

Aim
To investigate the density of play-doh by measuring mass and volume of play-doh then dividing the mass by the volume.

Chemical and equipment list

Play-doh

Vernier caliper

Lid of the play-doh box

Electrical balance

Ruler

Method

1. Take out the play-doh from the box.

2.  Use hand or/and ruler or/and the lid to make the play-doh into wanted shapes: ball, cuboid, cylinder, and the shape of lid.

3.  Measure the lengths of the sides/perimeters/depths of the play-doh.

4. Use electrical balance to measure the mass of the play-doh in different shapes.

5.  Record the data acquired above.

6.  Calculate the volume of the play-doh and the density of play-doh.

7. Repeat step 1-6 by making different shapes with different masses of play-doh.

Equipment

Uncertainty

electrical balance

±0.001g

vernier caliper

±0.002cm

Mass(g±0.001g) of play-doh vs. Lengths/Perimeters(cm±0.002cm) of the shape of play-doh

Shape of Play-doh

Mass(g±0.001g)

Length(cm±0.002cm)

Perimeter(cm±0.002cm)

Ball

7.751

/

2.170

18.721

/

3.060

26.936

/

3.350

17.755

/

2.810

Cuboid

0.333

0.650

0.700

0.650

/

Cylinder

6.830

6.11

1.555

Lid

27.451

0.700

5.900

26.900

0.700

5.900

27.063

0.700

5.900

26.418

0.700

5.900

Calculation(Volume of Ball):

Data processing

Error Propagation

Formula:

[pic 1]

V₁= 4×π×(3.350cm÷2)³÷3

V₁=19.90cm³

V₂= 4×π×(2.170cm÷2)³÷3

V₂=5.350cm³

V₃= 4×π×(3.060cm÷2)³÷3

V₃=15.00cm³

V₄= 4×π×(2.810cm÷2)³÷3

V₄=11.612cm³

  0.002cm÷3.350cm×100%×19.90cm³

=0.01cm³

  0.002cm÷2.170cm×100%×5.35cm³

=0.005cm³

  0.002cm÷3.060cm×100%×15.00cm³

=0.01cm³

  0.002cm÷2.810cm×100%×11.62cm³

=0.008cm³

Calculation(cube&cuboid):

Data processing

Error Propagation

Formula:

V=l1×l2×l3

V=0.650cm×0.700cm×0.650cm

V=0.306cm³

  (0.002cm³÷0.650cm³+0.002cm³÷0.650cm³+0.002cm³÷0.700cm³)×100%×0.306cm³

=0.003cm³

Calculation(Cylinder&Lid):

Data processing

Error Propagation

Formula:

[pic 2]

V₁=π×(1.555cm÷2)²×6.110cm

V₁=6.13cm³

V₂=π×(5.900cm÷2)²×0.700cm

V₂=19.14cm³

(0.002cm÷1.555cm×2+0.002cm÷6.110cm)×100%×6.13cm³

=0.02cm³

(0.002cm÷5.900cm×2+0.002cm÷0.700cm)×100%×19.14cm³

=0.07cm³

Mass of Play-doh vs. Volume of Playdoh

Shape of Play-doh

Mass(g±0.001g)

Volume(cm³)

Ball

26.936

19.90

7.751

5.350

18.721

15.00

17.755

11.612

Cuboid

0.333

0.306

Cylinder

6.830

6.13

Lid

27.451

19.1        4

26.900

19.1        4

27.063

19.1        4

26.418

18.49