PASCO Specialty & Mfg. DISCOVER DENSITY SET SE-9719 Manual De Usuario

012–07192A

Discover Density Set 

In this activity you are given eight black plastic cylinders of different

diameters.  You are asked to group the cylinders, take data, organize it,

graph it, and create an equation relating the mass to the length and diameter

of the spheres.  A minimum of instructions are given.  You should study and

follow the examples titled “the speed of sound,”  “The mass of fluorite

octahedra,”  and “The mass of cones”,  which preceded this task.

The materials needed are in compartments A3 through A6, and B3 through

B6.  Place the cylinders into two groups.  In each group, mass and only one

other variable should vary.

1. For one group of cylinders, create a table to record the diameter and

mass of each.  The length of each cylinder in this group should be the

same.  Record the diameter in centimeters.  If you are using a metric

ruler, estimate to the nearest 0.01 cm when finding these dimensions.

You should use two rectangular objects with the ruler to increase your

accuracy (Figure 7). Use the rules regarding significant figures or other

appropriate methods of expressing uncertainty.

Figure 7
Using the rectangular
solids to increase the
accuracy of the
measurement of the
diameter of a cylinder

TOP VIEW

rectangular solids

cylinder

ruler

2. Consider the diameter to be the independent variable, and the mass to

be the dependent variable when graphing the data.  Prepare a graph that

shows the data for all four cylinders.

3. Draw a best-fit line for the data, which may be a smooth curve.  If it is

not possible to represent the data well with a smooth curve, recheck

your measurements for any data points that do not fit the pattern.

4. State a hypothesis regarding the form of equation that is likely to best

describe the data.