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Explanation of experiments with fluids - Succeed in Physical Science. Also refer to physics, liquids, gases, measurement, volume, density, pressure, depth, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Experiments with Fluids:
Measuring Volume of Irregularly Shaped Object

by Ron Kurtus (revised 8 June 2002)

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

Steps

  1. Full the bucket with water up to its brim.
  2. Place the bucket in the pan.
  3. Carefully place object in water.
  4. Collect water that overflows into the pan.
  5. Measure the volume of overflow water.

Outcome

This experiment shows an application of the principle that objects displace their volume in a liquid.

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Measuring Volume of Irregularly Shaped Object

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