Golf Ball Experiment:
Question: Why do objects sink or float? How can we make an object that sinks in water, float?
Hypothesis:
Variables:
Control:
Dependent:
Independent:
Materials:
Jar of Salt, plastic wrap, Glass Jar, Graduated Cylinder, Golf Ball, Measuring Spoon, Long Mixing Spoon, Triple Beam Balance, Calculator, Paper, Water, Food Coloring
Procedures:
1.) Fill a graduated cylinder with water to the last recorded measurement. Record the measurement in milliliters (mL). Continue to fill and record the amount of water in milliliters (mL) until your glass jar is ¾ of the way full. (REMEMBER: a liquid will form a parabola when it is placed in a cylinder. This is because liquids have surface tension and the molecules will stick to the side of the cylinder. To record the measurement in a graduated cylinder, you must read the measurement at the BOTTOM of the curve or parabola.)
2.) Drop the golf ball into the beaker and record the new water level.
3.) Subtract (-) the difference between the new measurement and the old measurement to find the density of the golf ball. Record the golf ball’s density in cubic centimeters. (REMEMBER: This is density for irregular shapes by using water displacement.)
4.) Place the class jar onto to triple beam balance and find the mass. Record your measurement in grams on your paper. Remove Jar from balance.
5.) Fill a graduated cylinder with water to the last recorded measurement. Record the measurement in milliliters (mL). Pour this amount of water into your jar. Continue to fill and record the amount of water in milliliters (mL) until you glass jar is ¾ of the way full.
6.) Place the jar’s lid upside down on the triple beam balance. Find the mass of your jar’s lid. Record the measurement in grams on your paper.
7.) Place the golf ball in upside down lid so it will not roll off of the balance. Find the mass of both items and record your measurement on your paper. Remove both the lid and golf ball from the balance.
8.) Subtract (-) the empty lid measurement (step 5) from the golf ball filled lid (step 6) to find the mass of the golf ball. Record your measurement in grams on your paper.
9.) Put plastic wrap over your balance tray. Using the tablespoon (Tbl.) measurement, place 1 tablespoon of salt on the triple beam balance and find the mass. Record your measurement in grams on your paper. Remove plastic wrap from balance and pour salt back into salt jar.
10.) Put the golf ball in the ¾ filled water jar. Record what happens. (REMEMBER: don’t forget to explain what you observed with the golf ball throughout this experiment and EXPLAIN WHY you think this happened – from start to finish!)
11.) Create a chart to record your measurements and observations. (This will be needed in your data chart section.)
12.) Add ONE tablespoon of salt to the ¾ filled water jar at a time. Stir the salt water UNTIL water appears clear. Record your measurement of salt and your observation of BOTH the WATER and what the GOLF BALL is doing.
13.) Repeat step 12 until a change is observed with the golf ball.
14.) Fill your graduated cylinder with 50 mL of FRESH WATER. GRADUALLY add water to your jar (ONLY 10 mL at a time) until you observe a change with the golf ball. RECORD the amount of water that was used on your paper.
15.) Call your teacher over to add a few drops of food coloring. – DO NOT SHAKE THE JAR! (GENTLY SIR THE TOP SURFACE OF THE WATER AND FOOD COLORING UNTIL IT IS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.)
16.) Use ALL of the data you collected to find the density of the salt solution and record your results:
· Add the measurement of fresh water to your ¾ filled water jar. This is your volume of water used.
· Add up your TOTAL number of tablespoons of salt used in the experiment. Multiply this number with the mass of ONE tablespoon of salt.
· Divide the TOTAL mass of salt by the TOTAL volume of water to find the density of the liquid you created
Data Chart:
Data Analysis:
(These are suggestions for what you might want to include in your analysis section.)
a.) Summarize what you did in the experiment
b.) Write down other observations you made during the experiment.
c.) Write about similarities or differences you fond in your data
d.) Write about what you learned from the data.
e.) Provide and talk about all variables used in the experiment.
f.) Make predictions as to why you go your results in the experiment.
Conclusion:
a.) Restate the hypothesis. (Rewrite the SAME hypothesis you used in the experiment and at the beginning of you lab report.)
b.) Tell if you findings supported/did not support the hypothesis and WHY.
c.) Did anything go wrong in the experiment? What could you have done differently?
d.) EXPLAIN what you learned in the experiment and how it is related to what we are studying in class
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